Mederma Scar Cream + SPF 30
56/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
Mederma Scar Cream + SPF 30 is a chemical scar treatment with an old-school filter set of Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Octocrylene and Benzophenone-3 that adds sun protection. It is lightweight with a balanced finish and low white cast and works well as a makeup base, but the older filters give it a high tendency to sting, especially near the eyes. Its low pore-clogging profile is agreeable for most skin. With a score of 55.6/100 and good protection, it is primarily a scar product, not a main sunscreen.
Ingredient & SPF scores
☀️
UV protection
Good
56
- +30 Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane at #1, UV filter (UVA1 +16)
- +16 Octocrylene at #2, UV filter
- +22 Benzophenone-3 at #3, UV filter
- −7 UVA2 coverage saturated
- ×0.9 Limited long-UVA1 coverage
- +1 Label claims (SPF 30)
☢️
Health safety
Low
6
- +100 Starting score
- −70 Oxybenzone at #3 (regulatory/evidence concern)
- −10.5 Octocrylene at #2, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- −3.5 Avobenzone at #1, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- −10 Propylparaben at #21, endocrine-scrutinized preservative
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Allergens
Low
61
- +100 Starting score
- −18 Fragrance
- −12 Opaque "Fragrance", hidden allergens that can't be checked from the label
- −9 Photoallergen-tail UV filters (Benzophenone-3, Octocrylene)
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Eye sting
High
20
- +100 Starting score
- −24 Avobenzone at #1, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −22 Octocrylene at #2, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −16 Oxybenzone at #3, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −10 Volatile alcohol at #7
- −8 Fragrance
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Heavy feel
Low
98
- +100 Starting score
- −2 Butyrospermum Parkii Fruit at #14, butter/occlusive fat
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Fungal acne
Low
91
- +100 Starting score
- −9 1 oils/butters that feed Malassezia (Butyrospermum Parkii Fruit)
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Fabric stains
High
5
- +100 Starting score
- −50 Avobenzone at #1, reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
- −20 Oxybenzone at #3, yellow stains on white cotton
- −15 Octocrylene at #2, co-stains alongside avobenzone
- −10 Avobenzone + Octocrylene, the classic staining pair
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Moisture
Balanced
LightNourishing
- ← 13 Volatile alcohol at #7
- → 4 Glycerin at #11, the anchor humectant
- → 2 Sodium Hyaluronate at #23, hyaluronic family
- → 2 1 strong humectants (Panthenol)
- → 2 2 emollient lipids (Squalane, Butyrospermum Parkii Fruit)
- → 1 Light emollient/solvent (Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride)
- → 6 Ceramide barrier lipids
✨
Finish
Balanced
MatteDewy
- ← 3 Volatile alcohol at #7
- ← 2 1 dry-touch emollients reduce greasy shine (Dicaprylyl Carbonate)
- → 8 3 emollient lipids (Butyrospermum Parkii Fruit, Squalane, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate)
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Makeup base
Good
PillsPrimer
- → 6 Quick-setting carrier (alcohol at #7), fast, even canvas
- → 4 Dry-touch esters, smooth fast-absorbing base
- ← 0.5 Gel polymers prone to pilling under friction (Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP Copolymer)
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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.
- ✨ Panthenol (B5)
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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Legacy UV filter (Avobenzone), high in the list, a primary filter
- ↑ 30 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- ↓ 3.5 stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- ↑ 24 migrates into eyes with sweat
- ↑ 50 reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
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Legacy UV filter (Octocrylene), high in the list, a primary filter
- ↑ 16 UV protection
- ↓ 10.5 stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- ↑ 22 migrates into eyes with sweat
- ↑ 15 co-stains alongside avobenzone
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Legacy UV filter (Oxybenzone), high in the list, a primary filter
- ↑ 22 UV protection
- ↑ 16 migrates into eyes with sweat
- ↑ 20 yellow stains on white cotton
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4 Water
Solvent base, the water phase
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- 6 → dewy emollient lipid
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- matte ← 2 dry-touch emollient, anti-shine
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7 Alcohol
Volatile alcohol, a drying solvent that can sting eyes
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- 1 → nourishing light emollient
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
-
10 Panthenol
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
- 2 → nourishing humectant
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11 Glycerin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 4 → nourishing the anchor humectant
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Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Botanical extract
- ↑ 2 butter/occlusive fat
- 1 → nourishing emollient lipid
- 1 → dewy emollient lipid
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
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Botanical extract
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
17 Fragrance
Fragrance
-
18 Squalane
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- 1 → nourishing emollient lipid
- 1 → dewy emollient lipid
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Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
20 Xanthan Gum
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
- ↓ 10 endocrine-scrutinized preservative
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Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 2 → nourishing hyaluronic family
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24 Ethylparaben
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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25 Ceramide NP
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
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26 Tocopherol
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
Does Mederma Scar Cream + SPF 30 sting?
Stinging tendency is rated high, so it may sting, especially near the eyes. The old-school filters and Benzophenone-3 contribute to this, so keep it away from the eye area.
Is the Mederma Scar Cream + SPF 30 mineral or chemical?
It is a chemical sunscreen using Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Octocrylene and Benzophenone-3. There are no mineral filters.
Is Mederma Scar Cream a good sunscreen?
It scores 55.6/100 with good protection. It is primarily a scar treatment that adds SPF, so it is not ideal as your main facial sunscreen.