Nivea Sensitive Immediate Protect Sun Lotion Spf 30
86/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
Nivea Sensitive Immediate Protect Sun Lotion SPF 30 is a hybrid sunscreen pairing Ethylhexyl Salicylate and Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane with modern filters Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine and Ethylhexyl Triazone. It wears lightweight with a balanced finish, keeps white cast low, and is low on pore-clogging risk, though it can sting somewhat. With a score of 85.9/100, excellent protection and a good makeup base, it is a strong everyday choice for sensitive skin.
Ingredient & SPF scores
☀️
UV protection
Excellent
86
- +7.6 Ethylhexyl Salicylate at #4, UV filter
- +28.5 Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane at #5, UV filter (UVA1 +15.2)
- +45.6 Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine at #7, UV filter (UVA1 +15.2)
- +17.6 Ethylhexyl Triazone at #9, UV filter
- +11.2 Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid at #12, UV filter
- −21.5 UVB coverage saturated
- −3.6 UVA2 coverage saturated
- +1 Label claims (SPF 30)
☢️
Health safety
High
90
- +100 Starting score
- −10 Avobenzone at #5 (regulatory/evidence concern)
🔥
Eye sting
Medium
53
- +100 Starting score
- −16 Avobenzone at #5, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −6 Octisalate at #4, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −2 Ensulizole at #12, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −18 Volatile alcohol at #2
- −5 Alcohol high up speeds filter migration
🪨
Heavy feel
Low
96
- +100 Starting score
- −6 Copernicia Cerifera Wax at #11, wax film
- −1 Hydrogenated Polyisobutene at #22, heavy oil
- +2.8 Volatile alcohol at #2, evaporating texture
🍄
Fungal acne
Low
82
- +100 Starting score
- −18 2 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Sucrose Polystearate, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate)
- +0 Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil at #15, jojoba wax ester, fungal-acne exception (not penalized)
👕
Fabric stains
Medium
55
- +100 Starting score
- −45 Avobenzone at #5, reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
💧
Moisture
Light
LightNourishing
- ← 22 Volatile alcohol at #2
- ← 3 2 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica, Distarch Phosphate)
- → 1 Glycerin at #14, the anchor humectant
- → 2 1 strong humectants (Panthenol)
- → 1 1 emollient lipids (Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil)
✨
Finish
Balanced
MatteDewy
- ← 2 2 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica, Distarch Phosphate)
- ← 5 Volatile alcohol at #2
- ← 1 1 dry-touch emollients reduce greasy shine (Dibutyl Adipate)
- → 10 2 emollient lipids (Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate)
💄
Makeup base
Good
PillsPrimer
- → 10 Quick-setting carrier (alcohol at #2), fast, even canvas
- → 4 Dry-touch esters, smooth fast-absorbing base
- ← 0.5 Gel polymers prone to pilling under friction (Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer)
- ← 2 Occlusives/waxes float the foundation
🌊
Water resistance
Not resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
- +3 1 film-forming polymers that lock the formula on for water resistance
- +4 1 water-locking waxes
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)
- ✨ Aloe vera
Full ingredient list (33)
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
-
Volatile alcohol, a drying solvent that can sting eyes
- ↑ 5 Alcohol high up speeds filter migration
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- 9 → dewy emollient lipid
-
Legacy UV filter (Octisalate)
- ↑ 7.6 UV protection
- ↑ 6 migrates into eyes with sweat
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Legacy UV filter (Avobenzone)
- ↑ 28.5 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- ↑ 16 migrates into eyes with sweat
- ↑ 45 reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
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Modern UV filter, broad-spectrum and photostable (Tinosorb S)
- ↑ 45.6 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- matte ← 1 dry-touch emollient, anti-shine
-
Modern UV filter, broad-spectrum and photostable (Uvinul T 150), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- ↑ 17.6 UV protection
-
10 Panthenol
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
- 2 → nourishing humectant
-
Occlusive, seals moisture into the skin
- ↑ 6 wax film
- ↑ 4 wax water lock
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Legacy UV filter (Ensulizole), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- ↑ 11.2 UV protection
- ↑ 2 migrates into eyes with sweat
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13 Silica
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light ← 1.5 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte ← 1 sebum-absorbing powder
-
14 Glycerin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 1 → nourishing the anchor humectant
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Botanical extract
- 1 → nourishing emollient lipid
- 1 → dewy emollient lipid
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Soothing, skin-conditioning active
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Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
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Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light ← 1.5 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte ← 1 sebum-absorbing powder
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- ↑ 1 heavy oil
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
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Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
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Film former, locks the formula onto skin for water resistance
- ↑ 3 film former
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Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
27 Xanthan Gum
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
pH adjuster
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
Is Nivea Sensitive Immediate Protect Sun Lotion good for sensitive skin?
It is positioned for sensitive skin and is low on pore-clogging risk with a balanced finish. Note that its sting risk is rated medium, so reactive eyes may notice mild irritation.
Is the Nivea Sensitive Immediate Protect Sun Lotion Spf 30 mineral or chemical?
It is a hybrid sunscreen, pairing Ethylhexyl Salicylate and Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane with modern filters Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine and Ethylhexyl Triazone.
Is it a good sunscreen?
It scores 85.9/100 with excellent protection and rates as a good makeup base. It wears lightweight with a balanced finish and low white cast.