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Obagi Professional-C Suncare Broad Spectrum Spf 30

Obagi Professional-C Suncare Broad Spectrum Spf 30

58/100 overall score

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About this sunscreen

Obagi Professional-C Suncare Broad Spectrum SPF 30 is a chemical sunscreen using older-style filters Avobenzone, Homosalate, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Octocrylene and Benzophenone-3. It has a balanced, lightweight finish, leaves little to no white cast and works under makeup, but the filter blend can sting if it reaches the eyes. Protection is good. With a score of 58.1 out of 100, it is a serviceable daily SPF 30, though the filter set is on the dated side.

Ingredient & SPF scores

β˜€οΈ

UV protection

Good 65
  • +30 Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane at #1, UV filter (UVA1 +16)
  • +12 Homosalate at #2, UV filter
  • +8 Ethylhexyl Salicylate at #3, UV filter
  • +15.2 Octocrylene at #4, UV filter
  • +20.9 Benzophenone-3 at #5, UV filter
  • βˆ’8.9 UVB coverage saturated
  • βˆ’6.2 UVA2 coverage saturated
  • Γ—0.9 Limited long-UVA1 coverage
  • +1 Label claims (SPF 30)
How we rate uv protection β†’
☒️

Health safety

Low 2
  • +100 Starting score
  • βˆ’70 Oxybenzone at #5 (regulatory/evidence concern)
  • βˆ’14 Homosalate at #2, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
  • βˆ’10.5 Octocrylene at #4, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
  • βˆ’3.5 Avobenzone at #1, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
  • +0 2 endocrine-scrutinized filters together
How we rate health safety β†’
🀧

Allergens

Low 61
  • +100 Starting score
  • βˆ’18 Fragrance
  • βˆ’12 Opaque "Fragrance", hidden allergens that can't be checked from the label
  • βˆ’9 Photoallergen-tail UV filters (Benzophenone-3, Octocrylene)
How we rate allergens β†’
πŸ‘»

White cast

Low 100
  • +100 Starting score
How we rate white cast β†’
πŸ”₯

Eye sting

High 24
  • +100 Starting score
  • βˆ’24 Avobenzone at #1, migrates into eyes with sweat
  • βˆ’15 Octocrylene at #4, migrates into eyes with sweat
  • βˆ’11 Oxybenzone at #5, migrates into eyes with sweat
  • βˆ’9 Homosalate at #2, migrates into eyes with sweat
  • βˆ’9 Octisalate at #3, migrates into eyes with sweat
  • βˆ’8 Fragrance
How we rate eye sting β†’
πŸͺ¨

Heavy feel

Low 100
  • +100 Starting score
How we rate heavy feel β†’
πŸ”΄

Comedogenic

Low 100
  • +100 Starting score
How we rate comedogenic β†’
πŸ„

Fungal acne

Safe 100
  • +100 Starting score
How we rate fungal acne β†’
πŸ‘•

Fabric stains

High 5
  • +100 Starting score
  • βˆ’50 Avobenzone at #1, reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
  • βˆ’20 Oxybenzone at #5, yellow stains on white cotton
  • βˆ’15 Octocrylene at #4, co-stains alongside avobenzone
  • βˆ’10 Avobenzone + Octocrylene, the classic staining pair
How we rate fabric stains β†’
πŸ’§

Moisture

Balanced
LightNourishing

Nothing flagged in the ingredient list.

How we rate moisture β†’
✨

Finish

Balanced
MatteDewy

Nothing flagged in the ingredient list.

How we rate finish β†’
πŸ’„

Makeup base

Good
PillsPrimer
  • β†’ 1 Primer-style base, volatile silicones and dimethicone slip
  • β†’ 8 1 velvet elastomer fillers, blur and grip
How we rate makeup base β†’
🌊

Water resistance

Not resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant

Nothing flagged in the ingredient list.

How we rate water resistance β†’

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 (11)

What each ingredient does and how it moves each rating: green helps, red hurts, ↑ / ↓ give the direction, and ← / β†’ shift a slider toward its ends (finish, moisture, makeup base). Auto-derived from our scoring rules and the ingredient's position.

  1. 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
  2. 2 Homosalate

    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
  3. 3 Ethylhexyl Salicylate

    Legacy UV filter (Octisalate), high in the list, a primary filter

    • ↑ 8 UV protection
    • ↑ 9 migrates into eyes with sweat
  4. 4 Octocrylene

    Legacy UV filter (Octocrylene)

    • ↑ 15.2 UV protection
    • ↓ 10.5 stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
    • ↑ 15 migrates into eyes with sweat
    • ↑ 15 co-stains alongside avobenzone
  5. 5 Benzophenone-3

    Legacy UV filter (Oxybenzone)

    • ↑ 20.9 UV protection
    • ↑ 11 migrates into eyes with sweat
    • ↑ 20 yellow stains on white cotton
  6. 6 Ascorbic Acid

    Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin

  7. Botanical extract

  8. 8 Dimethicone

    Emollient, softens and smooths skin

  9. Emollient, softens and smooths skin

  10. 10 Fragrance

    Fragrance

  11. 11 Octoxynol-10

    Supporting ingredient

Does Obagi Professional-C Suncare work under makeup?

Yes. It leaves little to no white cast and rates well as a makeup base, with a balanced, lightweight finish, though it can sting if it reaches the eyes.

Is the Obagi Professional-C Suncare Broad Spectrum Spf 30 mineral or chemical?

It is a chemical sunscreen. It uses older-style filters Avobenzone, Homosalate, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Octocrylene and Benzophenone-3.

Is it good?

It scores 58.1 out of 100, a serviceable result. Protection is good, though the filter set is on the dated side.

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