Cien Facial Sunscreen (Mattifying) SPF 30
66/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
Cien Facial Sunscreen (Mattifying) is an SPF 30 chemical sunscreen using older filters including Octocrylene, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, and Avobenzone (Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane). It delivers a matte finish, stays lightweight, keeps white cast low, and works well under makeup. One caveat: it scores high on sweat-sting, so it may not suit very sensitive eyes during heat or exercise. With good protection and a score of 65.5/100, it is a budget-friendly matte option held back by its old-school filter set.
Ingredient & SPF scores
☀️
UV protection
Good
56
- +16 Octocrylene at #3, UV filter
- +7.6 Ethylhexyl Salicylate at #5, UV filter
- +28.5 Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane at #7, UV filter (UVA1 +15.2)
- +8.4 Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid at #14, UV filter
- ×0.9 Limited long-UVA1 coverage
- +1 Label claims (SPF 30)
☢️
Health safety
High
67
- +100 Starting score
- −30 Octocrylene at #3 (regulatory/evidence concern)
- −3.5 Avobenzone at #7, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
🤧
Allergens
Low
61
- +100 Starting score
- −18 Fragrance
- −18 8 declared fragrance allergens
- −3 Photoallergen-tail UV filters (Octocrylene)
🔥
Eye sting
High
16
- +100 Starting score
- −16 Avobenzone at #7, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −22 Octocrylene at #3, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −6 Octisalate at #5, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −1 Ensulizole at #14, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −18 Volatile alcohol at #2
- −5 Alcohol high up speeds filter migration
- −8 Fragrance
- −8 7 declared fragrance allergens
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Fungal acne
Low
91
- +100 Starting score
- −9 1 oils/butters that feed Malassezia (Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil)
👕
Fabric stains
High
30
- +100 Starting score
- −45 Avobenzone at #7, reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
- −15 Octocrylene at #3, co-stains alongside avobenzone
- −10 Avobenzone + Octocrylene, the classic staining pair
💧
Moisture
Light
LightNourishing
- ← 22 Volatile alcohol at #2
- ← 5 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica)
- → 10 Glycerin at #4, the anchor humectant
- → 1 1 emollient lipids (Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil)
✨
Finish
Matte
MatteDewy
- ← 6 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica)
- ← 5 Volatile alcohol at #2
- → 4 2 emollient lipids (Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate)
💄
Makeup base
Good
PillsPrimer
- → 10 Quick-setting carrier (alcohol at #2), fast, even canvas
- → 3 1 soft-focus powders in moderation
- → 1 Dry-touch esters, smooth fast-absorbing base
- ← 0.5 Gel polymers prone to pilling under friction (Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer)
- ← 1.5 Humectant syrup tackiness (partly offset by the base)
🌊
Water resistance
Not resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
- +10 2 film-forming polymers that lock the formula on for 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 E
Full ingredient list (36)
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
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2 Alcohol
Volatile alcohol, a drying solvent that can sting eyes
- ↑ 5 high up speeds filter migration
-
Legacy UV filter (Octocrylene), high in the list, a primary filter
- ↑ 16 UV protection
- ↑ 22 migrates into eyes with sweat
- ↑ 15 co-stains alongside avobenzone
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4 Glycerin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 10 → nourishing the anchor humectant
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Legacy UV filter (Octisalate)
- ↑ 7.6 UV protection
- ↑ 6 migrates into eyes with sweat
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6 Silica
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light ← 5 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte ← 6 sebum-absorbing powder
-
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
- 3 → dewy emollient lipid
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9 Undecane
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
10 Tridecane
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
- ↑ 7 film former
-
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Legacy UV filter (Ensulizole), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- ↑ 8.4 UV protection
- ↑ 1 migrates into eyes with sweat
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
16 Xanthan Gum
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
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17 Fragrance
Fragrance
-
Film former, locks the formula onto skin for water resistance
- ↑ 3 film former
-
Film former, locks the formula onto skin for water resistance
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
pH adjuster
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
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Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
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Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
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27 Tocopherol
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
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Botanical extract
- 1 → nourishing emollient lipid
- 1 → dewy emollient lipid
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
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29 Linalool
Fragrance component, a declared allergen
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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31 Limonene
Fragrance component, a declared allergen
-
Fragrance component, a declared allergen
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33 Eugenol
Fragrance component, a declared allergen
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34 Citronellol
Fragrance component, a declared allergen
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35 Coumarin
Fragrance component, a declared allergen
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36 Geraniol
Fragrance component, a declared allergen
Is Cien Mattifying SPF 30 good for oily skin?
It gives a matte finish, scores low on pore-clogging, and works well under makeup, so it is generally a good fit for oily skin. Note it scores high on sweat-sting, so take care around the eyes in heat.
Is the Cien Facial Sunscreen (Mattifying) SPF 30 mineral or chemical?
It is a chemical sunscreen using older filters including Octocrylene, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, and Avobenzone (Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane).
Does it leave a white cast?
No, it keeps white cast low and stays lightweight, which suits its matte, makeup-friendly positioning.