Nivea Sun UV Dry Protect SPF 30
86/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
Nivea Sun UV Dry Protect SPF 30 is a hybrid sunscreen using Avobenzone, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Tinosorb S, Ethylhexyl Triazone, and Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid. It wears balanced and lightweight with low white cast and is an excellent makeup base, though it may sting the eyes when sweating. Pore-clogging risk is generally low. With an 86.1/100 score and excellent protection, it is a strong everyday SPF 30.
Ingredient & SPF scores
☀️
UV protection
Excellent
100
- +28.5 Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane at #4, UV filter (UVA1 +15.2)
- +7.6 Ethylhexyl Salicylate at #5, UV filter
- +45.6 Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine at #7, UV filter (UVA1 +15.2)
- +17.6 Ethylhexyl Triazone at #11, UV filter
- +11.2 Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid at #12, UV filter
- +21.6 Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate at #14, UV filter (UVA1 +13.2)
- −21.5 UVB coverage saturated
- −12 UVA2 coverage saturated
- +1 Label claims (SPF 30)
☢️
Health safety
High
90
- +100 Starting score
- −10 Avobenzone at #4 (regulatory/evidence concern)
🤧
Allergens
Low
70
- +100 Starting score
- −18 Fragrance
- −6 4 declared fragrance allergens
- −6 Opaque "Fragrance", hidden allergens that can't be checked from the label
🔥
Eye sting
Medium
41
- +100 Starting score
- −16 Avobenzone at #4, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −6 Octisalate at #5, 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
- −8 Fragrance
- −4 2 declared fragrance allergens
🍄
Fungal acne
Low
91
- +100 Starting score
- −9 1 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate)
👕
Fabric stains
Medium
40
- +100 Starting score
- −45 Avobenzone at #4, reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
- −15 Uvinul A Plus (DHHB) at #14, oil-soluble UVA filter, fabric stains
💧
Moisture
Light
LightNourishing
- ← 22 Volatile alcohol at #2
- ← 7.5 3 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Tapioca Starch, Distarch Phosphate)
- → 1 Glycerin at #16, the anchor humectant
✨
Finish
Balanced
MatteDewy
- ← 7 3 sebum-absorbing powders (Distarch Phosphate, Tapioca Starch, Silica Dimethyl Silylate)
- ← 5 Volatile alcohol at #2
- ← 1 1 dry-touch emollients reduce greasy shine (Dibutyl Adipate)
- → 9 1 emollient lipids (C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate)
💄
Makeup base
Excellent
PillsPrimer
- → 10 Quick-setting carrier (alcohol at #2), fast, even canvas
- → 6 2 soft-focus powders in moderation
- → 4 Dry-touch esters, smooth fast-absorbing base
- ← 0.5 Gel polymers prone to pilling under friction (Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer)
🌊
Water resistance
Not resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
- +3 1 film-forming polymers that lock the formula on for 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 E
Full ingredient list (29)
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 (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
-
Legacy UV filter (Octisalate)
- ↑ 7.6 UV protection
- ↑ 6 migrates into eyes with sweat
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
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
-
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light ← 3 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte ← 3 sebum-absorbing powder
-
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light ← 3 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte ← 3 sebum-absorbing powder
-
Modern UV filter, broad-spectrum and photostable (Uvinul T 150), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- ↑ 17.6 UV protection
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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
-
Film former, locks the formula onto skin for water resistance
- ↑ 3 film former
-
Modern UV filter, broad-spectrum and photostable (Uvinul A Plus), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- ↑ 21.6 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- ↑ 15 oil-soluble UVA filter, fabric stains
-
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
16 Glycerin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 1 → nourishing the anchor humectant
-
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
-
19 Xanthan Gum
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
-
pH adjuster
-
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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25 Linalool
Fragrance component, a declared allergen
-
26 Citronellol
Fragrance component, a declared allergen
-
Fragrance component, a declared allergen
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
29 Fragrance
Fragrance
Is Nivea Sun UV Dry Protect SPF 30 good under makeup?
Yes. It rates as an excellent makeup base with a balanced, lightweight finish and low white cast. Pore-clogging risk is generally low.
Is the Nivea Sun UV Dry Protect SPF 30 mineral or chemical?
It is a hybrid, mostly chemical with modern filters such as Avobenzone, Tinosorb S, and Ethylhexyl Triazone. It may sting the eyes when sweating.
Is Nivea Sun UV Dry Protect SPF 30 any good?
Yes. It scores 86.1/100 with excellent protection, making it a strong everyday SPF 30 that layers especially well under makeup.