Alba Botanica Sensitive Sheer Shield Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 45
67/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
Alba Botanica Sensitive Sheer Shield Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 45 is a chemical sunscreen using older filters including Avobenzone, Homosalate, and Octocrylene. It wears lightweight with a balanced finish and a low risk of white cast, though it may sting somewhat near the eyes. Protection is rated good and it is generally low on pore-clogging concerns. With a score in the high 60s it is a serviceable sensitive-skin option, limited mainly by its traditional filter lineup.
Ingredient & SPF scores
βοΈ
UV protection
Good
60
- +30 Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane at #1, UV filter (UVA1 +16)
- +12 Homosalate at #2, UV filter
- +16 Octocrylene at #3, UV filter
- +7.6 Ethylhexyl Salicylate at #4, UV filter
- Γ0.9 Limited long-UVA1 coverage
- +1 Label claims (SPF 45)
β’οΈ
Health safety
Medium
46
- +100 Starting score
- β40 Homosalate at #2 (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β10.5 Octocrylene at #3, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β3.5 Avobenzone at #1, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
π€§
Allergens
Low
96
- +100 Starting score
- β1 1 declared fragrance allergens
- β3 Photoallergen-tail UV filters (Octocrylene)
π₯
Eye sting
Medium
38
- +100 Starting score
- β24 Avobenzone at #1, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β22 Octocrylene at #3, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β9 Homosalate at #2, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β6 Octisalate at #4, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β1 Volatile alcohol at #20
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Heavy feel
Low
95
- +100 Starting score
- β5 Cetyl Alcohol at #6, rich gel-network thickener
π΄
Comedogenic
Low
96
- +100 Starting score
- β4 Glyceryl Stearate SE at #8, moderate comedogenic signal
π
Fungal acne
Medium
44
- +100 Starting score
- β24 2 polysorbate/sorbitan emulsifiers that feed Malassezia (Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan Olivate)
- β32 3 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Cetearyl Olivate, Glyceryl Stearate SE, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate)
π
Fabric stains
High
25
- +100 Starting score
- β50 Avobenzone at #1, reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
- β15 Octocrylene at #3, co-stains alongside avobenzone
- β10 Avobenzone + Octocrylene, the classic staining pair
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Moisture
Hydrating
LightNourishing
- β 2 Volatile alcohol at #20
- β 10 Glycerin at #7, the anchor humectant
- β 1 Light emollient/solvent (Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride)
- β 1 1 fatty-alcohol emollients (Cetyl Alcohol)
π
Makeup base
Okay
PillsPrimer
- β 1 Primer-style base, volatile silicones and dimethicone slip
- β 3 Humectant syrup tackiness
π
Water resistance
Not resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
- +7 1 film-forming polymers that lock the formula on for water resistance
Skincare extras
Beneficial actives this formula contains. Informational only, not part of the rating: their effect depends on a concentration the label does not disclose.
- β¨ Aloe vera
- β¨ Green tea
Full ingredient list (31)
What each ingredient does and how it moves each rating: green helps, red hurts, β / β give the direction, and β / β shift a slider toward its ends (finish, moisture, makeup base). Auto-derived from our scoring rules and the ingredient's position.
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Legacy UV filter (Avobenzone), high in the list, a primary filter
- β 30 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- β 3.5 stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β 24 migrates into eyes with sweat
- β 50 reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
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Legacy UV filter (Homosalate), high in the list, a primary filter
- β 12 UV protection
- β 9 migrates into eyes with sweat
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Legacy UV filter (Octocrylene), high in the list, a primary filter
- β 16 UV protection
- β 10.5 stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β 22 migrates into eyes with sweat
- β 15 co-stains alongside avobenzone
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Legacy UV filter (Octisalate)
- β 7.6 UV protection
- β 6 migrates into eyes with sweat
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5 Water
Solvent base, the water phase
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Fatty alcohol, an emollient and thickener, not the drying kind
- β 5 rich gel-network thickener
- 1 β nourishing fatty-alcohol emollient
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7 Glycerin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 10 β nourishing the anchor humectant
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 4 moderate comedogenic signal
- β 14 feeds malassezia
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- 1 β nourishing light emollient
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Film former, locks the formula onto skin for water resistance
- β 7 film former
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Soothing, skin-conditioning active
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Botanical extract
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Botanical extract
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Botanical extract
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Botanical extract
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Botanical extract
-
Botanical extract
-
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
20 Alcohol
Volatile alcohol, a drying solvent that can sting eyes
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Fatty alcohol, an emollient and thickener, not the drying kind
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- β 9 feeds malassezia
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23 Citric Acid
pH adjuster
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 12 feeds malassezia
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Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 9 feeds malassezia
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 12 feeds malassezia
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28 Xanthan Gum
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
What SPF is Alba Botanica Sensitive Sheer Shield?
It is SPF 45 with protection rated good. That suits it for everyday sun exposure.
Is Alba Botanica Sensitive Sheer Shield mineral or chemical?
It is a chemical sunscreen using older filters including Avobenzone, Homosalate, and Octocrylene. The traditional lineup keeps its score in the high 60s.
Is Alba Botanica Sensitive Sheer Shield good for acne-prone skin?
It is generally low on pore-clogging concerns with a balanced finish, which suits breakout-prone skin. It may sting somewhat near the eyes.