Differin Oil Control Moisturizer Broad Spectrum Spf 30
69/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
Differin Oil Control Moisturizer SPF 30 is a chemical sunscreen moisturizer using an older-style filter trio of Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Ethylhexyl Salicylate and Octocrylene. It dries to a matte finish, stays lightweight and keeps white cast low, with a low pore-clogging risk that suits oily and acne-prone skin, though it can sting somewhat around the eyes. It works okay under makeup. At 68.5/100 with moderate protection, it is a reasonable mattifying daily moisturizer.
Ingredient & SPF scores
☀️
UV protection
Moderate
50
- +30 Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane at #1, UV filter (UVA1 +16)
- +8 Ethylhexyl Salicylate at #2, UV filter
- +16 Octocrylene at #3, 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 #1, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
🤧
Allergens
Low
97
- +100 Starting score
- −3 Photoallergen-tail UV filters (Octocrylene)
🔥
Eye sting
Medium
45
- +100 Starting score
- −24 Avobenzone at #1, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −22 Octocrylene at #3, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −9 Octisalate at #2, migrates into eyes with sweat
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Fungal acne
Medium
73
- +100 Starting score
- −27 3 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Sucrose Tristearate, Isopropyl Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate)
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Fabric stains
High
25
- +100 Starting score
- −50 Avobenzone at #1, 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
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Moisture
Balanced
LightNourishing
- ← 8 3 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica, Aluminium Starch Octenylsuccinate, Polymethyl Methacrylate)
- → 4 Glycerin at #12, the anchor humectant
- → 1 1 strong humectants (Panthenol)
✨
Finish
Matte
MatteDewy
- ← 8 3 sebum-absorbing powders (Aluminium Starch Octenylsuccinate, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Silica)
- ← 1 1 dry-touch emollients reduce greasy shine (Diisopropyl Sebacate)
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Makeup base
Okay
PillsPrimer
- → 1 Primer-style base, volatile silicones and dimethicone slip
- → 3 1 soft-focus powders in moderation
- → 1 Dry-touch esters, smooth fast-absorbing base
- ← 7 Gel polymers prone to pilling under friction (Carbomer)
🌊
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.
- ✨ Allantoin
- ✨ Panthenol (B5)
Full ingredient list (29)
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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Legacy UV filter (Avobenzone), high in the list, a primary filter
- ↑ 30 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- ↓ 3.5 stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- ↑ 24 migrates into eyes with sweat
- ↑ 50 reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
-
Legacy UV filter (Octisalate), high in the list, a primary filter
- ↑ 8 UV protection
- ↑ 9 migrates into eyes with sweat
-
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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Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light ← 5 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte ← 6 sebum-absorbing powder
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
7 Carbomer
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- matte ← 1 dry-touch emollient, anti-shine
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
10 Dimethiconol
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
-
12 Glycerin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 4 → nourishing the anchor humectant
-
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
Supporting ingredient
-
Supporting ingredient
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
-
16 Panthenol
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
- 1 → nourishing humectant
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light ← 1.5 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte ← 1 sebum-absorbing powder
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
22 Silica
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light ← 1.5 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte ← 1 sebum-absorbing powder
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
-
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
pH adjuster
-
27 Water
Solvent base, the water phase
-
28 Xanthan Gum
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
Is Differin Oil Control Moisturizer SPF 30 good for oily skin?
Yes, it suits oily and acne-prone skin. It dries to a matte finish and has a low pore-clogging risk, so it is generally a good fit for shine-prone skin.
Is Differin Oil Control Moisturizer mineral or chemical?
It is chemical. It uses Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Ethylhexyl Salicylate and Octocrylene, with no mineral filters.
Is it good?
It scores 68.5/100 with moderate protection at SPF 30. It is a reasonable mattifying daily moisturizer, though it can sting somewhat near the eyes.