Max Factor 3 in 1 Miracle Prep Beauty Protect Primer SPF 30 PA+++
73/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
Max Factor 3 in 1 Miracle Prep Beauty Protect Primer SPF 30 PA+++ is a chemical (hybrid) primer that pairs older and modern filters such as Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine and Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol. As a primer it wears matte and lightweight with a low white cast and is made to sit under makeup. It is low for pore-clogging, though it may sting somewhat around the eyes in sweat. Protection is good for SPF 30, and the overall score of 73 makes it a solid makeup base rather than a beach sunscreen.
Ingredient & SPF scores
☀️
UV protection
Good
75
- +17.1 Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate at #4, UV filter
- +28.5 Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane at #5, UV filter (UVA1 +15.2)
- +19.2 Diethylhexyl Butamido Triazone at #8, UV filter
- +12.8 Octocrylene at #9, UV filter
- +38.4 Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine at #10, UV filter (UVA1 +12.8)
- +38.4 Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol at #11, UV filter (UVA1 +14.4)
- −36.3 UVB coverage saturated
- −20.7 UVA2 coverage saturated
- ×0.75 Avobenzone + octinoxate degrade each other in sunlight
- +2 Label claims (SPF 30, PA rating)
☢️
Health safety
Medium
50
- +100 Starting score
- −36 Octinoxate at #4 (regulatory/evidence concern)
- −10.5 Octocrylene at #9, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- −3.5 Avobenzone at #5, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
🤧
Allergens
Low
97
- +100 Starting score
- −3 Photoallergen-tail UV filters (Octocrylene)
👻
White cast
Low
96
- +100 Starting score
- −2 Titanium Dioxide as pigment (CI 77891) at #48
- −6 Tinosorb M at #11
- +4 Iron-oxide undertone, partial masking
🔥
Eye sting
Medium
43
- +100 Starting score
- −16 Avobenzone at #5, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −7 Octocrylene at #9, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −11 Octinoxate at #4, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −18 Volatile alcohol at #2
- −5 Alcohol high up speeds filter migration
🔴
Comedogenic
Low
99
- +100 Starting score
- −1 Palmitic Acid at #31, moderate comedogenic signal
🍄
Fungal acne
Medium
72
- +100 Starting score
- −24 1 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Isopropyl Lauroyl Sarcosinate)
- −4 2 ubiquitous fatty ingredients (Stearic Acid, Palmitic Acid), weak Malassezia signal
👕
Fabric stains
High
0
- +100 Starting score
- −45 Avobenzone at #5, reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
- −15 Octocrylene at #9, co-stains alongside avobenzone
- −10 Avobenzone + Octocrylene, the classic staining pair
- −40 Iron-oxide pigments at #47, makeup-like collar marks (washable)
- +10 Penalties exceed the scale, floored at 0
💧
Moisture
Light
LightNourishing
- ← 22 Volatile alcohol at #2
- ← 1.5 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer)
- → 16 Glycerin at #3, the anchor humectant
✨
Finish
Matte
MatteDewy
- ← 1 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer)
- ← 5 Volatile alcohol at #2
- ← 2 1 dry-touch emollients reduce greasy shine (Diisopropyl Sebacate)
💄
Makeup base
Good
PillsPrimer
- → 10 Quick-setting carrier (alcohol at #2), fast, even canvas
- → 2 Dry-touch esters, smooth fast-absorbing base
- ← 0.5 Gel polymers prone to pilling under friction (Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer)
- ← 3.5 Humectant syrup tackiness (partly offset by the base)
🌊
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
Full ingredient list (48)
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.
-
1 Water
Solvent base, the water phase
-
2 Alcohol
Volatile alcohol, a drying solvent that can sting eyes
- ↑ 5 high up speeds filter migration
-
3 Glycerin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 16 → nourishing the anchor humectant
-
Legacy UV filter (Octinoxate)
- ↑ 17.1 UV protection
- ↑ 11 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
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- matte ← 2 dry-touch emollient, anti-shine
-
Supporting ingredient
- ↑ 24 feeds malassezia
-
Modern UV filter, broad-spectrum and photostable (Iscotrizinol), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- ↑ 19.2 UV protection
-
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
-
Modern UV filter, broad-spectrum and photostable (Tinosorb S), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- ↑ 38.4 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
-
Modern UV filter, broad-spectrum and photostable (Tinosorb M), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- ↑ 38.4 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
-
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light ← 1.5 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte ← 1 sebum-absorbing powder
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
18 BHT
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Botanical extract
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Fatty alcohol, an emollient and thickener, not the drying kind
-
22 Citric Acid
pH adjuster
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
-
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
-
Botanical extract
-
27 Glucose
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Botanical extract
-
29 Lactic Acid
pH adjuster
-
30 Mica
Colorant or pigment
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- ↑ 1 moderate comedogenic signal
- ↑ 2 minor malassezia feeder
-
Botanical extract
-
33 PEG-8
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
pH adjuster
-
36 Stearic Acid
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- ↑ 2 minor malassezia feeder
-
Colorant or pigment
-
38 Tin Oxide
Colorant or pigment
-
39 Tocopherol
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
-
41 Xanthan Gum
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
46 Ci 14700
Colorant or pigment
-
47 Iron Oxides
Colorant or pigment
- ↑ 40 makeup-like collar marks (washable)
-
Colorant or pigment
Does this Max Factor primer work under makeup?
Yes, it is designed as a makeup base. It wears matte and lightweight with a low white cast, so it is well suited to sit under foundation.
Is the Max Factor 3 in 1 Miracle Prep Beauty Protect Primer SPF 30 PA+++ mineral or chemical, and what SPF?
It is a chemical (hybrid) primer at SPF 30 PA+++, blending older and modern UV filters. It rates low for pore-clogging, though it may sting somewhat in sweat.
Is it good?
As a protective primer it scores 73 overall with good SPF 30 protection, which makes it a solid makeup base rather than a dedicated beach sunscreen.