Cien Sun Lotion Classic SPF 50
66/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
Cien Sun Lotion Classic SPF 50 is a chemical sunscreen built on an older filter set of Octocrylene, Avobenzone, Ethylhexyl Salicylate and Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid. It has a balanced, lightweight finish with low white cast and low pore-clogging potential, and rates good under makeup, but it can sting noticeably if it reaches the eyes. Protection is rated good and it scores 66.2/100. A budget-friendly body lotion, though the dated filters keep the score modest.
Ingredient & SPF scores
☀️
UV protection
Good
59
- +16 Octocrylene at #2, UV filter
- +28.5 Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane at #6, UV filter (UVA1 +15.2)
- +7.6 Ethylhexyl Salicylate at #7, UV filter
- +11.2 Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid at #9, UV filter
- ×0.9 Limited long-UVA1 coverage
- +2 Label claims (SPF 50)
☢️
Health safety
High
67
- +100 Starting score
- −30 Octocrylene at #2 (regulatory/evidence concern)
- −3.5 Avobenzone at #6, 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
15
- +100 Starting score
- −16 Avobenzone at #6, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −22 Octocrylene at #2, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −6 Octisalate at #7, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −2 Ensulizole at #9, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −18 Volatile alcohol at #3
- −5 Alcohol high up speeds filter migration
- −8 Fragrance
- −8 7 declared fragrance allergens
👕
Fabric stains
High
30
- +100 Starting score
- −45 Avobenzone at #6, reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
- −15 Octocrylene at #2, co-stains alongside avobenzone
- −10 Avobenzone + Octocrylene, the classic staining pair
💧
Moisture
Light
LightNourishing
- ← 22 Volatile alcohol at #3
- → 10 Glycerin at #5, the anchor humectant
✨
Finish
Balanced
MatteDewy
- ← 5 Volatile alcohol at #3
- → 6 1 emollient lipids (C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate)
💄
Makeup base
Good
PillsPrimer
- → 10 Quick-setting carrier (alcohol at #3), fast, even canvas
- → 2 Dry-touch esters, smooth fast-absorbing base
- ← 2.5 Gel polymers prone to pilling under friction (Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Xanthan Gum)
- ← 1.5 Humectant syrup tackiness (partly offset by the base)
🌊
Water resistance
Resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
- +14 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 (30)
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
-
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
-
3 Alcohol
Volatile alcohol, a drying solvent that can sting eyes
- ↑ 5 high up speeds filter migration
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- 6 → dewy emollient lipid
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5 Glycerin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 10 → nourishing the anchor humectant
-
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
-
Legacy UV filter (Octisalate)
- ↑ 7.6 UV protection
- ↑ 6 migrates into eyes with sweat
-
Film former, locks the formula onto skin for water resistance
- ↑ 7 film former
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Legacy UV filter (Ensulizole), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- ↑ 11.2 UV protection
- ↑ 2 migrates into eyes with sweat
-
Film former, locks the formula onto skin for water resistance
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
- ↑ 7 film former
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12 Xanthan Gum
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
13 Fragrance
Fragrance
-
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
pH adjuster
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
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Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
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22 Linalool
Fragrance component, a declared allergen
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Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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25 Limonene
Fragrance component, a declared allergen
-
Fragrance component, a declared allergen
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27 Eugenol
Fragrance component, a declared allergen
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28 Citronellol
Fragrance component, a declared allergen
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29 Coumarin
Fragrance component, a declared allergen
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30 Geraniol
Fragrance component, a declared allergen
Will Cien Sun Lotion Classic sting my eyes?
It may sting noticeably, as sweat-sting is rated high. Keeping it well away from the eye area is recommended.
Is the Cien Sun Lotion Classic SPF 50 mineral or chemical?
It is chemical, using older filters including Octocrylene, Avobenzone and Ethylhexyl Salicylate. It scores 66.2/100.
Does it work under makeup?
Yes, it is rated good as a makeup base, with a balanced, lightweight finish and low white cast. Protection is rated good.