Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Dew Balm Sunscreen Stick SPF 30
65/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Dew Balm Sunscreen Stick SPF 30 is a chemical stick on an older filter base of Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Homosalate and Avobenzone. It gives a balanced finish with low white cast, stays lightweight, does not sting, and is generally a good base under makeup with low breakout potential. With a score of 65.2 and moderate protection, it is a convenient touch-up stick rather than a primary high-protection layer.
Ingredient & SPF scores
☀️
UV protection
Moderate
38
- +7.6 Ethylhexyl Salicylate at #7, UV filter
- +9.6 Homosalate at #8, UV filter
- +24 Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane at #9, UV filter (UVA1 +12.8)
- ×0.9 Limited long-UVA1 coverage
- +1 Label claims (SPF 30)
☢️
Health safety
Medium
57
- +100 Starting score
- −40 Homosalate at #8 (regulatory/evidence concern)
- −3.5 Avobenzone at #9, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
🤧
Allergens
Low
70
- +100 Starting score
- −18 Fragrance
- −12 Opaque "Fragrance", hidden allergens that can't be checked from the label
🔥
Eye sting
Low
75
- +100 Starting score
- −8 Avobenzone at #9, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −3 Homosalate at #8, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −6 Octisalate at #7, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −8 Fragrance
🍄
Fungal acne
Low
91
- +100 Starting score
- −9 1 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Glyceryl Behenate)
👕
Fabric stains
Low
62
- +100 Starting score
- −38 Avobenzone at #9, reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
💧
Moisture
Balanced
LightNourishing
- ← 5 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica Silylate)
- → 2 Sodium Hyaluronate at #24, hyaluronic family
- → 2 1 emollient lipids (Squalane)
✨
Finish
Balanced
MatteDewy
- ← 6 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica Silylate)
- ← 2 1 dry-touch emollients reduce greasy shine (Coco-Caprylate/Caprate)
- → 3 1 emollient lipids (Squalane)
💄
Makeup base
Good
PillsPrimer
- → 3 1 soft-focus powders in moderation
- → 2 Dry-touch esters, smooth fast-absorbing base
🌊
Water resistance
Not resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
- +10 2 film-forming polymers that lock the formula on for 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 (26)
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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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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Fatty alcohol, an emollient and thickener, not the drying kind
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- matte ← 2 dry-touch emollient, anti-shine
-
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light ← 5 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte ← 6 sebum-absorbing powder
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Legacy UV filter (Octisalate)
- ↑ 7.6 UV protection
- ↑ 6 migrates into eyes with sweat
-
Legacy UV filter (Homosalate), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- ↑ 9.6 UV protection
- ↑ 3 migrates into eyes with sweat
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Legacy UV filter (Avobenzone), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- ↑ 24 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- ↓ 3.5 stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- ↑ 8 migrates into eyes with sweat
- ↑ 38 reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
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Supporting ingredient
-
11 Polyester-8
Film former, locks the formula onto skin for water resistance
- ↑ 7 film former
-
12 Squalane
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- 2 → nourishing emollient lipid
- 3 → dewy emollient lipid
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Humectant, pulls water into the skin
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Supporting ingredient
-
Film former, locks the formula onto skin for water resistance
- ↑ 3 film former
-
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Botanical extract
-
18 Fragrance
Fragrance
-
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
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Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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Botanical extract
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 2 → nourishing hyaluronic family
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25 Niacinamide
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
Botanical extract
Is the Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Dew Balm Sunscreen Stick SPF 30 good under makeup?
It rates as a good makeup base with a balanced finish, and as a stick it is handy for touch-ups over makeup through the day.
Does the Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Dew Balm Sunscreen Stick SPF 30 leave a white cast?
White cast is low. It is a chemical stick, so it generally goes on without a visible film.
Is it good?
It scores 65.2 out of 100 with moderate protection. It is a convenient stick for reapplication rather than a primary high-protection sunscreen.