Cancer Council Active Sunscreen Lotion Spf50+
66/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
Cancer Council Active Sunscreen Lotion SPF50+ is a hybrid sunscreen pairing chemical filters with the modern Tinosorb S, delivering excellent broad-spectrum protection. It wears lightweight with a balanced finish, low white cast and a low tendency to sting, suited to active outdoor wear. The formula is low in pore-clogging risk and layers acceptably under makeup. Its score of 66/100 reflects strong protection from a blend that leans on some older filters alongside the modern one.
Ingredient & SPF scores
☀️
UV protection
Excellent
85
- +28.5 Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane at #4, UV filter (UVA1 +15.2)
- +11.4 4-Methylbenzylidene Camphor at #7, UV filter
- +12.8 Octocrylene at #9, UV filter
- +38.4 Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine at #10, UV filter (UVA1 +12.8)
- −3.4 UVB coverage saturated
- −4.7 UVA2 coverage saturated
- +2 Label claims (SPF 50)
☢️
Health safety
Low
0
- +100 Starting score
- −80 Enzacamene (4-MBC) at #7 (regulatory/evidence concern)
- −10.5 Octocrylene at #9, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- −3.5 Avobenzone at #4, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- −10 Propylparaben at #17, endocrine-scrutinized preservative
- +4 Penalties exceed the scale, floored at 0
🤧
Allergens
Low
93
- +100 Starting score
- −7 Photoallergen-tail UV filters (Octocrylene, 4-Methylbenzylidene Camphor)
🔥
Eye sting
Low
77
- +100 Starting score
- −16 Avobenzone at #4, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −7 Octocrylene at #9, migrates into eyes with sweat
🔴
Comedogenic
Low
68
- +100 Starting score
- −32 Isopropyl Palmitate at #2, heavy comedogenic ester
🍄
Fungal acne
Medium
55
- +100 Starting score
- −45 2 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Isopropyl Palmitate, PEG-40 Stearate)
👕
Fabric stains
High
30
- +100 Starting score
- −45 Avobenzone at #4, reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
- −15 Octocrylene at #9, co-stains alongside avobenzone
- −10 Avobenzone + Octocrylene, the classic staining pair
✨
Finish
Balanced
MatteDewy
- ← 6 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica)
- → 6 1 slippy emollient esters (Isopropyl Palmitate)
💄
Makeup base
Okay
PillsPrimer
- → 1 Primer-style base, volatile silicones and dimethicone slip
- → 3 1 soft-focus powders in moderation
- ← 0.5 Gel polymers prone to pilling under friction (Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer)
- ← 10 Occlusives/waxes float the foundation
🌊
Water resistance
Not resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
- +10 1 water-locking waxes
Full ingredient list (22)
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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1 Water
Solvent base, the water phase
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- ↑ 32 heavy comedogenic ester
- 6 → dewy slippy emollient ester
- ↑ 36 feeds malassezia
-
Occlusive, seals moisture into the skin
- ↑ 20 wax film
- ↑ 10 wax water lock
-
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
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
6 Silica
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light ← 5 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte ← 6 sebum-absorbing powder
-
Legacy UV filter (4-MBC)
- ↑ 11.4 UV protection
- ↓ 80 Enzacamene (4-MBC) (regulatory/evidence concern)
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Legacy UV filter (Octocrylene), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- ↑ 12.8 UV protection
- ↓ 10.5 stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- ↑ 7 migrates into eyes with sweat
- ↑ 15 co-stains alongside avobenzone
-
Modern UV filter, broad-spectrum and photostable (Tinosorb S), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- ↑ 38.4 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
- ↓ 10 endocrine-scrutinized preservative
-
pH adjuster
-
19 Ethylparaben
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
-
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
22 BHT
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
Is this mineral or chemical?
It is a hybrid. It pairs chemical filters with the modern mineral-style filter Tinosorb S.
Does the Cancer Council Active Sunscreen Lotion Spf50+ leave a white cast?
White cast is generally low and the balanced finish stays lightweight, suiting active outdoor wear. It also has a low tendency to sting.
What SPF is the Cancer Council Active Sunscreen Lotion Spf50+ and is it good?
It is SPF 50+ with excellent measured protection. Its score of 66/100 reflects strong coverage from a blend that leans on some older filters alongside Tinosorb S.