Pond's Serum Boost Sunscreen Cream SPF 55
78/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
Pond's Serum Boost Sunscreen Cream SPF 55 is a hybrid sunscreen combining titanium dioxide with chemical filters including Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine and Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate. It dries to a matte finish, feels lightweight, and keeps white cast low, so it commonly suits those who dislike a heavy or shiny feel. Breakout risk is generally low, it does not typically sting, and it works well as a makeup base. With excellent protection and a solid score, it is a good high-SPF daily pick for combination to oily skin.
Ingredient & SPF scores
☀️
UV protection
Excellent
88
- +18 Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate at #2, UV filter
- +13.3 Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid at #5, UV filter
- +6.4 Ethylhexyl Salicylate at #9, UV filter
- +28.8 Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate at #10, UV filter (UVA1 +17.6)
- +26.4 Titanium Dioxide at #11, UV filter (UVA1 +4)
- +28.8 Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine at #14, UV filter (UVA1 +9.6)
- −29.3 UVB coverage saturated
- −6.2 UVA2 coverage saturated
- +2 Label claims (SPF 55)
☢️
Health safety
High
64
- +100 Starting score
- −36 Octinoxate at #2 (regulatory/evidence concern)
🤧
Allergens
Medium
50
- +100 Starting score
- −18 Fragrance
- −20 9 declared fragrance allergens
- −6 Sensitizing preservatives (Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate)
- −6 Sensitizers from 3 different categories
👻
White cast
Low
86
- +100 Starting score
- −15 Titanium Dioxide at #11
- +1 Coated minerals (Aluminum Hydroxide)
🔥
Eye sting
Low
61
- +100 Starting score
- −16 Octinoxate at #2, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −3 Octisalate at #9, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −4 Ensulizole at #5, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −8 Fragrance
- −8 7 declared fragrance allergens
🍄
Fungal acne
Medium
62
- +100 Starting score
- −36 4 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-75 Stearate, Ceteth-30)
- −2 1 ubiquitous fatty ingredients (Stearic Acid), weak Malassezia signal
- +0 Dimethicone at #3, a safe base that does not feed Malassezia
👕
Fabric stains
Low
80
- +100 Starting score
- −15 Uvinul A Plus (DHHB) at #10, oil-soluble UVA filter, fabric stains
- −5 Titanium Dioxide at #11, white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
💧
Moisture
Hydrating
LightNourishing
- ← 5 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica)
- → 10 Glycerin at #6, the anchor humectant
- → 2 Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer at #19, hyaluronic family
- → 1 1 strong humectants (Saccharide Isomerate)
✨
Finish
Matte
MatteDewy
- ← 6 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica)
- ← 2 1 dry-touch emollients reduce greasy shine (Dicaprylyl Carbonate)
💄
Makeup base
Good
PillsPrimer
- → 4 Primer-style base, volatile silicones and dimethicone slip
- → 3 1 soft-focus powders in moderation
- → 2 Dry-touch esters, smooth fast-absorbing base
- ← 1 Gel polymers prone to pilling under friction (Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP Copolymer, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Crosspolymer)
- ← 1.5 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.
- ✨ Niacinamide
Full ingredient list (46)
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
-
Legacy UV filter (Octinoxate), high in the list, a primary filter
- ↑ 18 UV protection
- ↑ 16 migrates into eyes with sweat
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- matte ← 2 dry-touch emollient, anti-shine
-
Legacy UV filter (Ensulizole)
- ↑ 13.3 UV protection
- ↑ 4 migrates into eyes with sweat
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6 Glycerin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 10 → nourishing the anchor humectant
-
7 Silica
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light ← 5 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte ← 6 sebum-absorbing powder
-
pH adjuster
-
Legacy UV filter (Octisalate), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- ↑ 6.4 UV protection
- ↑ 3 migrates into eyes with sweat
-
Modern UV filter, broad-spectrum and photostable (Uvinul A Plus), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- ↑ 28.8 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- ↑ 15 oil-soluble UVA filter, fabric stains
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Mineral UV filter (Titanium Dioxide), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- ↑ 26.4 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- ↑ 5 white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
-
Supporting ingredient
-
13 Stearic Acid
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- ↑ 2 minor malassezia feeder
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Modern UV filter, broad-spectrum and photostable (Tinosorb S), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- ↑ 28.8 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
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15 Niacinamide
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
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Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 2 → nourishing hyaluronic family
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 1 → nourishing humectant
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26 Citric Acid
pH adjuster
-
pH adjuster
-
Fatty alcohol, an emollient and thickener, not the drying kind
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
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33 Fragrance
Fragrance
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34 Ceteth-30
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
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35 Steareth-30
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
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Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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Fragrance component, a declared allergen
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Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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Fragrance component, a declared allergen
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41 Citronellol
Fragrance component, a declared allergen
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42 Geraniol
Fragrance component, a declared allergen
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Fragrance component, a declared allergen
-
Fragrance component, a declared allergen
-
45 Limonene
Fragrance component, a declared allergen
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46 Linalool
Fragrance component, a declared allergen
Is Pond's Serum Boost good for oily or acne-prone skin?
It is generally a good fit. It dries to a matte finish and has a low breakout-risk rating, so it commonly suits oily and acne-prone skin. As with any product, individual results can vary.
What SPF is the Pond's Serum Boost Sunscreen Cream SPF 55?
It is SPF 55 and rates as excellent protection. The filters cover broad-spectrum UVA and UVB, so it suits daily high-SPF use.
Does it work under makeup?
Yes, it rates well as a makeup base. The matte finish and lightweight feel commonly help makeup sit evenly on top.