Sawyer Stay Put Sunscreen SPF 30
49/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
Sawyer Stay Put Sunscreen SPF 30 is a chemical formula using older filters: homosalate, octinoxate, octisalate, and oxybenzone. It has a balanced finish with low white cast and a lightweight feel, though it can sting sensitive eyes and is not ideal under makeup. The low breakout-trigger profile is a small plus. With weak protection and a score of 49.0/100, its dated, oxybenzone-based blend limits its standing among modern options.
Ingredient & SPF scores
☀️
UV protection
Weak
27
- +12 Homosalate at #1, UV filter
- +18 Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate at #2, UV filter
- +8 Ethylhexyl Salicylate at #3, UV filter
- +20.9 Benzophenone-3 at #4, UV filter
- −15.5 UVB coverage saturated
- ×0.6 Almost no UVA1, poor aging protection
- +1 Label claims (SPF 30)
☢️
Health safety
Low
3
- +100 Starting score
- −70 Oxybenzone at #4 (regulatory/evidence concern)
- −14 Homosalate at #1, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- −12.6 Octinoxate at #2, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- +0 3 endocrine-scrutinized filters together
🤧
Allergens
Low
80
- +100 Starting score
- −14 Sensitizing preservatives (DMDM Hydantoin, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate)
- −6 Photoallergen-tail UV filters (Benzophenone-3)
🔥
Eye sting
Medium
55
- +100 Starting score
- −11 Oxybenzone at #4, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −16 Octinoxate at #2, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −9 Homosalate at #1, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −9 Octisalate at #3, migrates into eyes with sweat
🪨
Heavy feel
Low
97
- +100 Starting score
- −3 Hydrogenated Polyisobutene at #12, heavy oil
🍄
Fungal acne
Safe
98
- +100 Starting score
- −2 1 ubiquitous fatty ingredients (Stearic Acid), weak Malassezia signal
👕
Fabric stains
Low
80
- +100 Starting score
- −20 Oxybenzone at #4, yellow stains on white cotton
💧
Moisture
Balanced
LightNourishing
- → 0.5 1 fatty-alcohol emollients (Cetyl Alcohol)
💄
Makeup base
Poor
PillsPrimer
- ← 14 Gel polymers prone to pilling under friction (Carbomer, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer)
- ← 2 Occlusives/waxes float the foundation
🌊
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.
- ✨ Aloe vera
Full ingredient list (15)
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 (Homosalate), high in the list, a primary filter
- ↑ 12 UV protection
- ↓ 14 stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- ↑ 9 migrates into eyes with sweat
-
Legacy UV filter (Octinoxate), high in the list, a primary filter
- ↑ 18 UV protection
- ↓ 12.6 stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- ↑ 16 migrates into eyes with sweat
-
Legacy UV filter (Octisalate), high in the list, a primary filter
- ↑ 8 UV protection
- ↑ 9 migrates into eyes with sweat
-
Legacy UV filter (Oxybenzone)
- ↑ 20.9 UV protection
- ↑ 11 migrates into eyes with sweat
- ↑ 20 yellow stains on white cotton
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
7 Carbomer
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Fatty alcohol, an emollient and thickener, not the drying kind
- 0.5 → nourishing fatty-alcohol emollient
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- ↑ 3 heavy oil
-
13 Stearic Acid
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- ↑ 2 minor malassezia feeder
-
pH adjuster
-
15 Water
Solvent base, the water phase
Does this Sawyer sunscreen leave a white cast?
No, white cast is low. It is a chemical formula that absorbs clear with a balanced, lightweight finish.
Is the Sawyer Stay Put Sunscreen SPF 30 good for oily or acne-prone skin?
It is mixed. The breakout-trigger risk is low, which helps acne-prone skin, but it can sting sensitive eyes and is not ideal under makeup.
Is it mineral or chemical?
It is chemical, using older filters: homosalate, octinoxate, octisalate, and oxybenzone.
Is it any good?
It scores 49.0/100 with weak protection. Its dated, oxybenzone-based blend limits its standing among modern options.