Bobbi Brown Primer Plus Radiance SPF 35
69/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
Bobbi Brown Primer Plus Radiance SPF 35 is a makeup primer with both chemical and mineral filters, including Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide, in an older filter set. It wears lightweight with a balanced finish and low white cast, though it can sting somewhat near the eyes. Protection is good for a primer and the overall score is mid-range, making it a pleasant radiance base with supplementary SPF rather than primary protection.
Ingredient & SPF scores
βοΈ
UV protection
Good
78
- +18 Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate at #1, UV filter
- +8 Ethylhexyl Salicylate at #2, UV filter
- +22 Benzophenone-3 at #3, UV filter
- +31.4 Titanium Dioxide at #4, UV filter (UVA1 +4.8)
- +38.9 Zinc Oxide at #5, UV filter (UVA1 +17.1)
- β29.7 UVB coverage saturated
- β11.8 UVA2 coverage saturated
- +1 Label claims (SPF 35)
β’οΈ
Health safety
Low
17
- +100 Starting score
- β70 Oxybenzone at #3 (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β12.6 Octinoxate at #1, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- +0 2 endocrine-scrutinized filters together
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Allergens
Low
94
- +100 Starting score
- β6 Photoallergen-tail UV filters (Benzophenone-3)
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White cast
Low
89
- +100 Starting score
- β6 Zinc Oxide, 3.3% declared
- β7 Titanium Dioxide, 1.1% declared
- β10 Zinc Oxide + Titanium Dioxide together
- β2 Titanium Dioxide as pigment (CI 77891) at #63
- +12.5 Iron-oxide undertone, partial masking
- +1.9 Coated minerals (Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Alumina)
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Eye sting
Medium
59
- +100 Starting score
- β16 Oxybenzone at #3, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β16 Octinoxate at #1, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β9 Octisalate at #2, migrates into eyes with sweat
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Heavy feel
Low
82
- +100 Starting score
- β8 Zinc Oxide, 3.3% declared
- β10 Titanium Dioxide, 1.1% declared
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Fungal acne
High
3
- +100 Starting score
- β12 1 free fatty acids that feed Malassezia (Linoleic Acid)
- β24 2 polysorbate/sorbitan emulsifiers that feed Malassezia (Polysorbate 20, Sorbitan Laurate)
- β9 1 oils/butters that feed Malassezia (Lecithin)
- β50 7 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-40 Stearate, Polyglyceryl-10 Pentastearate)
- β2 1 ubiquitous fatty ingredients (Stearic Acid), weak Malassezia signal
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Fabric stains
High
25
- +100 Starting score
- β20 Oxybenzone at #3, yellow stains on white cotton
- β40 Iron-oxide pigments at #64, makeup-like collar marks (washable)
- β10 Titanium Dioxide at #4, white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
- β5 Both minerals present, heavier deposit
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Moisture
Balanced
LightNourishing
- β 3 2 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica, Polymethylsilsesquioxane)
- β 2 Zinc Oxide at #5, mild sebum absorbent
- β 1 Glycerin at #32, the anchor humectant
- β 2 Sodium Hyaluronate at #35, hyaluronic family
- β 3 3 strong humectants (Sodium PCA, Urea, Trehalose)
- β 1 1 emollient lipids (Squalane)
- β 0.5 1 fatty-alcohol emollients (Behenyl Alcohol)
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Finish
Balanced
MatteDewy
- β 2 2 sebum-absorbing powders (Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Silica)
- β 1 1 emollient lipids (Squalane)
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Makeup base
Okay
PillsPrimer
- β 3 Primer-style base, volatile silicones and dimethicone slip
- β 0.5 Gel polymers prone to pilling under friction (Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP Copolymer)
- β 3 High mineral load at #4 greys under foundation (tinted)
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Water resistance
Not resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
Nothing flagged in the ingredient list.
How we rate water resistance βFull ingredient list (66)
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 (Octinoxate), high in the list, a primary filter
- β 18 UV protection
- β 12.6 stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β 16 migrates into eyes with sweat
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Legacy UV filter (Octisalate), high in the list, a primary filter
- β 8 UV protection
- β 9 migrates into eyes with sweat
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Legacy UV filter (Oxybenzone), high in the list, a primary filter
- β 22 UV protection
- β 16 migrates into eyes with sweat
- β 20 yellow stains on white cotton
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Mineral UV filter (Titanium Dioxide)
- β 31.4 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- β 7 1.1% declared
- β 10 1.1% declared
- β 10 white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
- pills β 3 High mineral load greys under foundation (tinted)
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Mineral UV filter (Zinc Oxide)
- β 38.9 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- β 6 3.3% declared
- β 8 3.3% declared
- light β 2 mild sebum absorbent
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6 Water
Solvent base, the water phase
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 14 feeds malassezia
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Fatty alcohol, an emollient and thickener, not the drying kind
- 0.5 β nourishing fatty-alcohol emollient
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Supporting ingredient
-
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light β 1.5 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte β 1 sebum-absorbing powder
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 9 feeds malassezia
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 9 feeds malassezia
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Botanical extract
-
Botanical extract
-
Botanical extract
-
Botanical extract
-
Protein, peptide or amino acid, conditions and hydrates skin
-
Botanical extract
-
Botanical extract
-
Supporting ingredient
-
26 Oryzanol
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
29 Trehalose
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 1 β nourishing humectant
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Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- β 9 feeds malassezia
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31 Sucrose
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
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32 Glycerin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 1 β nourishing the anchor humectant
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33 Cholesterol
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
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34 Caffeine
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
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Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 2 β nourishing hyaluronic family
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- β 12 feeds malassezia
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37 Lecithin
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 9 feeds malassezia
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38 Squalane
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- 1 β nourishing emollient lipid
- 1 β dewy emollient lipid
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- β 9 feeds malassezia
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40 Urea
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 1 β nourishing humectant
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Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
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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Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 9 feeds malassezia
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46 Stearic Acid
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- β 2 minor malassezia feeder
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 12 feeds malassezia
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48 Xanthan Gum
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
49 Alumina
Supporting ingredient
-
50 Sodium PCA
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 1 β nourishing humectant
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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Supporting ingredient
-
Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
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55 Silica
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light β 1.5 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte β 1 sebum-absorbing powder
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Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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58 Mica
Colorant or pigment
-
Colorant or pigment
-
60 Ci 77289
Colorant or pigment
-
61 Ci 77288
Colorant or pigment
-
62 Carmine
Supporting ingredient
-
Colorant or pigment
-
64 Iron Oxides
Colorant or pigment
- β 40 makeup-like collar marks (washable)
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65 Ci 19140
Colorant or pigment
-
66 Ci 42090
Colorant or pigment
Does the Bobbi Brown Primer Plus Radiance SPF 35 work as a makeup base?
Yes, it is designed as a radiance primer. It wears lightweight with a balanced finish and low white cast, sitting under foundation.
Is the Bobbi Brown Primer Plus Radiance SPF 35 mineral or chemical?
It uses both, combining the chemical filters octinoxate and Ethylhexyl Salicylate with mineral Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide.
Is it real sun protection?
Protection is rated good for a primer and the overall score is mid-range, but it is best treated as supplementary SPF rather than your primary sunscreen.