Lotus Herbals Safe Sun 3-In-1 Matte Look Daily Sunblock SPF 40
51/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
Lotus Herbals Safe Sun 3-In-1 Matte Look Daily Sunblock SPF 40 is a mostly chemical sunscreen using older-generation filters like Benzophenone-3 and Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, with a touch of Titanium Dioxide. It delivers a matte finish, stays lightweight and shows low white cast, and does not commonly sting. Protection is rated moderate and it works poorly as a makeup base. With a score of 51.2/100, it is a basic budget option best suited to lower-sun days.
Ingredient & SPF scores
☀️
UV protection
Moderate
50
- +17.6 Benzophenone-3 at #8, UV filter
- +14.4 Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate at #9, UV filter
- +26.4 Titanium Dioxide at #10, UV filter (UVA1 +4)
- +24 Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane at #11, UV filter (UVA1 +12.8)
- −3.2 UVB coverage saturated
- −7.4 UVA2 coverage saturated
- ×0.9 Limited long-UVA1 coverage
- ×0.75 Avobenzone + octinoxate degrade each other in sunlight
- +1 Label claims (SPF 40)
☢️
Health safety
Low
4
- +100 Starting score
- −70 Oxybenzone at #8 (regulatory/evidence concern)
- −12.6 Octinoxate at #9, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- −3.5 Avobenzone at #11, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- +0 2 endocrine-scrutinized filters together
- −10 Propylparaben at #18, endocrine-scrutinized preservative
🤧
Allergens
Medium
34
- +100 Starting score
- −18 Fragrance
- −12 Opaque "Fragrance", hidden allergens that can't be checked from the label
- −30 Sensitizing preservatives (Methylisothiazolinone, Methylchloroisothiazolinone)
- −6 Photoallergen-tail UV filters (Benzophenone-3)
👻
White cast
Low
93
- +100 Starting score
- −15 Titanium Dioxide at #10
- +7.5 Iron-oxide undertone, partial masking
🔥
Eye sting
Low
74
- +100 Starting score
- −8 Avobenzone at #11, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −5 Oxybenzone at #8, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −5 Octinoxate at #9, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −8 Fragrance
🔴
Comedogenic
Low
93
- +100 Starting score
- −7 Isopropyl Myristate at #12, heavy comedogenic ester
🍄
Fungal acne
Medium
62
- +100 Starting score
- −38 2 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Isopropyl Myristate, Laureth-7)
👕
Fabric stains
High
0
- +100 Starting score
- −38 Avobenzone at #11, reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
- −20 Oxybenzone at #8, yellow stains on white cotton
- −40 Iron-oxide pigments at #21, makeup-like collar marks (washable)
- −5 Titanium Dioxide at #10, white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
- +3 Penalties exceed the scale, floored at 0
💧
Moisture
Light
LightNourishing
- ← 17.5 3 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica, Kaolin, Talc)
- ← 5 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
- → 10 Glycerin at #4, the anchor humectant
✨
Finish
Matte
MatteDewy
- ← 18 3 sebum-absorbing powders (Talc, Kaolin, Silica)
- ← 5 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
- → 2 1 slippy emollient esters (Isopropyl Myristate)
💄
Makeup base
Poor
PillsPrimer
- → 3 Quick-setting carrier, fast, even canvas
- ← 7 Gel polymers prone to pilling under friction (Polyacrylamide)
- ← 12 Powder overload over a gel polymer, pills under foundation
- ← 1.5 Humectant syrup tackiness (partly offset by the base)
🌊
Water resistance
Not resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
- +3 1 film-forming polymers that lock the formula on for water resistance
Full ingredient list (23)
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
-
2 Talc
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light ← 8 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte ← 10 sebum-absorbing powder
-
3 Kaolin
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light ← 8 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte ← 10 sebum-absorbing powder
-
4 Glycerin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 10 → nourishing the anchor humectant
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- light ← 4 volatile carrier, flashes off
- matte ← 4 volatile carrier, flashes off
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 24 feeds malassezia
-
Legacy UV filter (Oxybenzone), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- ↑ 17.6 UV protection
- ↑ 5 migrates into eyes with sweat
- ↑ 20 yellow stains on white cotton
-
Legacy UV filter (Octinoxate), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- ↑ 14.4 UV protection
- ↓ 12.6 stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- ↑ 5 migrates into eyes with sweat
-
Mineral UV filter (Titanium Dioxide), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- ↑ 26.4 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- ↑ 5 white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
-
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
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- ↑ 7 heavy comedogenic ester
- 2 → dewy slippy emollient ester
- ↑ 14 feeds malassezia
-
Volatile silicone, flashes off for a light finish
- light ← 1 volatile carrier, flashes off
- matte ← 1 volatile carrier, flashes off
-
Film former, locks the formula onto skin for water resistance
- ↑ 3 film former
-
15 Silica
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light ← 1.5 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte ← 1 sebum-absorbing powder
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
- ↓ 10 endocrine-scrutinized preservative
-
Supporting ingredient
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
21 Ci 77491
Colorant or pigment
- ↑ 40 makeup-like collar marks (washable)
-
22 Ci 77492
Colorant or pigment
-
23 Fragrance
Fragrance
Does Lotus Herbals Safe Sun SPF 40 leave a white cast?
No, it is rated low for white cast and gives a matte finish, so it should not look chalky. That makes it suited to those who want a shine-free look.
Is the Lotus Herbals Safe Sun 3-In-1 Matte Look Daily Sunblock SPF 40 good under makeup?
Its makeup-base performance is rated poor, so it is better worn on its own rather than as a primer. The matte finish works best as a standalone daily layer.
Is it mineral or chemical?
It is mainly a chemical sunscreen using older-generation filters such as Benzophenone-3 and Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, with a small amount of Titanium Dioxide.