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e.l.f. Suntouchable SPF 30 Sunscreen

e.l.f. Suntouchable SPF 30 Sunscreen

69/100 overall score

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About this sunscreen

e.l.f. Suntouchable SPF 30 is a chemical sunscreen with an older-style filter set of Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Homosalate, Ethylhexyl Salicylate and Octocrylene. It wears with a balanced finish, stays lightweight and keeps white cast low, with a low pore-clogging risk, though it can sting somewhat around the eyes. It works okay under makeup. At 68.6/100 with good protection, it is a serviceable everyday option held back by its dated filter blend.

Ingredient & SPF scores

β˜€οΈ

UV protection

Good 60
  • +30 Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane at #1, UV filter (UVA1 +16)
  • +12 Homosalate at #2, UV filter
  • +8 Ethylhexyl Salicylate at #3, UV filter
  • +15.2 Octocrylene at #4, UV filter
  • Γ—0.9 Limited long-UVA1 coverage
  • +1 Label claims (SPF 30)
How we rate uv protection β†’
☒️

Health safety

Medium 46
  • +100 Starting score
  • βˆ’40 Homosalate at #2 (regulatory/evidence concern)
  • βˆ’10.5 Octocrylene at #4, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
  • βˆ’3.5 Avobenzone at #1, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
How we rate health safety β†’
🀧

Allergens

Low 97
  • +100 Starting score
  • βˆ’3 Photoallergen-tail UV filters (Octocrylene)
How we rate allergens β†’
πŸ‘»

White cast

Low 100
  • +100 Starting score
How we rate white cast β†’
πŸ”₯

Eye sting

Medium 43
  • +100 Starting score
  • βˆ’24 Avobenzone at #1, migrates into eyes with sweat
  • βˆ’15 Octocrylene at #4, migrates into eyes with sweat
  • βˆ’9 Homosalate at #2, migrates into eyes with sweat
  • βˆ’9 Octisalate at #3, migrates into eyes with sweat
How we rate eye sting β†’
πŸͺ¨

Heavy feel

Low 100
  • +100 Starting score
How we rate heavy feel β†’
πŸ”΄

Comedogenic

Low 99
  • +100 Starting score
  • βˆ’1 Palmitic Acid at #22, moderate comedogenic signal
How we rate comedogenic β†’
πŸ„

Fungal acne

High 18
  • +100 Starting score
  • βˆ’36 3 polysorbate/sorbitan emulsifiers that feed Malassezia (Polysorbate 20, Sorbitan Isostearate, Sorbitan Olivate)
  • βˆ’42 3 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Cetearyl Olivate, Polyglyceryl-3 Distearate, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate)
  • βˆ’4 2 ubiquitous fatty ingredients (Stearic Acid, Palmitic Acid), weak Malassezia signal
How we rate fungal acne β†’
πŸ‘•

Fabric stains

High 25
  • +100 Starting score
  • βˆ’50 Avobenzone at #1, reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
  • βˆ’15 Octocrylene at #4, co-stains alongside avobenzone
  • βˆ’10 Avobenzone + Octocrylene, the classic staining pair
How we rate fabric stains β†’
πŸ’§

Moisture

Hydrating
LightNourishing
  • ← 6 2 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica, Aluminium Starch Octenylsuccinate)
  • β†’ 10 Glycerin at #6, the anchor humectant
  • β†’ 2 Sodium Hyaluronate at #14, hyaluronic family
  • β†’ 3 2 strong humectants (Panthenol, Trehalose)
  • β†’ 1 1 emollient lipids (Squalane)
How we rate moisture β†’
✨

Finish

Balanced
MatteDewy
  • ← 6 2 sebum-absorbing powders (Aluminium Starch Octenylsuccinate, Silica)
  • β†’ 1 1 emollient lipids (Squalane)
How we rate finish β†’
πŸ’„

Makeup base

Okay
PillsPrimer
  • β†’ 6 2 soft-focus powders in moderation
  • ← 0.5 Gel polymers prone to pilling under friction (Polyacrylate-13)
  • ← 1.5 Humectant syrup tackiness (partly offset by the base)
How we rate makeup base β†’
🌊

Water resistance

Not resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
  • +3 1 film-forming polymers that lock the formula on for water resistance
How we rate water resistance β†’

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.

  • ✨ Niacinamide
  • ✨ Panthenol (B5)
  • ✨ Aloe vera

Full ingredient list (39)

What each ingredient does and how it moves each rating: green helps, red hurts, ↑ / ↓ give the direction, and ← / β†’ shift a slider toward its ends (finish, moisture, makeup base). Auto-derived from our scoring rules and the ingredient's position.

  1. 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
  2. 2 Homosalate

    Legacy UV filter (Homosalate), high in the list, a primary filter

    • ↑ 12 UV protection
    • ↑ 9 migrates into eyes with sweat
  3. 3 Ethylhexyl Salicylate

    Legacy UV filter (Octisalate), high in the list, a primary filter

    • ↑ 8 UV protection
    • ↑ 9 migrates into eyes with sweat
  4. 4 Octocrylene

    Legacy UV filter (Octocrylene)

    • ↑ 15.2 UV protection
    • ↓ 10.5 stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
    • ↑ 15 migrates into eyes with sweat
    • ↑ 15 co-stains alongside avobenzone
  5. 5 Water

    Solvent base, the water phase

  6. 6 Glycerin

    Humectant, pulls water into the skin

    • 10 β†’ nourishing the anchor humectant
  7. Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended

    • ↑ 24 feeds malassezia
  8. 8 Bismuth Oxychloride

    Colorant or pigment

  9. 9 Niacinamide

    Soothing, skin-conditioning active

  10. Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish

    • light ← 3 sebum-absorbing powder
    • matte ← 3 sebum-absorbing powder
  11. 11 Trehalose

    Humectant, pulls water into the skin

    • 2 β†’ nourishing humectant
  12. 12 Silica

    Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish

    • light ← 3 sebum-absorbing powder
    • matte ← 3 sebum-absorbing powder
  13. 13 Panthenol

    Soothing, skin-conditioning active

    • 1 β†’ nourishing humectant
  14. 14 Sodium Hyaluronate

    Humectant, pulls water into the skin

    • 2 β†’ nourishing hyaluronic family
  15. 15 Squalane

    Emollient, softens and smooths skin

    • 1 β†’ nourishing emollient lipid
    • 1 β†’ dewy emollient lipid
  16. Soothing, skin-conditioning active

  17. Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended

    • ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
  18. 18 Cetearyl Olivate

    Emollient, softens and smooths skin

    • ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
  19. 19 Sorbitan Olivate

    Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended

    • ↑ 12 feeds malassezia
  20. 20 Stearyl Caprylate

    Emollient, softens and smooths skin

  21. 21 Stearic Acid

    Emollient, softens and smooths skin

    • ↑ 2 minor malassezia feeder
  22. 22 Palmitic Acid

    Emollient, softens and smooths skin

    • ↑ 1 moderate comedogenic signal
    • ↑ 2 minor malassezia feeder
  23. 23 Dimethicone

    Emollient, softens and smooths skin

  24. 24 Cetearyl Alcohol

    Fatty alcohol, an emollient and thickener, not the drying kind

  25. 25 Stearyl Heptanoate

    Emollient, softens and smooths skin

  26. 26 Polyacrylate-13

    Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream

  27. 27 Polyisobutene

    Emollient, softens and smooths skin

  28. 28 Polysorbate 20

    Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended

    • ↑ 12 feeds malassezia
  29. Emollient, softens and smooths skin

  30. 30 Sorbitan Isostearate

    Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended

    • ↑ 12 feeds malassezia
  31. Supporting ingredient

  32. Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream

    • ↑ 3 film former
  33. 33 Caprylyl Glycol

    Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling

  34. 34 Ethylhexyl-Glycerin

    Humectant, pulls water into the skin

  35. 35 Potassium Sorbate

    Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling

  36. 36 Phenoxyethanol

    Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling

  37. 37 Disodium EDTA

    Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable

  38. 38 Sodium Benzoate

    Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling

  39. 39 Citric Acid

    pH adjuster

Does e.l.f. Suntouchable SPF 30 sting the eyes?

It can sting somewhat if it migrates near the eyes. It is generally better kept away from the eye area to avoid irritation.

Is e.l.f. Suntouchable SPF 30 mineral or chemical?

It is chemical. It uses Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Homosalate, Ethylhexyl Salicylate and Octocrylene, with no mineral filters.

Is it good?

It scores 68.6/100 with good protection at SPF 30. It is a serviceable everyday option, held back mainly by its older-style filter blend.

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