Australian Gold Face Guard Sunscreen Stick SPF 50
59/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
Australian Gold Face Guard Sunscreen Stick is an SPF 50 chemical-leaning stick using older filters including Avobenzone, Homosalate, and Octocrylene with some Zinc Oxide. It has a dewy finish with low white cast and a lightweight feel, but the formula commonly stings, so it is less ideal near the eyes. It is low on pore-clogging and sits okay under makeup. With good protection and a 58/100 score, it is a convenient stick whose dated filters and sting potential hold it back.
Ingredient & SPF scores
☀️
UV protection
Good
58
- +30 Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane at #1, UV filter (UVA1 +16)
- +12 Homosalate at #2, UV filter
- +18 Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate at #3, UV filter
- +7.6 Ethylhexyl Salicylate at #4, UV filter
- +15.2 Octocrylene at #5, UV filter
- +12.3 Zinc Oxide at #21, UV filter (UVA1 +5.4)
- −20.3 UVB coverage saturated
- ×0.75 Avobenzone + octinoxate degrade each other in sunlight
- +2 Label claims (SPF 50)
☢️
Health safety
Medium
33
- +100 Starting score
- −40 Homosalate at #2 (regulatory/evidence concern)
- −12.6 Octinoxate at #3, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- −10.5 Octocrylene at #5, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- −3.5 Avobenzone at #1, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- +0 2 endocrine-scrutinized filters together
🤧
Allergens
Low
67
- +100 Starting score
- −18 Fragrance
- −12 Opaque "Fragrance", hidden allergens that can't be checked from the label
- −3 Photoallergen-tail UV filters (Octocrylene)
🔥
Eye sting
High
22
- +100 Starting score
- −24 Avobenzone at #1, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −15 Octocrylene at #5, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −16 Octinoxate at #3, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −9 Homosalate at #2, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −6 Octisalate at #4, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −8 Fragrance
🪨
Heavy feel
Low
69
- +100 Starting score
- −3 Zinc Oxide at #21
- −2 Ozokerite at #14, wax film
- −2 Synthetic Beeswax at #16, wax film
- −10 Butyrospermum Parkii Fruit at #7, butter/occlusive fat
- −2 Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter at #18, butter/occlusive fat
- −12 Stick/balm format with a wax skeleton
🔴
Comedogenic
Low
97
- +100 Starting score
- −2 Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter at #18, comedogenic oil/butter
- −1 Olea Europaea Fruit Oil at #13, moderate comedogenic signal
🍄
Fungal acne
Medium
50
- +100 Starting score
- −50 4 oils/butters that feed Malassezia (Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii Fruit)
👕
Fabric stains
High
23
- +100 Starting score
- −50 Avobenzone at #1, reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
- −15 Octocrylene at #5, co-stains alongside avobenzone
- −10 Avobenzone + Octocrylene, the classic staining pair
- −2 Zinc Oxide at #21, white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
💧
Moisture
Hydrating
LightNourishing
- → 8 4 emollient lipids (Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii Fruit, …)
- → 1 Light emollient/solvent (Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride)
✨
Finish
Dewy
MatteDewy
- → 14 5 emollient lipids (Butyrospermum Parkii Fruit, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, …)
💄
Makeup base
Okay
PillsPrimer
- → 1 Dry-touch esters, smooth fast-absorbing base
- ← 4 Occlusives/waxes float the foundation
🌊
Water resistance
Not resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
- +3 1 film-forming polymers that lock the formula on for water resistance
- +4 2 water-locking waxes
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.
- ✨ Aloe vera
Full ingredient list (21)
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.
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Legacy UV filter (Avobenzone), high in the list, a primary filter
- ↑ 30 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- ↓ 3.5 stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- ↑ 24 migrates into eyes with sweat
- ↑ 50 reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
-
Legacy UV filter (Homosalate), high in the list, a primary filter
- ↑ 12 UV protection
- ↑ 9 migrates into eyes with sweat
-
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 (Octisalate)
- ↑ 7.6 UV protection
- ↑ 6 migrates into eyes with sweat
-
Legacy UV filter (Octocrylene)
- ↑ 15.2 UV protection
- ↓ 10.5 stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- ↑ 15 migrates into eyes with sweat
- ↑ 15 co-stains alongside avobenzone
-
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
Botanical extract
- ↑ 10 butter/occlusive fat
- 4 → nourishing emollient lipid
- 6 → dewy emollient lipid
- ↑ 24 feeds malassezia
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- 3 → dewy emollient lipid
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- 1 → nourishing light emollient
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
11 Fragrance
Fragrance
-
Botanical extract
- 2 → nourishing emollient lipid
- 3 → dewy emollient lipid
- ↑ 14 feeds malassezia
-
Botanical extract
- ↑ 1 moderate comedogenic signal
- 1 → nourishing emollient lipid
- 1 → dewy emollient lipid
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
-
14 Ozokerite
Occlusive, seals moisture into the skin
- ↑ 2 wax film
- ↑ 2 wax water lock
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Occlusive, seals moisture into the skin
- ↑ 2 wax film
- ↑ 2 wax water lock
-
Botanical extract
-
Botanical extract
- ↑ 2 butter/occlusive fat
- ↑ 2 comedogenic oil/butter
- 1 → nourishing emollient lipid
- 1 → dewy emollient lipid
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
-
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Film former, locks the formula onto skin for water resistance
- ↑ 3 film former
-
21 Zinc Oxide
Mineral UV filter (Zinc Oxide), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- ↑ 12.3 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- ↑ 2 white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
Does Australian Gold Face Guard Stick sting the eyes?
This formula commonly stings, so it may be best to avoid the immediate eye area. Sensitive users could prefer a low-sting alternative.
Is the Australian Gold Face Guard Sunscreen Stick SPF 50 mineral or chemical?
It leans chemical, using older filters including Avobenzone, Homosalate, and Octocrylene with some Zinc Oxide.
Is it good?
It scores 58 out of 100. It offers good SPF 50 protection in a convenient stick, but dated filters and sting potential keep the score moderate.