Sun Bum Signature SPF 50 Sunscreen Lotion
72/100 overall score
Sign in to see this product's score for your skin.
About this sunscreen
Sun Bum Signature SPF 50 Sunscreen Lotion is an old-school chemical and mineral blend using Octocrylene, Ethylhexyl Salicylate and Zinc Oxide. It leaves a dewy finish and is generally low in white cast, though it can feel a bit heavier on the skin and is generally a poor match under makeup. It does not sting and is generally low for pore-clogging. With good protection and a score of 72.3/100, it suits beach and body use more than a daily face routine.
Ingredient & SPF scores
βοΈ
UV protection
Good
67
- +16 Octocrylene at #1, UV filter
- +8 Ethylhexyl Salicylate at #2, UV filter
- +41 Zinc Oxide at #3, UV filter (UVA1 +18)
- +2 Label claims (SPF 50)
β’οΈ
Health safety
High
70
- +100 Starting score
- β30 Octocrylene at #1 (regulatory/evidence concern)
π€§
Allergens
Low
97
- +100 Starting score
- β3 Photoallergen-tail UV filters (Octocrylene)
π»
White cast
Low
74
- +100 Starting score
- β28 Zinc Oxide, 10% declared
- +2 Coated minerals (Triethoxycaprylylsilane)
π₯
Eye sting
Low
69
- +100 Starting score
- β22 Octocrylene at #1, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β9 Octisalate at #2, migrates into eyes with sweat
πͺ¨
Heavy feel
Medium
60
- +100 Starting score
- β18 Zinc Oxide, 10% declared
- β2 Cera Alba at #16, wax film
- β10 Butyrospermum Parkii Fruit at #7, butter/occlusive fat
- β10 Mineral suspended in a dense emollient base (basic)
π΄
Comedogenic
Low
99
- +100 Starting score
- β1 Oleic Acid at #23, moderate comedogenic signal
π
Fungal acne
Medium
43
- +100 Starting score
- β12 1 free fatty acids that feed Malassezia (Oleic Acid)
- β12 1 polysorbate/sorbitan emulsifiers that feed Malassezia (Sorbitan Oleate)
- β33 2 oils/butters that feed Malassezia (Butyrospermum Parkii Fruit, Lecithin)
π
Fabric stains
Low
70
- +100 Starting score
- β15 Octocrylene at #1, co-stains alongside avobenzone
- β15 Zinc Oxide at #3, white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
π§
Moisture
Hydrating
LightNourishing
- β 5 Zinc Oxide at #3, mild sebum absorbent
- β 4 Glycerin at #8, the anchor humectant
- β 2 Sodium Hyaluronate at #14, hyaluronic family
- β 3 2 strong humectants (Panthenol, Sorbitol)
- β 4 1 emollient lipids (Butyrospermum Parkii Fruit)
- β 0.5 1 fatty-alcohol emollients (Arachidyl Alcohol)
β¨
Finish
Dewy
MatteDewy
- β 12 2 emollient lipids (Butyrospermum Parkii Fruit, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate)
π
Makeup base
Poor
PillsPrimer
- β 2 Dry-touch esters, smooth fast-absorbing base
- β 0.5 Gel polymers prone to pilling under friction (Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer)
- β 4 Occlusives/waxes float the foundation
- β 15 High mineral load at #3 greys under foundation
π
Water resistance
Not resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
- +7 1 film-forming polymers that lock the formula on for water resistance
- +2 1 water-locking waxes
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.
- β¨ Panthenol (B5)
- β¨ Aloe vera
- β¨ Vitamin E
- β¨ Vitamin C
Full ingredient list (30)
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.
-
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
-
Legacy UV filter (Octisalate), high in the list, a primary filter
- β 8 UV protection
- β 9 migrates into eyes with sweat
-
Mineral UV filter (Zinc Oxide), high in the list, a primary filter
- β 41 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- β 28 10% declared
- β 18 10% declared
- β 15 white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
- light β 5 mild sebum absorbent
- pills β 15 High mineral load greys under foundation
-
4 Water
Solvent base, the water phase
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- 6 β dewy emollient lipid
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Botanical extract
- β 10 butter/occlusive fat
- 4 β nourishing emollient lipid
- 6 β dewy emollient lipid
- β 24 feeds malassezia
-
8 Glycerin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 4 β nourishing the anchor humectant
-
Film former, locks the formula onto skin for water resistance
- β 7 film former
-
Fatty alcohol, an emollient and thickener, not the drying kind
- 0.5 β nourishing fatty-alcohol emollient
-
11 Panthenol
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
- 2 β nourishing humectant
-
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 2 β nourishing hyaluronic family
-
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
16 Cera Alba
Occlusive, seals moisture into the skin
- β 2 wax film
- β 2 wax water lock
-
Fatty alcohol, an emollient and thickener, not the drying kind
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 12 feeds malassezia
-
20 Sorbitol
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 1 β nourishing humectant
-
21 Lecithin
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 9 feeds malassezia
-
22 Xanthan Gum
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
23 Oleic Acid
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- β 1 moderate comedogenic signal
- β 12 feeds malassezia
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Supporting ingredient
-
Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
Does Sun Bum Signature SPF 50 leave a white cast?
Its white cast is generally low despite containing Zinc Oxide. It does leave a dewy finish, so skin can look a bit shiny rather than whitish.
Is the Sun Bum Signature SPF 50 Sunscreen Lotion good under makeup?
It is generally a poor match under makeup. The dewy finish and somewhat heavier feel make it better suited to beach and body use than a daily face base.
Is this a good sunscreen?
It scores 72.3/100 with good protection, a solid mid-range result. The old-school filter blend works well for outdoor and water days.