Sanctuary Spa Protect & Illuminate Moisture Lotion SPF 15
63/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
Sanctuary Spa Protect & Illuminate Moisture Lotion SPF 15 is a chemical sunscreen using older filters Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Avobenzone, Octinoxate and Octocrylene. It has a matte, lightweight finish with low white cast and low pore-clogging, though it can sting somewhat if it reaches the eyes. It is rated good as a makeup base. With a score of 63 and only moderate protection at SPF 15, it is a light daily lotion rather than strong sun defense.
Ingredient & SPF scores
☀️
UV protection
Moderate
43
- +7.6 Ethylhexyl Salicylate at #5, UV filter
- +28.5 Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane at #6, UV filter (UVA1 +15.2)
- +17.1 Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate at #7, UV filter
- +12.8 Octocrylene at #9, UV filter
- −2.3 UVB coverage saturated
- ×0.9 Limited long-UVA1 coverage
- ×0.75 Avobenzone + octinoxate degrade each other in sunlight
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Health safety
Medium
43
- +100 Starting score
- −36 Octinoxate at #7 (regulatory/evidence concern)
- −10.5 Octocrylene at #9, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- −3.5 Avobenzone at #6, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- −7 Retinyl Palmitate at #37, disputed vitamin-A sunlight signal, under review
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Allergens
Low
80
- +100 Starting score
- −11 5 declared fragrance allergens
- −6 Essential oils (Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Oil, Citrus Limon Peel Oil, Citrus Aurantium Amara Flower Oil)
- −3 Photoallergen-tail UV filters (Octocrylene)
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White cast
Low
98
- +100 Starting score
- −2 Titanium Dioxide as pigment (CI 77891) at #45
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Eye sting
Medium
52
- +100 Starting score
- −16 Avobenzone at #6, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −7 Octocrylene at #9, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −11 Octinoxate at #7, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −6 Octisalate at #5, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −8 4 declared fragrance allergens
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Heavy feel
Low
99
- +100 Starting score
- −2 Butyrospermum Parkii Fruit at #21, butter/occlusive fat
- +0.5 Volatile silicone at #3, flashes off
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Fungal acne
Medium
52
- +100 Starting score
- −12 1 polysorbate/sorbitan emulsifiers that feed Malassezia (Polysorbate 60)
- −9 1 oils/butters that feed Malassezia (Butyrospermum Parkii Fruit)
- −27 3 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Steareth-2, Steareth-20, Laureth-7)
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Fabric stains
High
30
- +100 Starting score
- −45 Avobenzone at #6, reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
- −15 Octocrylene at #9, co-stains alongside avobenzone
- −10 Avobenzone + Octocrylene, the classic staining pair
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Moisture
Balanced
LightNourishing
- ← 7.5 3 sebum-absorbing powders (Aluminium Starch Octenylsuccinate, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Polymethyl Methacrylate)
- ← 11 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
- → 16 Glycerin at #2, the anchor humectant
- → 1 1 strong humectants (Saccharide Isomerate)
- → 1 1 emollient lipids (Butyrospermum Parkii Fruit)
- → 2 Light emollient/solvent (Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride)
✨
Finish
Matte
MatteDewy
- ← 7 3 sebum-absorbing powders (Aluminium Starch Octenylsuccinate, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Polymethyl Methacrylate)
- ← 10 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
- → 1 1 emollient lipids (Butyrospermum Parkii Fruit)
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Makeup base
Good
PillsPrimer
- → 8 Primer-style base, volatile silicones and dimethicone slip
- → 6 2 soft-focus powders in moderation
- ← 0.5 Gel polymers prone to pilling under friction (Polyacrylamide)
- ← 3.5 Humectant syrup tackiness (partly offset by the base)
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Water resistance
Not resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
Nothing flagged in the ingredient list.
How we rate water resistance →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
-
2 Glycerin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 16 → nourishing the anchor humectant
-
Volatile silicone, flashes off for a light finish
- light ← 8 volatile carrier, flashes off
- matte ← 7 volatile carrier, flashes off
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- 2 → nourishing light emollient
-
Legacy UV filter (Octisalate)
- ↑ 7.6 UV protection
- ↑ 6 migrates into eyes with sweat
-
Legacy UV filter (Avobenzone)
- ↑ 28.5 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- ↓ 3.5 stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- ↑ 16 migrates into eyes with sweat
- ↑ 45 reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
-
Legacy UV filter (Octinoxate)
- ↑ 17.1 UV protection
- ↑ 11 migrates into eyes with sweat
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Legacy UV filter (Octocrylene), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- ↑ 12.8 UV protection
- ↓ 10.5 stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- ↑ 7 migrates into eyes with sweat
- ↑ 15 co-stains alongside avobenzone
-
Volatile silicone, flashes off for a light finish
- light ← 2 volatile carrier, flashes off
- matte ← 2 volatile carrier, flashes off
-
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
-
13 Steareth-2
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
-
14 Mica
Colorant or pigment
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 12 feeds malassezia
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
17 Steareth-20
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
-
18 Limonene
Fragrance component, a declared allergen
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 1 → nourishing humectant
-
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light ← 1.5 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte ← 1 sebum-absorbing powder
-
Botanical extract
- ↑ 2 butter/occlusive fat
- 1 → nourishing emollient lipid
- 1 → dewy emollient lipid
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
-
Plant oil, an emollient
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- light ← 1 volatile carrier, flashes off
- matte ← 1 volatile carrier, flashes off
-
24 Dimethiconol
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
26 Bergamot
Supporting ingredient
-
Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Botanical extract
-
30 Xanthan Gum
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
31 Citric Acid
pH adjuster
-
32 Laureth-7
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
-
Botanical extract
-
Plant oil, an emollient
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35 Linalool
Fragrance component, a declared allergen
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36 Tocopherol
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- ↓ 7 disputed vitamin-A sunlight signal, under review
-
Botanical extract
-
pH adjuster
-
40 Citral
Fragrance component, a declared allergen
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41 BHT
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
42 Farnesol
Fragrance component, a declared allergen
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43 Geraniol
Fragrance component, a declared allergen
-
Supporting ingredient
-
Colorant or pigment
-
46 Yellow 6
Colorant or pigment
What SPF is the Sanctuary Spa Protect & Illuminate Moisture Lotion SPF 15?
It is SPF 15, which is on the low side. It suits daily incidental sun but is under-powered for strong or prolonged exposure.
Is the Sanctuary Spa Protect & Illuminate Moisture Lotion SPF 15 mineral or chemical?
It is chemical. It uses older filters Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Avobenzone, Octinoxate and Octocrylene, with no mineral filters.
Does it work under makeup?
Yes, generally. It has a matte, lightweight finish and is rated good as a makeup base, so it commonly layers well under foundation.