Sun Bum Original Glow SPF 30 Sunscreen Face Lotion
70/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
Sun Bum Original Glow SPF 30 Sunscreen Face Lotion is a chemical sunscreen on an older-school filter base of Octocrylene, Ethylhexyl Salicylate and Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, with a touch of Titanium Dioxide. It wears lightweight with a balanced finish and a low white cast, and is low on the pore-clogging scale, though it may sting sensitive eyes, so take care around the eye area. With a 70.1/100 score and good protection, it is a solid everyday choice.
Ingredient & SPF scores
βοΈ
UV protection
Good
59
- +16 Octocrylene at #1, UV filter
- +8 Ethylhexyl Salicylate at #2, UV filter
- +30 Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane at #3, UV filter (UVA1 +16)
- +9.9 Titanium Dioxide at #21, UV filter (UVA1 +1.5)
- Γ0.9 Limited long-UVA1 coverage
- +1 Label claims (SPF 30)
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Health safety
High
67
- +100 Starting score
- β30 Octocrylene at #1 (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β3.5 Avobenzone at #3, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
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Allergens
Low
97
- +100 Starting score
- β3 Photoallergen-tail UV filters (Octocrylene)
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White cast
Low
97
- +100 Starting score
- β6 Titanium Dioxide at #21
- +3 Iron-oxide undertone, partial masking
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Eye sting
Medium
45
- +100 Starting score
- β24 Avobenzone at #3, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β22 Octocrylene at #1, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β9 Octisalate at #2, migrates into eyes with sweat
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Fungal acne
Low
77
- +100 Starting score
- β23 2 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Polyglyceryl-6 Stearate, Polyglyceryl-6 Behenate)
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Fabric stains
High
0
- +100 Starting score
- β50 Avobenzone at #3, reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
- β15 Octocrylene at #1, co-stains alongside avobenzone
- β10 Avobenzone + Octocrylene, the classic staining pair
- β40 Iron-oxide pigments at #26, makeup-like collar marks (washable)
- β2 Titanium Dioxide at #21, white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
- +17 Penalties exceed the scale, floored at 0
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Moisture
Balanced
LightNourishing
- β 1.5 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Hydrated Silica)
- β 2 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
- β 4 Glycerin at #8, the anchor humectant
- β 1 Humectant polyols
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Finish
Balanced
MatteDewy
- β 1 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Hydrated Silica)
- β 2 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
- β 3 1 emollient lipids (C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate)
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Makeup base
Okay
PillsPrimer
- β 1 Quick-setting carrier, fast, even canvas
- β 1 Dry-touch esters, smooth fast-absorbing base
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Water resistance
Not resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
Nothing flagged in the ingredient list.
How we rate water resistance βSkincare extras
Beneficial actives this formula contains. Informational only, not part of the rating: their effect depends on a concentration the label does not disclose.
- β¨ Vitamin E
Full ingredient list (26)
What each ingredient does and how it moves each rating: green helps, red hurts, β / β give the direction, and β / β 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 (Octocrylene), high in the list, a primary filter
- β 16 UV protection
- β 22 migrates into eyes with sweat
- β 15 co-stains alongside avobenzone
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Legacy UV filter (Octisalate), high in the list, a primary filter
- β 8 UV protection
- β 9 migrates into eyes with sweat
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Legacy UV filter (Avobenzone), high in the list, a primary filter
- β 30 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- β 3.5 stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β 24 migrates into eyes with sweat
- β 50 reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
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4 Water
Solvent base, the water phase
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Colorant or pigment
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 1 β nourishing humectant polyol
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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8 Glycerin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 4 β nourishing the anchor humectant
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9 Mica
Colorant or pigment
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- 3 β dewy emollient lipid
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 14 feeds malassezia
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12 Isododecane
Volatile hydrocarbon, flashes off for a light finish
- light β 2 volatile carrier, flashes off
- matte β 2 volatile carrier, flashes off
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Botanical extract
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14 Tocopherol
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
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15 Pullulan
Supporting ingredient
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16 Lysolecithin
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
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Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
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Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
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19 Xanthan Gum
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
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Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light β 1.5 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte β 1 sebum-absorbing powder
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Mineral UV filter (Titanium Dioxide), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- β 9.9 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- β 2 white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 9 feeds malassezia
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Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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Humectant, pulls water into the skin
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25 Citric Acid
pH adjuster
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26 Iron Oxides
Colorant or pigment
- β 40 makeup-like collar marks (washable)
Is Sun Bum Original Glow mineral or chemical?
It is mainly a chemical sunscreen, using Octocrylene, Ethylhexyl Salicylate and Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, with a small amount of Titanium Dioxide. So it is best described as chemical with a minor mineral element. It keeps a low white cast.
Does the Sun Bum Original Glow SPF 30 Sunscreen Face Lotion work for oily or acne-prone skin?
It has a balanced finish and is rated low on the pore-clogging scale, so it is generally friendly to acne-prone skin. The lightweight feel suits daily face use. Patch testing first is sensible.
Is Sun Bum Original Glow SPF 30 good?
It scores 70.1 out of 100 with protection rated good, making it a solid everyday face lotion. It wears lightweight with a low white cast.