Proactiv Clear Skin SPF 30
69/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
Proactiv Clear Skin SPF 30 is a chemical sunscreen using an older-style filter set of Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Ethylhexyl Salicylate and Octocrylene. It feels lightweight with a matte finish and low white cast, and works well under makeup, though it may sting somewhat near the eyes. With moderate protection and a score of 69.2/100, it is a modest option whose matte feel suits oilier skin more than its protection level impresses.
Ingredient & SPF scores
☀️
UV protection
Moderate
50
- +30 Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane at #1, UV filter (UVA1 +16)
- +8 Ethylhexyl Salicylate at #2, UV filter
- +16 Octocrylene at #3, UV filter
- ×0.9 Limited long-UVA1 coverage
- +1 Label claims (SPF 30)
☢️
Health safety
High
67
- +100 Starting score
- −30 Octocrylene at #3 (regulatory/evidence concern)
- −3.5 Avobenzone at #1, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
🤧
Allergens
Low
97
- +100 Starting score
- −3 Photoallergen-tail UV filters (Octocrylene)
🔥
Eye sting
Medium
45
- +100 Starting score
- −24 Avobenzone at #1, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −22 Octocrylene at #3, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −9 Octisalate at #2, migrates into eyes with sweat
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Fungal acne
Medium
53
- +100 Starting score
- −47 3 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Sucrose Tristearate, Isopropyl Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate)
👕
Fabric stains
High
25
- +100 Starting score
- −50 Avobenzone at #1, reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
- −15 Octocrylene at #3, co-stains alongside avobenzone
- −10 Avobenzone + Octocrylene, the classic staining pair
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Moisture
Hydrating
LightNourishing
- ← 9 3 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica, Aluminium Starch Octenylsuccinate, Polymethyl Methacrylate)
- → 10 Glycerin at #6, the anchor humectant
- → 1 1 strong humectants (Panthenol)
- → 6 Ceramide barrier lipids
✨
Finish
Matte
MatteDewy
- ← 9 3 sebum-absorbing powders (Polymethyl Methacrylate, Silica, Aluminium Starch Octenylsuccinate)
- ← 1 1 dry-touch emollients reduce greasy shine (Diisopropyl Sebacate)
💄
Makeup base
Good
PillsPrimer
- → 3 Primer-style base, volatile silicones and dimethicone slip
- → 6 3 soft-focus powders in moderation
- → 1 Dry-touch esters, smooth fast-absorbing base
- ← 0.5 Gel polymers prone to pilling under friction (Carbomer)
- ← 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 →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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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
-
Legacy UV filter (Octisalate), high in the list, a primary filter
- ↑ 8 UV protection
- ↑ 9 migrates into eyes with sweat
-
Legacy UV filter (Octocrylene), high in the list, a primary filter
- ↑ 16 UV protection
- ↑ 22 migrates into eyes with sweat
- ↑ 15 co-stains alongside avobenzone
-
4 Water
Solvent base, the water phase
-
Supporting ingredient
- ↑ 24 feeds malassezia
-
6 Glycerin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 10 → nourishing the anchor humectant
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- matte ← 1 dry-touch emollient, anti-shine
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- ↑ 14 feeds malassezia
-
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light ← 3 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte ← 3 sebum-absorbing powder
-
11 Silica
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
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
19 Dimethiconol
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
21 Xanthan Gum
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
-
24 Panthenol
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
- 1 → nourishing humectant
-
25 Carbomer
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
26 Allantoin
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
pH adjuster
-
Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
-
29 Ceramide
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
Is Proactiv Clear Skin SPF 30 good for oily or acne-prone skin?
It has a matte finish and a low pore-clogging profile, so it generally suits oilier, breakout-prone skin. It also works well under makeup.
Is the Proactiv Clear Skin SPF 30 mineral or chemical?
It is a chemical sunscreen using an older-style filter set of Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Ethylhexyl Salicylate and Octocrylene.
Is it good?
It scores 69.2/100 with moderate protection. The matte feel is appealing for oily skin, but the protection level and older filters keep it as a modest option.