e.l.f. Sun Boss Gloss SPF 25
69/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
e.l.f. Sun Boss Gloss SPF 25 is a budget pure mineral sunscreen based on Zinc Oxide. It keeps white cast low and wears with a balanced finish that feels lightweight, while staying low on pore-clogging ingredients. The lower SPF 25 means more modest protection than higher-numbered options. With a score of 69.4/100 and moderate protection, it is an affordable daily pick best suited to lighter sun exposure.
Ingredient & SPF scores
βοΈ
UV protection
Moderate
41
- +41 Zinc Oxide at #1, UV filter (UVA1 +18)
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Allergens
Low
70
- +100 Starting score
- β18 Fragrance
- β12 Opaque "Fragrance", hidden allergens that can't be checked from the label
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White cast
Low
84
- +100 Starting score
- β28 Zinc Oxide, 10% declared
- β2 Titanium Dioxide as pigment (CI 77891) at #32
- β8 Pure mineral formula (10% total declared)
- +19 Iron-oxide undertone, partial masking
- +1.9 PHSA dispersant, fights agglomeration
- +1.2 Coated minerals (Triethoxycaprylylsilane)
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Eye sting
Low
98
- +100 Starting score
- β8 Fragrance
- +6 Mineral filter system, low-sting filters
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Heavy feel
Low
67
- +100 Starting score
- β18 Zinc Oxide, 10% declared
- β6 Microcrystalline Wax at #8, wax film
- β2 Hydrogenated Castor Oil at #25, butter/occlusive fat
- β1 Ricinus Communis Seed Oil at #20, heavy oil
- β6 Hydrogenated Polyisobutene at #4, heavy oil
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Fungal acne
Medium
64
- +100 Starting score
- β27 3 oils/butters that feed Malassezia (Lecithin, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Hydrogenated Castor Oil)
- β9 1 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate)
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Fabric stains
Medium
45
- +100 Starting score
- β40 Iron-oxide pigments at #27, makeup-like collar marks (washable)
- β15 Zinc Oxide at #1, white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
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Moisture
Balanced
LightNourishing
- β 3 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica Dimethyl Silylate)
- β 5 Zinc Oxide at #1, mild sebum absorbent
- β 2 Sodium Hyaluronate at #22, hyaluronic family
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Finish
Balanced
MatteDewy
- β 3 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica Dimethyl Silylate)
- β 6 1 emollient lipids (C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate)
- β 1 Occlusives seal moisture in (Ricinus Communis Seed Oil)
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Makeup base
Okay
PillsPrimer
- β 2 Dry-touch esters, smooth fast-absorbing base
- β 6 Occlusives/waxes float the foundation
- β 7.5 High mineral load at #1 greys under foundation (tinted)
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Water resistance
Not resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
- +3 1 film-forming polymers that lock the formula on for water resistance
- +4 1 water-locking waxes
Full ingredient list (32)
What each ingredient does and how it moves each rating: green helps, red hurts, β / β give the direction, and β / β 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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Mineral UV filter (Zinc Oxide), high in the list, a primary filter
- β 41 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- β 28 10% declared
- β 18 10% declared
- β 15 white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
- light β 5 mild sebum absorbent
- pills β 7.5 High mineral load greys under foundation (tinted)
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- β 6 heavy oil
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- 6 β dewy emollient lipid
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Supporting ingredient
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Fatty alcohol, an emollient and thickener, not the drying kind
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Occlusive, seals moisture into the skin
- β 6 wax film
- β 4 wax water lock
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light β 3 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte β 3 sebum-absorbing powder
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11 Oryzanol
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
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Botanical extract
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Supporting ingredient
-
14 Fragrance
Fragrance
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Humectant, pulls water into the skin
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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Film former, locks the formula onto skin for water resistance
- β 3 film former
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Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
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Botanical extract
- β 1 heavy oil
- 1 β dewy occlusive
- β 9 feeds malassezia
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 2 β nourishing hyaluronic family
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 9 feeds malassezia
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24 Lecithin
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 9 feeds malassezia
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Plant oil, an emollient
- β 2 butter/occlusive fat
- β 9 feeds malassezia
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26 Tocopherol
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
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27 Ci 77491
Colorant or pigment
- β 40 makeup-like collar marks (washable)
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28 Ci 77491
Colorant or pigment
-
29 Ci 15850
Colorant or pigment
-
30 Ci 15850
Colorant or pigment
-
31 Ci 77491
Colorant or pigment
-
Colorant or pigment
Is this a mineral or chemical sunscreen?
It is a pure mineral sunscreen using Zinc Oxide. That makes it a budget-friendly mineral option.
What SPF is the e.l.f. Sun Boss Gloss SPF 25?
It is SPF 25, which gives more modest protection than SPF 50 options. It is generally better suited to light daily exposure than long days in strong sun.
Does the e.l.f. Sun Boss Gloss SPF 25 leave a white cast?
White cast is low for a mineral formula, and it wears with a balanced, lightweight finish. With a score of 69.4/100 and moderate protection, it is an affordable everyday choice.