Assure Sun Defense SPF 30+ PA++
55/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
Assure Sun Defense SPF 30+ PA++ is a hybrid sunscreen that mixes chemical filters like Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate and Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane with some titanium dioxide. It applies lightweight with a dewy finish and low white cast, is unlikely to clog pores, but may sting sensitive eyes a little. It sits okay under makeup for daily use. With a score of 54.9/100 and moderate protection, it is an average everyday sunscreen rather than a high performer.
Ingredient & SPF scores
☀️
UV protection
Moderate
49
- +18 Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate at #3, UV filter
- +28.5 Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane at #4, UV filter (UVA1 +15.2)
- +20.9 Benzophenone-3 at #5, UV filter
- +14.4 Diethylhexyl Butamido Triazone at #20, UV filter
- +9.9 Titanium Dioxide at #21, UV filter (UVA1 +1.5)
- −11.1 UVB coverage saturated
- −8.9 UVA2 coverage saturated
- ×0.9 Limited long-UVA1 coverage
- ×0.75 Avobenzone + octinoxate degrade each other in sunlight
- +1 Label claims (SPF 30)
☢️
Health safety
Low
14
- +100 Starting score
- −70 Oxybenzone at #5 (regulatory/evidence concern)
- −12.6 Octinoxate at #3, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- −3.5 Avobenzone at #4, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- +0 2 endocrine-scrutinized filters together
🤧
Allergens
Medium
48
- +100 Starting score
- −18 Fragrance
- −12 Opaque "Fragrance", hidden allergens that can't be checked from the label
- −16 Sensitizing preservatives (DMDM Hydantoin, Imidazolidinyl Urea)
- −6 Photoallergen-tail UV filters (Benzophenone-3)
🔥
Eye sting
Medium
49
- +100 Starting score
- −16 Avobenzone at #4, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −11 Oxybenzone at #5, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −16 Octinoxate at #3, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −8 Fragrance
🪨
Heavy feel
Low
91
- +100 Starting score
- −2 Titanium Dioxide at #21
- −2 Petrolatum at #16, heaviest occlusive
- −2 Kokum Butter at #17, butter/occlusive fat
- −3 Paraffinum Liquidum at #12, heavy oil
🔴
Comedogenic
Low
99
- +100 Starting score
- −1 Olea Europaea Fruit Oil at #18, moderate comedogenic signal
🍄
Fungal acne
Medium
52
- +100 Starting score
- −32 3 oils/butters that feed Malassezia (Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Kokum Butter)
- −14 1 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Glyceryl Stearate)
- −2 1 ubiquitous fatty ingredients (Stearic Acid), weak Malassezia signal
👕
Fabric stains
Medium
33
- +100 Starting score
- −45 Avobenzone at #4, reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
- −20 Oxybenzone at #5, yellow stains on white cotton
- −2 Titanium Dioxide at #21, white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
💧
Moisture
Hydrating
LightNourishing
- ← 1.5 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Talc)
- ← 1 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
- → 4 Glycerin at #10, the anchor humectant
- → 1 Humectant polyols
- → 4 3 emollient lipids (Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Kokum Butter)
✨
Finish
Dewy
MatteDewy
- ← 1 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Talc)
- ← 1 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
- → 6 4 emollient lipids (Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Kokum Butter, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, …)
- → 4 Occlusives seal moisture in (Paraffinum Liquidum, Petrolatum)
💄
Makeup base
Okay
PillsPrimer
- ← 0.5 Gel polymers prone to pilling under friction (Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer)
- ← 5 Occlusives/waxes float the foundation
🌊
Water resistance
Not resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
Nothing flagged in the ingredient list.
How we rate water resistance →Full ingredient list (35)
What each ingredient does and how it moves each rating: green helps, red hurts, ↑ / ↓ give the direction, and ← / → shift a slider toward its ends (finish, moisture, makeup base). Auto-derived from our scoring rules and the ingredient's position.
-
1 Water
Solvent base, the water phase
-
2 Water
Solvent base, the water phase
-
Legacy UV filter (Octinoxate), high in the list, a primary filter
- ↑ 18 UV protection
- ↓ 12.6 stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- ↑ 16 migrates into eyes with sweat
-
Legacy UV filter (Avobenzone)
- ↑ 28.5 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- ↓ 3.5 stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- ↑ 16 migrates into eyes with sweat
- ↑ 45 reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
-
Legacy UV filter (Oxybenzone)
- ↑ 20.9 UV protection
- ↑ 11 migrates into eyes with sweat
- ↑ 20 yellow stains on white cotton
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 1 → nourishing humectant polyol
-
Botanical extract
- 2 → nourishing emollient lipid
- 3 → dewy emollient lipid
- ↑ 14 feeds malassezia
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 14 feeds malassezia
-
10 Glycerin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 4 → nourishing the anchor humectant
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Occlusive, seals moisture into the skin
- ↑ 3 heavy oil
- 3 → dewy occlusive
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Fatty alcohol, an emollient and thickener, not the drying kind
-
15 Stearic Acid
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- ↑ 2 minor malassezia feeder
-
16 Petrolatum
Occlusive, seals moisture into the skin
- ↑ 2 heaviest occlusive
- 1 → dewy occlusive
-
17 Kokum Butter
Plant oil, an emollient
- ↑ 2 butter/occlusive fat
- 1 → nourishing emollient lipid
- 1 → dewy emollient lipid
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
-
Botanical extract
- ↑ 1 moderate comedogenic signal
- 1 → nourishing emollient lipid
- 1 → dewy emollient lipid
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
-
Fatty alcohol, an emollient and thickener, not the drying kind
-
Modern UV filter, broad-spectrum and photostable (Iscotrizinol), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- ↑ 14.4 UV protection
-
Mineral UV filter (Titanium Dioxide), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- ↑ 9.9 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- ↑ 2 white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
-
22 Talc
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light ← 1.5 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte ← 1 sebum-absorbing powder
-
23 Dimethicone
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Volatile silicone, flashes off for a light finish
- light ← 1 volatile carrier, flashes off
- matte ← 1 volatile carrier, flashes off
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
26 Dimethiconol
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- 1 → dewy emollient lipid
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
30 Fragrance
Fragrance
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
-
pH adjuster
-
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
Does Assure Sun Defense leave a white cast?
No, white cast is rated low despite including some titanium dioxide. The hybrid formula has a dewy finish that blends into skin.
Is the Assure Sun Defense SPF 30+ PA++ mineral or chemical?
It is a hybrid. It uses chemical filters like Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate and Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane alongside some titanium dioxide.
Is Assure Sun Defense SPF 30+ any good?
It scores 54.9/100 with moderate protection. It is lightweight and unlikely to clog pores, but may sting sensitive eyes, making it an average everyday option.