Maui Babe Reef Safe Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50
Works for
Sun protectionSPF 50 · 4 UV filtersBroad spectrum
This product offers a good level of protection against both UVB and UVA rays.
This sunscreen uses organic (so-called "chemical") sunscreen filters. Organic, or "chemical" filters usually provide reliable sun protection and rarely leave a white cast. Sunscreens with organic filters can sting eyes.
This product can be considered "reef safe" because it does not contain the UV filters (oxybenzone and octinoxate) that can be harmful to coral reefs when present in the water in high concentrations.
Evens skin toneSide benefit · No ingredient credited for this claimWorks well
This product offers broad spectrum sun protection. It means that it can prevent hyperpigmentation and help keep the skin tone even (sun damage is the main factor causing age spots, darkening of post-acne marks and other discolorations).
Anti-agingSide benefit · No ingredient credited for this claimWorks well
This product can help prevent early signs of skin aging because it offers a good level of broad spectrum sun protection. Sun damage is the main cause of premature skin aging, and protecting your skin from the sun is the best anti-aging strategy.
Can it cause trouble?
Irritancy1 strong irritant: ParfumMedium risk
ComedogenicClean of flagged comedogenic ingredientsNone flagged
User reviews
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Ingredients
Filter by role to see what each ingredient is doing.
Homosalate~23–34%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
A weak sunscreen that offers some protection against the sun rays that cause sunburn (UVB), but does not offer meaningful protection against protect against the most aging sun rays (UVA). It loses its effectiveness quickly when exposed to sunlight. It is an organic, or so called "chemical" sunscreen. When used in low concentrations, helps to stabilize the product formulation
More about HomosalateOctocrylene~6.8–10.2%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
A weak sunscreen that protects against the sun rays that cause sunburn (UVB) and is somewhat effective against the UVA rays. It is quite stable and can help stabilize other, more vulnerable, sunscreen ingredients like Avobenzone. It is an organic, or so called "chemical" sunscreen
More about OctocryleneEthylhexyl salicylate~5.1–7.6%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Octisalate. A UV filter. It offers some protection against the sun rays that cause sunburn (UVB), but does not protect against the most aging sun rays (UVA). It loses its effectiveness quickly when exposed to sunlight. It is an organic, or so called "chemical" sunscreen
More about Ethylhexyl salicylateButyl methoxydibenzoylmethane~3.9–5.9%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Avobenzone. An organic, or so-called "chemical" UV filter. Protects against both UVA and UVB rays. Needs to be combined with other filters in a formulation to be stable.
More about Butyl methoxydibenzoylmethaneWater~2.7–4.1%
Propylene glycol~2–3%
- Irritation risk
- High
Helps oil and water mix together and can enhance the penetration of other ingredients into the skin. It can be irritating
More about Propylene glycolDicaprylyl ether~1.8–2.6%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Helps soften the upper layer of the skin while creating a non-greasy feel on the skin. Helps to dissolve other ingredients
More about Dicaprylyl etherCetyl peg/ppg-10/1 dimethicone~1.3–2%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A type of silicone that helps water and oil mix together. Can help to soften upper layer of the skin
More about Cetyl peg/ppg-10/1 dimethiconeCaprylyl methicone~1.1–1.7%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A type of silicone that helps to soften the upper layer of the skin and create a nice product finish on the skin
More about Caprylyl methiconePhenoxyethanol~0.5–1%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A preservative. It helps prevent bacterial growth in cosmetic products
More about PhenoxyethanolBenzoic acid~0.25–0.5%
Ethylhexylglycerin~0.45–1.05%
Glycereth-2 cocoate~0.4–0.9%
Parfum~0.2–0.75%
- Irritation risk
- High
An aromatic blend of unspecified and possibly irritating ingredients
More about ParfumStearyl citrate~0.3–0.75%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Disodium edta~0.05–0.3%
Sodium chloride~0.1–0.35%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Used to stabilize mixtures of oil and water, and create thicker, gel-like product textures
More about Sodium chlorideIngredient list view
Homosalate, Octocrylene, Ethylhexyl salicylate, Butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane, Water, Propylene glycol, Dicaprylyl ether, Cetyl peg/ppg-10/1 dimethicone, Caprylyl methicone, Phenoxyethanol, Benzoic acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glycereth-2 cocoate, Parfum, Unknown, Stearyl citrate, Unknown, Disodium edta, Sodium chloride
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Retailers ranked by price — lowest first.
Worth comparing, line by line.
Match % combines shared ingredients, the first five ingredients, shared actives and hero ingredients, irritancy (lower counts in the alternative's favour), texture and body area. Only products in the same routine step are compared.
| Maui BabeReef Safe Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50YOUR PRODUCT | La Roche-PosayAnthelios Ultra Light Fluid Facial Sunscreen SPF 60 | SkinCeuticalsSport UV Defense SPF 50 | Sea&SkiSport Sunscreen Lotion Reef Friendly SPF50, Trial | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Match | — | 42% | 41% | 41% |
| Price | — | $35.99 | $42.00 | — |
| Shared key ingredients | — | 3 of 3 | 3 of 3 | 3 of 3 |
| Key difference | — | Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride | Artemia Extract | Dimethicone |
| Irritancy | Medium | Low | Low | Low |
| SPF | SPF 50 | SPF 60 | SPF 50 | SPF 50 |
| Drying alcohol | — | Contains drying alcohol | — | — |
| View product | Shop | Shop | Shop |
More alternatives: Eucerin Age Defense, Lightweight Sunscreen Lotion For Face, SPF 50Black Girl Sunscreen Face & Body Sunscreen SPF 30
Product summary
We believe that "Maui Babe - Reef Safe Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50" can provide reliable sun protection based on the ingredients listed. It can protect from both UVA and UVB rays. This is great news because not all sunscreens with SPF ratings give UVA protection. (UVA rays do not cause sunburn, but still damage our skin and lead to early aging).
Like all broad-spectrum sunscreens, this product has an anti-aging benefit.
Sunscreen filters
This is a so-called "chemical" sunscreen. It means that it uses organic UV filters. They typically offer good sun protection and rarely leave a white cast, but they can be irritating for some people with sensitive skin. These are the sun protection ingredients in this sunscreen: avobenzone 3.90% - 5.90%, octisalate 5.10% - 7.60%, homosalate 23.00% - 34.00% and octocrylene 6.80% - 10.20%.
Irritation risk
It contains some common irritants, including those without a benefit for the skin. We assess the overall irritancy of this product to be medium. For a detailed overview of all potential irritants: click here
You can see the detailed formula review with the breakdown of all actives in the product and the full ingredient list with estimated concentrations in the tables below.
Sources cited in this review
Every concentration estimate and effectiveness label is anchored to one of these 4 studies and safety reviews.
- 1
- 2Surfactants and experimental irritant contact dermatitisncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- 3Propylene Glycolpubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- 4Skin-sensitizing and irritant properties of propylene glycolonlinelibrary.wiley.com
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