Bolden Brightening Moisturizer SPF 30
64/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
Bolden Brightening Moisturizer SPF 30 is a chemical moisturizer using homosalate, ethylhexyl salicylate, avobenzone (butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane) and octocrylene. It has a balanced finish, stays lightweight and shows low white cast, so it sits okay under makeup as a daily moisturizer with SPF. Low pore-clogging potential makes it generally suitable for combination or acne-prone skin, though it may sting slightly near the eyes. With good protection and a score of 64/100, it is a decent everyday moisturizer-plus-SPF.
Ingredient & SPF scores
☀️
UV protection
Good
60
- +12 Homosalate at #1, UV filter
- +8 Ethylhexyl Salicylate at #2, UV filter
- +30 Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane at #3, UV filter (UVA1 +16)
- +15.2 Octocrylene at #4, UV filter
- ×0.9 Limited long-UVA1 coverage
- +1 Label claims (SPF 30)
☢️
Health safety
Medium
46
- +100 Starting score
- −40 Homosalate at #1 (regulatory/evidence concern)
- −10.5 Octocrylene at #4, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- −3.5 Avobenzone at #3, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
🤧
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
Medium
35
- +100 Starting score
- −24 Avobenzone at #3, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −15 Octocrylene at #4, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −9 Homosalate at #1, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −9 Octisalate at #2, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −8 Fragrance
🪨
Heavy feel
Low
90
- +100 Starting score
- −10 Butyrospermum Parkii Fruit at #7, butter/occlusive fat
🍄
Fungal acne
Medium
44
- +100 Starting score
- −18 1 polysorbate/sorbitan emulsifiers that feed Malassezia (Sorbitan Olivate)
- −24 1 oils/butters that feed Malassezia (Butyrospermum Parkii Fruit)
- −14 1 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Cetearyl Olivate)
👕
Fabric stains
High
25
- +100 Starting score
- −50 Avobenzone at #3, 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
💧
Moisture
Hydrating
LightNourishing
- ← 3 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica)
- → 10 Glycerin at #6, the anchor humectant
- → 1 1 strong humectants (Trehalose)
- → 5 2 emollient lipids (Squalane, Butyrospermum Parkii Fruit)
- → 1 Light emollient/solvent (Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride)
✨
Finish
Balanced
MatteDewy
- ← 3 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica)
- → 7 2 emollient lipids (Butyrospermum Parkii Fruit, Squalane)
💄
Makeup base
Okay
PillsPrimer
- → 3 1 soft-focus powders in moderation
- ← 0.5 Gel polymers prone to pilling under friction (Carbomer)
- ← 4 Occlusives/waxes float the foundation
- ← 1.5 Humectant syrup tackiness (partly offset by the base)
🌊
Water resistance
Not resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
Nothing flagged in the ingredient list.
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.
- ✨ Vitamin C
Full ingredient list (31)
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 (Homosalate), high in the list, a primary filter
- ↑ 12 UV protection
- ↑ 9 migrates into eyes with sweat
-
Legacy UV filter (Octisalate), high in the list, a primary filter
- ↑ 8 UV protection
- ↑ 9 migrates into eyes with sweat
-
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 (Octocrylene)
- ↑ 15.2 UV protection
- ↓ 10.5 stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- ↑ 15 migrates into eyes with sweat
- ↑ 15 co-stains alongside avobenzone
-
5 Water
Solvent base, the water phase
-
6 Glycerin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 10 → nourishing the anchor humectant
-
Botanical extract
- ↑ 10 butter/occlusive fat
- 4 → nourishing emollient lipid
- 6 → dewy emollient lipid
- ↑ 24 feeds malassezia
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- 1 → nourishing light emollient
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- ↑ 14 feeds malassezia
-
11 Silica
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light ← 3 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte ← 3 sebum-absorbing powder
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 18 feeds malassezia
-
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
14 Trehalose
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 1 → nourishing humectant
-
15 Squalane
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- 1 → nourishing emollient lipid
- 1 → dewy emollient lipid
-
16 Fragrance
Fragrance
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Supporting ingredient
-
19 Tocopherol
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
20 Allantoin
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
21 Xanthan Gum
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
22 Carbomer
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Botanical extract
-
Botanical extract
-
Botanical extract
-
Botanical extract
-
Botanical extract
-
Supporting ingredient
-
Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
-
pH adjuster
Does the Bolden Brightening Moisturizer SPF 30 leave a white cast?
White cast is generally low. This is a chemical moisturizer with a balanced, lightweight finish, so it tends to absorb without a visible film.
Is the Bolden Brightening Moisturizer SPF 30 good for acne-prone skin?
It is generally manageable. Pore-clogging potential is rated low and the finish is balanced, which commonly suits combination and acne-prone skin, though it may sting slightly near the eyes.
Is it mineral or chemical?
It is chemical, using homosalate, ethylhexyl salicylate, avobenzone and octocrylene.
Is it good?
It scores 64/100 with good protection. It is a decent daily moisturizer with SPF 30 that sits okay under makeup.