Doctor Babor Protecting Balm Spf 50
87/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
Doctor Babor Protecting Balm SPF 50 is a hybrid chemical sunscreen using filters such as Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Ethylhexyl Triazone and Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine for broad-spectrum coverage. It wears lightweight with a matte finish and low white cast, with low pore-clogging risk. With excellent rated protection and a high overall score of 86.8, it is one of the stronger options in this group.
Ingredient & SPF scores
☀️
UV protection
Excellent
92
- +18 Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate at #2, UV filter
- +36 Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate at #3, UV filter (UVA1 +22)
- +20.9 Ethylhexyl Triazone at #5, UV filter
- +11.2 Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid at #8, UV filter
- +38.4 Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine at #9, UV filter (UVA1 +12.8)
- −32.5 UVB coverage saturated
- −2.2 UVA2 coverage saturated
- +2 Label claims (SPF 50)
☢️
Health safety
High
64
- +100 Starting score
- −36 Octinoxate at #2 (regulatory/evidence concern)
🔥
Eye sting
Low
82
- +100 Starting score
- −16 Octinoxate at #2, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −2 Ensulizole at #8, migrates into eyes with sweat
🍄
Fungal acne
Low
77
- +100 Starting score
- −9 1 oils/butters that feed Malassezia (Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil)
- −14 1 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Polyglyceryl-2 Dipolyhydroxystearate)
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Fabric stains
Low
85
- +100 Starting score
- −15 Uvinul A Plus (DHHB) at #3, oil-soluble UVA filter, fabric stains
💧
Moisture
Balanced
LightNourishing
- ← 6.5 2 sebum-absorbing powders (Aluminium Starch Octenylsuccinate, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer)
- → 10 Glycerin at #6, the anchor humectant
- → 1 1 strong humectants (Panthenol)
- → 1 1 emollient lipids (Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil)
✨
Finish
Matte
MatteDewy
- ← 7 2 sebum-absorbing powders (Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Aluminium Starch Octenylsuccinate)
- ← 2 1 dry-touch emollients reduce greasy shine (Dibutyl Adipate)
- → 1 1 emollient lipids (Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil)
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Makeup base
Okay
PillsPrimer
- → 3 1 soft-focus powders in moderation
- → 2 Dry-touch esters, smooth fast-absorbing base
- ← 0.5 Gel polymers prone to pilling under friction (Carbomer)
- ← 1.5 Humectant syrup tackiness (partly offset by the base)
🌊
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 E
Full ingredient list (40)
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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Legacy UV filter (Octinoxate), high in the list, a primary filter
- ↑ 18 UV protection
- ↑ 16 migrates into eyes with sweat
-
Modern UV filter, broad-spectrum and photostable (Uvinul A Plus), high in the list, a primary filter
- ↑ 36 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- ↑ 15 oil-soluble UVA filter, fabric stains
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- matte ← 2 dry-touch emollient, anti-shine
-
Modern UV filter, broad-spectrum and photostable (Uvinul T 150)
- ↑ 20.9 UV protection
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6 Glycerin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 10 → nourishing the anchor humectant
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Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light ← 5 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte ← 6 sebum-absorbing powder
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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
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Modern UV filter, broad-spectrum and photostable (Tinosorb S), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- ↑ 38.4 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
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10 Arginine
pH adjuster
-
11 Undecane
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 14 feeds malassezia
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
-
14 Tridecane
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light ← 1.5 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte ← 1 sebum-absorbing powder
-
17 Dimethicone
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
18 Panthenol
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
- 1 → nourishing humectant
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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20 Maltodextrin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
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21 Xanthan Gum
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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24 Ethylparaben
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
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Humectant, pulls water into the skin
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Humectant, pulls water into the skin
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Botanical extract
-
29 Citric Acid
pH adjuster
-
Botanical extract
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Supporting ingredient
-
33 Tocopherol
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
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Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
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Botanical extract
-
37 Pantolactone
Supporting ingredient
-
38 Carbomer
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Botanical extract
- 1 → nourishing emollient lipid
- 1 → dewy emollient lipid
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
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40 Dna
Supporting ingredient
Is Doctor Babor Protecting Balm good?
Yes. It scores 86.8 out of 100 with excellent rated protection from a broad hybrid filter blend, making it one of the stronger options in this group.
Does the Doctor Babor Protecting Balm Spf 50 leave a white cast?
No, white cast is rated low and it wears with a matte finish, so it blends in on most skin tones.
Is it good for oily skin?
It can suit oily skin. The finish is matte, pore-clogging risk is rated low and it wears lightweight.