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ROUND LAB Birch Moisturizing Sunscreen UVLock SPF 45+ Broad Spectrum

ROUND LAB Birch Moisturizing Sunscreen UVLock SPF 45+ Broad Spectrum

68/100 overall score

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About this sunscreen

ROUND LAB Birch Moisturizing Sunscreen UVLock SPF 45+ Broad Spectrum is a chemical sunscreen on an older filter base of Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Homosalate, and Ethylhexyl Salicylate. It wears lightweight with a balanced finish and low white cast, and is generally low on pore-clogging potential. It does not commonly sting and works acceptably under makeup. With moderate protection and a score of 68.3/100, it is a comfortable everyday sunscreen with a dated filter set.

Ingredient & SPF scores

β˜€οΈ

UV protection

Moderate 37
  • +24 Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane at #8, UV filter (UVA1 +12.8)
  • +9.6 Homosalate at #9, UV filter
  • +6.4 Ethylhexyl Salicylate at #12, UV filter
  • Γ—0.9 Limited long-UVA1 coverage
  • +1 Label claims (SPF 45)
How we rate uv protection β†’
☒️

Health safety

Medium 57
  • +100 Starting score
  • βˆ’40 Homosalate at #9 (regulatory/evidence concern)
  • βˆ’3.5 Avobenzone at #8, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
How we rate health safety β†’
🀧

Allergens

Low 98
  • +100 Starting score
  • βˆ’2 Essential oils (Anthemis Nobilis Flower Oil)
How we rate allergens β†’
πŸ‘»

White cast

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

Eye sting

Low 86
  • +100 Starting score
  • βˆ’8 Avobenzone at #8, migrates into eyes with sweat
  • βˆ’3 Homosalate at #9, migrates into eyes with sweat
  • βˆ’3 Octisalate at #12, migrates into eyes with sweat
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

Medium 58
  • +100 Starting score
  • βˆ’42 3 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Polyglyceryl-3 Distearate, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate)
How we rate fungal acne β†’
πŸ‘•

Fabric stains

Low 62
  • +100 Starting score
  • βˆ’38 Avobenzone at #8, reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
How we rate fabric stains β†’
πŸ’§

Moisture

Balanced
LightNourishing
  • ← 1.5 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Polymethylsilsesquioxane)
  • β†’ 1 Glycerin at #22, the anchor humectant
  • β†’ 2 Sodium Hyaluronate at #24, hyaluronic family
  • β†’ 1 1 strong humectants (Glyceryl Glucoside)
How we rate moisture β†’
✨

Finish

Balanced
MatteDewy
  • ← 1 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Polymethylsilsesquioxane)
  • ← 3 1 dry-touch emollients reduce greasy shine (Caprylyl Methicone)
How we rate finish β†’
πŸ’„

Makeup base

Okay
PillsPrimer
  • β†’ 3 Dry-touch esters, smooth fast-absorbing base
  • ← 1.5 Gel polymers prone to pilling under friction (Carbomer, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Poly C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate)
How we rate makeup base β†’
🌊

Water resistance

Resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
  • +20 1 film-forming polymers that lock the formula on for water resistance
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 E
  • ✨ Niacinamide

Full ingredient list (41)

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. 1 Water

    Solvent base, the water phase

  2. 2 Acrylates Copolymer

    Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream

    • ↑ 20 film former
  3. 3 Caprylyl Methicone

    Emollient, softens and smooths skin

    • matte ← 3 dry-touch emollient, anti-shine
  4. Botanical extract

  5. 5 Tocopherol

    Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin

  6. 6 Niacinamide

    Soothing, skin-conditioning active

  7. Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended

    • ↑ 24 feeds malassezia
  8. Legacy UV filter (Avobenzone), low in the list, likely a minor contributor

    • ↑ 24 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
    • ↓ 3.5 stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
    • ↑ 8 migrates into eyes with sweat
    • ↑ 38 reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
  9. 9 Homosalate

    Legacy UV filter (Homosalate), low in the list, likely a minor contributor

    • ↑ 9.6 UV protection
    • ↑ 3 migrates into eyes with sweat
  10. Colorant or pigment

  11. 11 1,2-Hexanediol

    Humectant, pulls water into the skin

  12. 12 Ethylhexyl Salicylate

    Legacy UV filter (Octisalate), low in the list, likely a minor contributor

    • ↑ 6.4 UV protection
    • ↑ 3 migrates into eyes with sweat
  13. 13 Butyloctyl Salicylate

    Emollient, softens and smooths skin

  14. Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream

  15. 15 Cetearyl Alcohol

    Fatty alcohol, an emollient and thickener, not the drying kind

  16. 16 Tromethamine

    pH adjuster

  17. Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended

    • ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
  18. Botanical extract

  19. Botanical extract

  20. Botanical extract

  21. Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream

  22. 22 Glycerin

    Humectant, pulls water into the skin

    • 1 β†’ nourishing the anchor humectant
  23. 23 Butylene Glycol

    Humectant, pulls water into the skin

  24. 24 Sodium Hyaluronate

    Humectant, pulls water into the skin

    • 2 β†’ nourishing hyaluronic family
  25. 25 Carbomer

    Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream

  26. 26 Ethylhexyl-Glycerin

    Humectant, pulls water into the skin

  27. 27 Hyaluronic Acid

    Humectant, pulls water into the skin

  28. 28 Glyceryl Glucoside

    Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended

    • 1 β†’ nourishing humectant
  29. 29 Propanediol

    Humectant, pulls water into the skin

  30. Botanical extract

  31. 31 Allantoin

    Soothing, skin-conditioning active

  32. Botanical extract

  33. Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended

    • ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
  34. Supporting ingredient

  35. Supporting ingredient

  36. 36 Pentylene Glycol

    Humectant, pulls water into the skin

  37. 37 Methylpropanediol

    Humectant, pulls water into the skin

  38. 38 Biosaccharide Gum-1

    Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream

  39. Filter booster, photostabilizes the UV filters or lifts their SPF

  40. Filter booster, photostabilizes the UV filters or lifts their SPF

  41. 41 Polymethylsilsesquioxane

    Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish

    • light ← 1.5 sebum-absorbing powder
    • matte ← 1 sebum-absorbing powder

Does ROUND LAB Birch Moisturizing Sunscreen leave a white cast?

No, it is rated low for white cast and is lightweight with a balanced finish. It also works acceptably under makeup, so it suits daily wear.

Is the ROUND LAB Birch Moisturizing Sunscreen UVLock SPF 45+ Broad Spectrum good for oily or acne-prone skin?

It can suit oily and acne-prone skin. It is generally low on pore-clogging potential and has a non-greasy balanced finish, so it is commonly comfortable for everyday use.

Is it mineral or chemical?

It is a chemical sunscreen on an older filter base of Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Homosalate, and Ethylhexyl Salicylate.

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