Johnson's Day Cream SPF 20
65/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
Johnson's Day Cream is an SPF 20 chemical day cream using an older-generation filter set of Homosalate, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Avobenzone, Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid and Octocrylene. It is lightweight with a balanced finish and low white cast, and the low breakout-trigger rating suits blemish-prone skin, while a medium sweat-sting rating means it is best kept clear of the eyes. It sits under makeup acceptably. With good protection and a score of 65.0/100, it is a basic everyday day cream for moderate sun.
Ingredient & SPF scores
☀️
UV protection
Good
57
- +12 Homosalate at #3, UV filter
- +7.6 Ethylhexyl Salicylate at #5, UV filter
- +28.5 Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane at #6, UV filter (UVA1 +15.2)
- +13.3 Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid at #7, UV filter
- +12.8 Octocrylene at #8, UV filter
- −10.5 UVB coverage saturated
- ×0.9 Limited long-UVA1 coverage
☢️
Health safety
Medium
46
- +100 Starting score
- −40 Homosalate at #3 (regulatory/evidence concern)
- −10.5 Octocrylene at #8, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- −3.5 Avobenzone at #6, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
🤧
Allergens
Low
67
- +100 Starting score
- −18 Fragrance
- −1 1 declared fragrance allergens
- −11 Opaque "Fragrance", hidden allergens that can't be checked from the label
- −3 Photoallergen-tail UV filters (Octocrylene)
🔥
Eye sting
Medium
50
- +100 Starting score
- −16 Avobenzone at #6, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −7 Octocrylene at #8, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −9 Homosalate at #3, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −6 Octisalate at #5, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −4 Ensulizole at #7, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −8 Fragrance
👕
Fabric stains
High
30
- +100 Starting score
- −45 Avobenzone at #6, reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
- −15 Octocrylene at #8, co-stains alongside avobenzone
- −10 Avobenzone + Octocrylene, the classic staining pair
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Moisture
Hydrating
LightNourishing
- → 16 Glycerin at #2, the anchor humectant
✨
Finish
Balanced
MatteDewy
- ← 2 1 dry-touch emollients reduce greasy shine (Caprylyl Methicone)
💄
Makeup base
Okay
PillsPrimer
- → 2 Dry-touch esters, smooth fast-absorbing base
- ← 2 Gel polymers prone to pilling under friction (Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Crosspolymer)
- ← 7 Humectant syrup tackiness
🌊
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 C
- ✨ Vitamin E
Full ingredient list (21)
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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2 Glycerin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 16 → nourishing the anchor humectant
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Legacy UV filter (Homosalate), high in the list, a primary filter
- ↑ 12 UV protection
- ↑ 9 migrates into eyes with sweat
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- matte ← 2 dry-touch emollient, anti-shine
-
Legacy UV filter (Octisalate)
- ↑ 7.6 UV protection
- ↑ 6 migrates into eyes with sweat
-
Legacy UV filter (Avobenzone)
- ↑ 28.5 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- ↓ 3.5 stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- ↑ 16 migrates into eyes with sweat
- ↑ 45 reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
-
Legacy UV filter (Ensulizole)
- ↑ 13.3 UV protection
- ↑ 4 migrates into eyes with sweat
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Legacy UV filter (Octocrylene), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- ↑ 12.8 UV protection
- ↓ 10.5 stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- ↑ 7 migrates into eyes with sweat
- ↑ 15 co-stains alongside avobenzone
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Supporting ingredient
-
Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
-
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
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14 Tocopherol
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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21 Fragrance
Fragrance
What SPF is Johnson's Day Cream?
It is rated SPF 20, suitable for everyday moderate sun rather than extended outdoor exposure. For long periods outside a higher SPF is generally advisable.
Is the Johnson's Day Cream SPF 20 mineral or chemical?
It is a chemical day cream using older-generation filters: Homosalate, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Avobenzone, Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid and Octocrylene. It has no mineral filters.
Is it good for acne-prone skin?
It carries a low breakout-trigger rating, which is generally favorable for blemish-prone skin. A medium sweat-sting rating means it is best kept clear of the eyes.