Conscious Chemist Vitamin C Lightweight Cream (SPF 30 Pa++)
49/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
Conscious Chemist Vitamin C Lightweight Cream SPF 30 PA++ is a chemical sunscreen using just two older filters, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate and Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane. It has a balanced finish, low white cast and a lightweight feel, is generally non-stinging, and is low on pore-clogging. Protection is rated weak, reflecting the limited filter set. With a 49.0/100 score it is best seen as a light moisturizer with modest sun support rather than a primary sunscreen.
Ingredient & SPF scores
☀️
UV protection
Weak
16
- +14.4 Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate at #12, UV filter
- +18 Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane at #13, UV filter (UVA1 +9.6)
- ×0.6 Almost no UVA1, poor aging protection
- ×0.75 Avobenzone + octinoxate degrade each other in sunlight
- +1 Label claims (SPF 30)
☢️
Health safety
High
61
- +100 Starting score
- −36 Octinoxate at #12 (regulatory/evidence concern)
- −3.5 Avobenzone at #13, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
🔥
Eye sting
Low
92
- +100 Starting score
- −3 Avobenzone at #13, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −5 Octinoxate at #12, migrates into eyes with sweat
🍄
Fungal acne
Low
91
- +100 Starting score
- −9 1 oils/butters that feed Malassezia (Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil)
👕
Fabric stains
Low
72
- +100 Starting score
- −28 Avobenzone at #13, reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
💧
Moisture
Hydrating
LightNourishing
- → 4 Sodium Hyaluronate at #10, hyaluronic family
- → 4 2 strong humectants (Betaine, Polyglutamic Acid)
- → 2 Humectant polyols
- → 1 1 emollient lipids (Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil)
✨
Finish
Balanced
MatteDewy
- → 1 1 emollient lipids (Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil)
🌊
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 (25)
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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Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 2 → nourishing humectant polyol
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pH adjuster
-
4 Hema
Supporting ingredient
-
Supporting ingredient
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
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Protein, peptide or amino acid, conditions and hydrates skin
- 2 → nourishing humectant
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9 Betaine
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 2 → nourishing humectant
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Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 4 → nourishing hyaluronic family
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Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
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Legacy UV filter (Octinoxate), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- ↑ 14.4 UV protection
- ↑ 5 migrates into eyes with sweat
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Legacy UV filter (Avobenzone), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- ↑ 18 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- ↓ 3.5 stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- ↑ 3 migrates into eyes with sweat
- ↑ 28 reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
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Protein, peptide or amino acid, conditions and hydrates skin
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Protein, peptide or amino acid, conditions and hydrates skin
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Botanical extract
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17 Proline
Protein, peptide or amino acid, conditions and hydrates skin
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Plant oil, an emollient
- 1 → nourishing emollient lipid
- 1 → dewy emollient lipid
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
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Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
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Supporting ingredient
-
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
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Botanical extract
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Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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24 Xanthan Gum
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
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Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
Is Conscious Chemist Vitamin C Lightweight Cream good protection?
Protection is rated weak, reflecting a limited two-filter set of Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate and Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane. The overall score is 49.0/100, so it is best seen as light support rather than primary defense.
Is the Conscious Chemist Vitamin C Lightweight Cream (SPF 30 Pa++) mineral or chemical?
It is a chemical sunscreen with no mineral filters. It uses just Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate and Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane.
Is it okay for acne-prone skin?
Pore-clogging is rated low and the finish is balanced and lightweight, so it is generally friendly to breakout-prone skin.