Cosmed Atopia Intensive Balm SPF 20
63/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
Cosmed Atopia Intensive Balm is an SPF 20 chemical sunscreen balm built on Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane (avobenzone) and Octocrylene, an older-generation filter pairing. It leaves a dewy finish with low risk of a white cast and is generally non-stinging and low on pore-clogging, though the balm texture feels on the heavier side and is a poor base under makeup. With only moderate protection at SPF 20 and a score of 63.2/100, it reads more as a soothing daily balm for very dry skin than a high-protection sunscreen.
Ingredient & SPF scores
☀️
UV protection
Moderate
39
- +28.5 Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane at #5, UV filter (UVA1 +15.2)
- +15.2 Octocrylene at #6, UV filter
- ×0.9 Limited long-UVA1 coverage
☢️
Health safety
High
67
- +100 Starting score
- −30 Octocrylene at #6 (regulatory/evidence concern)
- −3.5 Avobenzone at #5, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
🤧
Allergens
Low
97
- +100 Starting score
- −3 Photoallergen-tail UV filters (Octocrylene)
🔥
Eye sting
Low
69
- +100 Starting score
- −16 Avobenzone at #5, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −15 Octocrylene at #6, migrates into eyes with sweat
🪨
Heavy feel
Medium
46
- +100 Starting score
- −20 Cera Alba at #2, wax film
- −12 Copernicia Cerifera Wax at #7, wax film
- −10 Ricinus Communis Seed Oil at #1, heavy oil
- −12 Stick/balm format with a wax skeleton
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Fungal acne
Medium
64
- +100 Starting score
- −36 1 oils/butters that feed Malassezia (Ricinus Communis Seed Oil)
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Fabric stains
High
30
- +100 Starting score
- −45 Avobenzone at #5, reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
- −15 Octocrylene at #6, co-stains alongside avobenzone
- −10 Avobenzone + Octocrylene, the classic staining pair
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Moisture
Balanced
LightNourishing
- → 4 Glycerin at #10, the anchor humectant
✨
Finish
Dewy
MatteDewy
- → 8 Occlusives seal moisture in (Ricinus Communis Seed Oil)
🌊
Water resistance
Resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
- +17 2 water-locking waxes
Full ingredient list (12)
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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Botanical extract
- ↑ 10 heavy oil
- 8 → dewy occlusive
- ↑ 36 feeds malassezia
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Occlusive, seals moisture into the skin
- ↑ 20 wax film
- ↑ 10 wax water lock
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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Supporting ingredient
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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 (Octocrylene)
- ↑ 15.2 UV protection
- ↑ 15 migrates into eyes with sweat
- ↑ 15 co-stains alongside avobenzone
-
Occlusive, seals moisture into the skin
- ↑ 12 wax film
- ↑ 7 wax water lock
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Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
-
10 Glycerin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 4 → nourishing the anchor humectant
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Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
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Botanical extract
Is this a mineral or chemical sunscreen?
This is a chemical sunscreen. It uses Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane (avobenzone) and Octocrylene, an older-generation filter pairing, with no mineral filters.
What SPF is the Cosmed Atopia Intensive Balm SPF 20 and is it enough?
It is SPF 20, which provides only moderate protection. For extended sun exposure a higher SPF is generally preferable, so this balm suits lighter everyday use on very dry skin.
Will the Cosmed Atopia Intensive Balm SPF 20 leave a white cast?
White cast risk is low. The balm has a dewy finish and is built on chemical filters, so it should not leave a noticeable white film.