SQN Brighter Day Hydrating SPF 30
74/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
SQN Brighter Day Hydrating SPF 30 is a pure mineral sunscreen using zinc oxide as its sole filter. It has a balanced finish with a lightweight feel and low white cast, which is favorable for an all-mineral formula, and it does not commonly sting. The low breakout-trigger profile suits sensitive and acne-prone skin. With moderate protection and a score of 73.7/100, it is a gentle mineral daily option, though single-filter zinc keeps coverage modest.
Ingredient & SPF scores
☀️
UV protection
Moderate
42
- +41 Zinc Oxide at #1, UV filter (UVA1 +18)
- +1 Label claims (SPF 30)
👻
White cast
Low
83
- +100 Starting score
- −28 Zinc Oxide, 10% declared
- −8 Pure mineral formula (10% total declared)
- +18 Iron-oxide undertone, partial masking
- +1.3 Coated minerals (Triethoxycaprylylsilane)
🔥
Eye sting
Low
100
- +100 Starting score
- −1 Volatile alcohol at #16
- +0.8 Mineral filter system, low-sting filters
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Fungal acne
Low
91
- +100 Starting score
- −9 1 oils/butters that feed Malassezia (Lecithin)
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Fabric stains
Medium
45
- +100 Starting score
- −40 Iron-oxide pigments at #24, makeup-like collar marks (washable)
- −15 Zinc Oxide at #1, white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
💧
Moisture
Balanced
LightNourishing
- ← 2 Volatile alcohol at #16
- ← 5 Zinc Oxide at #1, mild sebum absorbent
- → 2 Humectant polyols
- → 2 Light emollient/solvent (Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride)
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Makeup base
Okay
PillsPrimer
- ← 4 Gel polymers prone to pilling under friction (Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer)
- ← 7.5 High mineral load at #1 greys under foundation (tinted)
🌊
Water resistance
Not resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
Nothing flagged in the ingredient list.
How we rate water resistance →Full ingredient list (24)
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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Mineral UV filter (Zinc Oxide), high in the list, a primary filter
- ↑ 41 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- ↑ 28 10% declared
- ↑ 18 10% declared
- ↑ 15 white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
- light ← 5 mild sebum absorbent
- pills ← 7.5 High mineral load greys under foundation (tinted)
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2 Water
Solvent base, the water phase
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 2 → nourishing humectant polyol
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- 2 → nourishing light emollient
-
Filter booster, photostabilizes the UV filters or lifts their SPF
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
10 Xylitol
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Supporting ingredient
-
Botanical extract
-
Botanical extract
-
Botanical extract
-
15 Lecithin
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
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16 Alcohol
Volatile alcohol, a drying solvent that can sting eyes
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
18 Citric Acid
pH adjuster
-
19 Tocopherol
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
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Botanical extract
-
21 Dimethicone
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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Humectant, pulls water into the skin
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24 Iron Oxides
Colorant or pigment
- ↑ 40 makeup-like collar marks (washable)
Does this SQN sunscreen leave a white cast?
White cast is low, which is favorable for an all-mineral formula. Zinc oxide can still show faintly, but it stays minimal here.
Is the SQN Brighter Day Hydrating SPF 30 good for sensitive or acne-prone skin?
Yes, it is a gentle fit. It does not commonly sting and the breakout-trigger risk is low, so sensitive and acne-prone skin tend to do well.
Is it mineral or chemical?
It is pure mineral, using zinc oxide as its sole filter.
What SPF is it, and is it good?
It is SPF 30. It scores 73.7/100 with moderate protection, a gentle single-filter mineral daily option.