Pond's Serum Boost Sunscreen Gel SPF 50
78/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
Pond's Serum Boost Sunscreen Gel SPF 50 is a chemical (hybrid) sunscreen using a modern blend of filters including Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine and Ethylhexyl Triazone. It is lightweight with a balanced finish and low white cast, though it may sting sensitive eyes to a moderate degree. It is rated okay as a makeup base. With a score of 78.2/100 and excellent measured protection, it is a strong everyday choice.
Ingredient & SPF scores
☀️
UV protection
Excellent
86
- +18 Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate at #2, UV filter
- +8 Ethylhexyl Salicylate at #3, UV filter
- +34.2 Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate at #7, UV filter (UVA1 +20.9)
- +8.4 Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid at #13, UV filter
- +28.8 Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine at #14, UV filter (UVA1 +9.6)
- +13.2 Ethylhexyl Triazone at #15, UV filter
- −26.4 UVB coverage saturated
- +2 Label claims (SPF 50)
☢️
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
🔥
Eye sting
Medium
58
- +100 Starting score
- −16 Octinoxate at #2, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −9 Octisalate at #3, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −1 Ensulizole at #13, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −8 Fragrance
- −8 7 declared fragrance allergens
🍄
Fungal acne
Low
91
- +100 Starting score
- −9 1 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (PEG-100 Stearate)
👕
Fabric stains
Low
85
- +100 Starting score
- −15 Uvinul A Plus (DHHB) at #7, oil-soluble UVA filter, fabric stains
✨
Finish
Balanced
MatteDewy
- ← 3 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica)
- ← 1 1 dry-touch emollients reduce greasy shine (Caprylyl Methicone)
💄
Makeup base
Okay
PillsPrimer
- → 3 1 soft-focus powders in moderation
- → 1 Dry-touch esters, smooth fast-absorbing base
- ← 0.5 Gel polymers prone to pilling under friction (Carbomer)
🌊
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
- ✨ Vitamin C
Full ingredient list (34)
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
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Legacy UV filter (Octinoxate), high in the list, a primary filter
- ↑ 18 UV protection
- ↑ 16 migrates into eyes with sweat
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Legacy UV filter (Octisalate), high in the list, a primary filter
- ↑ 8 UV protection
- ↑ 9 migrates into eyes with sweat
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Fatty alcohol, an emollient and thickener, not the drying kind
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Modern UV filter, broad-spectrum and photostable (Uvinul A Plus)
- ↑ 34.2 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- ↑ 15 oil-soluble UVA filter, fabric stains
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
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10 Silica
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light ← 3 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte ← 3 sebum-absorbing powder
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- matte ← 1 dry-touch emollient, anti-shine
-
pH adjuster
-
Legacy UV filter (Ensulizole), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- ↑ 8.4 UV protection
- ↑ 1 migrates into eyes with sweat
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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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Modern UV filter, broad-spectrum and photostable (Uvinul T 150), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- ↑ 13.2 UV protection
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Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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18 Carbomer
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
21 Fragrance
Fragrance
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
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Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
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24 Xanthan Gum
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
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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29 Citronellol
Fragrance component, a declared allergen
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30 Geraniol
Fragrance component, a declared allergen
-
Fragrance component, a declared allergen
-
Fragrance component, a declared allergen
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33 Limonene
Fragrance component, a declared allergen
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34 Linalool
Fragrance component, a declared allergen
Does Pond's Serum Boost SPF 50 leave a white cast?
No, white cast is rated low and the gel has a balanced finish, so it tends to disappear into the skin. It is a chemical formula, which commonly avoids mineral cast.
Is the Pond's Serum Boost Sunscreen Gel SPF 50 good for oily or acne-prone skin?
It is lightweight with a balanced finish and a low breakout-trigger rating, which is generally friendly to oily and blemish-prone skin. It rates okay as a makeup base.
Is this sunscreen any good?
It scores 78.2/100 with excellent measured protection, making it a strong everyday pick. It may sting sensitive eyes to a moderate degree.