Sunscreen Ranker Independent ranker
NI
Nivea Japan

UV Super Water Gel EX SPF 50+ PA++++ Pump

SPF 50+ · PA++++ Invisible No white cast — chemical/hybrid filters that disappear on skin. JP Japan jp-domestic Formulation variant: jp-domestic. Region-specific reformulations are tracked as separate products.

Light water-gel with no fragrance or parabens; ethanol high in list and octinoxate are the main drawbacks.

◐ CHEM Chemical filters Chemical filters — Organic filters absorb UV. Cosmetically elegant; filter selection matters. ((· BS Broad spectrum Broad spectrum — Blocks UVA + UVB across the full sun-damage spectrum. F F-FREE Fragrance-free Fragrance-free — No added fragrance or perfume — lower irritation risk for reactive skin.
70.0
Composite
Composite score · independent
Ranks #855 of 1558 in the current catalogue. Light water-gel with no fragrance or parabens; ethanol high in list and octinoxate are the main drawbacks.
Composite is a weighted blend: UV 25% · Modernity 10% · Sensitivity 15% · Environment 10% · Elegance 15% · Health 25%.
Verdict Should you buy it?

A pared-back water-gel with octinoxate, DHHB, ethylhexyl triazone, and bemotrizinol on a hyaluronic-acid and rose-water base. Fragrance- and paraben-free, which is unusual for this line, though ethanol is still high and octinoxate remains.

Pros
  • Fragrance-free and paraben-free
  • DHHB plus bemotrizinol covers UVA-I strongly
  • Light water-gel texture suits humid climates
  • Hyaluronic acid and trehalose add humectancy
  • Pump format helps consistent dosing
Cons
  • Ethanol second in the list, may dry sensitive skin
  • Octinoxate present, an older reef-flagged filter
  • BHT included as antioxidant stabilizer

Who it's for: Combo or oily skin wanting a lightweight Japanese gel without fragrance or parabens, who can tolerate moderate alcohol content.

01 Score breakdown
UV protection How well the product blocks UVA + UVB across the spectrum at the stated SPF/PA. 100
Filter modernity Penalises legacy filters (octinoxate, oxybenzone); rewards photostable next-gen filters. 88
Sensitivity safety Risk for reactive skin — fragrance, alcohol, known sensitisers. 40
Reef / env. safety Reef toxicity, biodegradability of UV filters and surfactants. 65
Cosmetic elegance Spread, finish, white-cast, comfort on skin. 78
Health safety Endocrine concerns, systemic absorption signals across the formula. 48
02 Composition · key UV filters 4 filters resolved
UVB 290–320nm UVB (290–320nm) — covered UVA-II 320–340nm UVA-II (320–340nm) — covered UVA-I 340–400nm UVA-I (340–400nm) — covered
Octinoxate Legacy Older organic filter. Photostable in combination; some literature concerns.
Uvinul A Plus Modern Next-gen photostable filter; low irritation profile.
Uvinul T 150 Modern Next-gen photostable filter; low irritation profile.
Bemotrizinol Modern Next-gen photostable filter; low irritation profile.
03 At-a-glance facts
Protection
Filter type Mineral filters (zinc oxide, titanium dioxide) sit on skin and reflect UV. Chemical filters absorb UV. Hybrid blends both.
Chemical
Broad spectrum Protects across both UVA and UVB ranges. UVA causes aging and deeper damage; UVB causes burns.
Yes
Formulation & feel
Texture How the formula feels at application — milk, gel, cream, spray, stick, essence, lotion, powder, or cushion.
Gel
Finish How the formula looks on skin once dry: matte, natural, dewy, or glowy.
Natural
Tinted Adds sheer pigment (iron oxides) that masks the white cast common to mineral filters and gives a skin-tone finish.
No
Fragrance-free No synthetic perfume added. Not FDA-defined in the US; the EU requires 'Parfum' + the 26 named allergens on the label. 'Unscented' differs — may contain masking fragrance. Botanical oils still scent.
Yes
Alcohol-free No drying short-chain alcohols (alcohol denat., SD alcohol, ethanol). Does not refer to fatty alcohols like cetyl or stearyl alcohol, which are emollients.
No
04 Full ingredient list (INCI) 22 ingredients
MODERN FILTER 3 LEGACY FILTER 1 MINERAL FILTER 0 ADDED FRAGRANCE 0 NATURAL FRAGRANCE 0 ALCOHOL 1 WATCH 1 ACTIVE 1
Water· Alcohol Drying short-chain alcohol — can compromise the skin barrier and disturb the film if used in high amounts. · Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate Octinoxate — endocrine-disruption literature. ·Propylene Glycol· Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate Uvinul A Plus — modern photostable UVA filter. ·Caprylyl Methicone·Diisopropyl Sebacate·Isopropyl Palmitate· Ethylhexyl Triazone Uvinul T 150 — high-efficiency UVB filter. ·Trehalose·Mannitol· Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid Hyaluronic acid — humectant. ·Rosa Centifolia Flower Water·Butylene Glycol·Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate·Sodium Dilauramidoglutamide Lysine· Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine Tinosorb S — broad-spectrum, very photostable. ·Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer·Carbomer·Phenoxyethanol·Sodium Hydroxide· Bht Antioxidant preservative; trace concern.
Source: brand-published INCI. Last verified 19 Jun 2026. Show in detail
01 Water Water
02 Alcohol ALCOHOL Drying short-chain alcohol — can compromise the skin barrier and disturb the film if used in high amounts.
03 Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate LEGACY FILTER Octinoxate — endocrine-disruption literature.
04 Propylene Glycol Propylene Glycol
05 Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate MODERN FILTER Uvinul A Plus — modern photostable UVA filter.
06 Caprylyl Methicone Caprylyl Methicone
07 Diisopropyl Sebacate Diisopropyl Sebacate
08 Isopropyl Palmitate Isopropyl Palmitate
09 Ethylhexyl Triazone MODERN FILTER Uvinul T 150 — high-efficiency UVB filter.
10 Trehalose Trehalose
11 Mannitol Mannitol
12 Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid ACTIVE Hyaluronic acid — humectant.
13 Rosa Centifolia Flower Water Cabbage Rose Flower Water
14 Butylene Glycol Butylene Glycol
15 Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
16 Sodium Dilauramidoglutamide Lysine
17 Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine MODERN FILTER Tinosorb S — broad-spectrum, very photostable.
18 Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
19 Carbomer Carbomer
20 Phenoxyethanol Phenoxyethanol
21 Sodium Hydroxide Sodium Hydroxide
22 Bht WATCH Antioxidant preservative; trace concern.