Mary Kay Botanical Effects Moisturising Lotion Spf 30
61/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
Mary Kay Botanical Effects Moisturising Lotion SPF 30 is a chemical sunscreen using Homosalate, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Octocrylene and Avobenzone, with Benzophenone-3. It dries to a matte finish with low white cast and a low pore-clogging tendency, and it sits well under makeup. The filter set is older-generation and includes Oxybenzone. With good protection and a score of 61.4/100, it is a middling daily lotion suited to those who prefer a matte feel.
Ingredient & SPF scores
☀️
UV protection
Good
62
- +12 Homosalate at #2, UV filter
- +20.9 Benzophenone-3 at #6, UV filter
- +7.6 Ethylhexyl Salicylate at #7, UV filter
- +24 Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane at #9, UV filter (UVA1 +12.8)
- +12.8 Octocrylene at #10, UV filter
- −6.7 UVB coverage saturated
- −2.8 UVA2 coverage saturated
- ×0.9 Limited long-UVA1 coverage
- +1 Label claims (SPF 30)
☢️
Health safety
Low
2
- +100 Starting score
- −70 Oxybenzone at #6 (regulatory/evidence concern)
- −14 Homosalate at #2, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- −10.5 Octocrylene at #10, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- −3.5 Avobenzone at #9, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- +0 2 endocrine-scrutinized filters together
🤧
Allergens
Low
85
- +100 Starting score
- −6 Sensitizing preservatives (Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate)
- −9 Photoallergen-tail UV filters (Benzophenone-3, Octocrylene)
🔥
Eye sting
Medium
36
- +100 Starting score
- −8 Avobenzone at #9, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −7 Octocrylene at #10, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −11 Oxybenzone at #6, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −9 Homosalate at #2, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −6 Octisalate at #7, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −18 Volatile alcohol at #3
- −5 Alcohol high up speeds filter migration
👕
Fabric stains
High
17
- +100 Starting score
- −38 Avobenzone at #9, reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
- −20 Oxybenzone at #6, yellow stains on white cotton
- −15 Octocrylene at #10, co-stains alongside avobenzone
- −10 Avobenzone + Octocrylene, the classic staining pair
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Moisture
Light
LightNourishing
- ← 22 Volatile alcohol at #3
- ← 1.5 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica)
- ← 6 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
- → 1 Glycerin at #14, the anchor humectant
✨
Finish
Matte
MatteDewy
- ← 1 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica)
- ← 5 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
- ← 5 Volatile alcohol at #3
💄
Makeup base
Good
PillsPrimer
- → 5 Primer-style base, volatile silicones and dimethicone slip
- → 10 Quick-setting carrier (alcohol at #3), fast, even canvas
- ← 1.5 Gel polymers prone to pilling under friction (Carbomer, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Sodium Acrylates Crosspolymer-2)
🌊
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.
- ✨ Aloe vera
Full ingredient list (36)
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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Legacy UV filter (Homosalate), high in the list, a primary filter
- ↑ 12 UV protection
- ↓ 14 stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- ↑ 9 migrates into eyes with sweat
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Volatile alcohol, a drying solvent that can sting eyes
- ↑ 5 Alcohol high up speeds filter migration
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Volatile silicone, flashes off for a light finish
- light ← 5 volatile carrier, flashes off
- matte ← 4 volatile carrier, flashes off
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
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Legacy UV filter (Oxybenzone)
- ↑ 20.9 UV protection
- ↑ 11 migrates into eyes with sweat
- ↑ 20 yellow stains on white cotton
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Legacy UV filter (Octisalate)
- ↑ 7.6 UV protection
- ↑ 6 migrates into eyes with sweat
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Humectant, pulls water into the skin
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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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10 Octocrylene
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
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Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
Botanical extract
-
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
14 Glycerin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 1 → nourishing the anchor humectant
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Volatile silicone, flashes off for a light finish
- light ← 1 volatile carrier, flashes off
- matte ← 1 volatile carrier, flashes off
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
17 Carbomer
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Supporting ingredient
-
Supporting ingredient
-
21 Silica
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light ← 1.5 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte ← 1 sebum-absorbing powder
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Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
-
Supporting ingredient
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Supporting ingredient
-
pH adjuster
-
Supporting ingredient
-
Supporting ingredient
-
Supporting ingredient
-
Supporting ingredient
-
Supporting ingredient
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33 Citric Acid
pH adjuster
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
Is the Mary Kay Botanical Effects Moisturising Lotion Spf 30 good for oily skin?
It dries to a matte finish with a low pore-clogging tendency, which suits oily and acne-prone skin. The lightweight feel adds to the comfort.
Is the Mary Kay Botanical Effects Moisturising Lotion Spf 30 mineral or chemical?
It is chemical, using Homosalate, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Octocrylene and Avobenzone, plus Benzophenone-3 (Oxybenzone). The filter set is older-generation.
Does it leave a white cast?
No, white cast is rated low. The matte finish keeps it looking clean under makeup.