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Australian Gold Instant Bronzer Spray Gel Sunscreen SPF 50

Australian Gold Instant Bronzer Spray Gel Sunscreen SPF 50

65/100 overall score

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About this sunscreen

Australian Gold Instant Bronzer Spray Gel Sunscreen SPF 50 is an old-school chemical formula using homosalate, octocrylene and avobenzone for SPF 50 coverage. The spray gel goes on lightweight with a balanced finish and low white cast, though it can sting a bit if it drifts near the eyes. Pore-clogging potential is low. At 65/100 with good protection, it is a casual outdoor option, best kept away from the eye area.

Ingredient & SPF scores

☀️

UV protection

Good 59
  • +12 Homosalate at #2, UV filter
  • +8 Ethylhexyl Salicylate at #3, UV filter
  • +15.2 Octocrylene at #4, UV filter
  • +28.5 Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane at #6, UV filter (UVA1 +15.2)
  • ×0.9 Limited long-UVA1 coverage
  • +2 Label claims (SPF 50)
How we rate uv protection →
☢️

Health safety

Medium 46
  • +100 Starting score
  • −40 Homosalate at #2 (regulatory/evidence concern)
  • −10.5 Octocrylene at #4, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
  • −3.5 Avobenzone at #6, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
How we rate health safety →
🤧

Allergens

Low 67
  • +100 Starting score
  • −18 Fragrance
  • −8 4 declared fragrance allergens
  • −4 Opaque "Fragrance", hidden allergens that can't be checked from the label
  • −3 Photoallergen-tail UV filters (Octocrylene)
How we rate allergens →
👻

White cast

Low 100
  • +100 Starting score
How we rate white cast →
🔥

Eye sting

Medium 35
  • +100 Starting score
  • −16 Avobenzone at #6, migrates into eyes with sweat
  • −15 Octocrylene at #4, migrates into eyes with sweat
  • −9 Homosalate at #2, migrates into eyes with sweat
  • −9 Octisalate at #3, migrates into eyes with sweat
  • −8 Fragrance
  • −8 4 declared fragrance allergens
How we rate eye sting →
🪨

Heavy feel

Low 100
  • +100 Starting score
How we rate heavy feel →
🔴

Comedogenic

Low 99
  • +100 Starting score
  • −1 Olea Europaea Fruit Oil at #20, moderate comedogenic signal
How we rate comedogenic →
🍄

Fungal acne

Medium 58
  • +100 Starting score
  • −24 2 polysorbate/sorbitan emulsifiers that feed Malassezia (Polysorbate 20, Sorbitan Oleate)
  • −18 2 oils/butters that feed Malassezia (Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil)
How we rate fungal acne →
👕

Fabric stains

High 30
  • +100 Starting score
  • −45 Avobenzone at #6, reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
  • −15 Octocrylene at #4, co-stains alongside avobenzone
  • −10 Avobenzone + Octocrylene, the classic staining pair
How we rate fabric stains →
💧

Moisture

Hydrating
LightNourishing
  • → 10 Glycerin at #7, the anchor humectant
  • → 2 2 emollient lipids (Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil)
How we rate moisture →

Finish

Balanced
MatteDewy
  • → 2 2 emollient lipids (Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil)
How we rate finish →
💄

Makeup base

Okay
PillsPrimer
  • → 1 Primer-style base, volatile silicones and dimethicone slip
  • → 4 Transfer-resistant grip resin, holds makeup
  • ← 0.5 Gel polymers prone to pilling under friction (Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer)
  • ← 3 Humectant syrup tackiness
How we rate makeup base →
🌊

Water resistance

Not resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
  • +7 1 film-forming polymers that lock the formula on for water resistance
  • +2 1 water-locking waxes
How we rate 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.

  • ✨ Aloe vera

Full ingredient list (33)

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. 1 Water

    Solvent base, the water phase

  2. 2 Homosalate

    Legacy UV filter (Homosalate), high in the list, a primary filter

    • ↑ 12 UV protection
    • ↑ 9 migrates into eyes with sweat
  3. Legacy UV filter (Octisalate), high in the list, a primary filter

    • ↑ 8 UV protection
    • ↑ 9 migrates into eyes with sweat
  4. 4 Octocrylene

    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
  5. Soothing, skin-conditioning active

  6. 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
  7. 7 Glycerin

    Humectant, pulls water into the skin

    • 10 → nourishing the anchor humectant
  8. 8 Caramel

    Colorant or pigment

  9. 9 Phenoxyethanol

    Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling

  10. 10 Limonene

    Fragrance component, a declared allergen

  11. Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream

    • ↑ 7 film former
  12. 12 Dimethicone

    Emollient, softens and smooths skin

  13. Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream

  14. 14 Fragrance

    Fragrance

  15. 15 Polysorbate 20

    Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended

    • ↑ 12 feeds malassezia
  16. Film former, locks the formula onto skin for water resistance

    • ↑ 2 wax water lock
  17. 17 Sodium Hydroxide

    pH adjuster

  18. Botanical extract

    • 1 → nourishing emollient lipid
    • 1 → dewy emollient lipid
    • ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
  19. Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream

  20. Botanical extract

    • ↑ 1 moderate comedogenic signal
    • 1 → nourishing emollient lipid
    • 1 → dewy emollient lipid
    • ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
  21. Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin

  22. Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable

  23. Humectant, pulls water into the skin

  24. Humectant, pulls water into the skin

  25. 25 Sorbitan Oleate

    Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended

    • ↑ 12 feeds malassezia
  26. 26 Coumarin

    Fragrance component, a declared allergen

  27. 27 Methylparaben

    Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling

  28. 28 Linalool

    Fragrance component, a declared allergen

  29. 29 Citral

    Fragrance component, a declared allergen

  30. 30 Tea Tree Oil

    Plant oil, an emollient

  31. Botanical extract

  32. 32 Potassium Sorbate

    Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling

  33. 33 Sodium Benzoate

    Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling

Does Australian Gold Instant Bronzer Spray sting the eyes?

It can sting somewhat if it drifts near the eyes, so apply carefully around the eye area. The spray gel is otherwise lightweight with a balanced finish.

Is the Australian Gold Instant Bronzer Spray Gel Sunscreen SPF 50 a mineral or chemical sunscreen?

It is a chemical sunscreen using an old-school filter set of homosalate, octocrylene and avobenzone. There are no mineral filters in the formula.

Is this Australian Gold sunscreen any good?

It scores 65/100 with good protection at SPF 50. The convenient spray gel and low white cast make it a fine casual outdoor pick, just keep it off the eyes.

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