Sun Bum Spf 50 Clear Zinc Oxide
63/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
Sun Bum SPF 50 Clear Zinc Oxide is a chemical-led formula with some Zinc Oxide, using Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Ethylhexyl Salicylate and Octocrylene. It finishes dewy with low white cast, a lightweight feel and low pore-clogging risk, though it may sting somewhat around the eyes. SPF 50 gives good high protection and it sits okay under makeup. The 63.0/100 score is middling, reflecting its older filter set.
Ingredient & SPF scores
βοΈ
UV protection
Good
60
- +18 Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate at #1, UV filter
- +8 Ethylhexyl Salicylate at #2, UV filter
- +16 Octocrylene at #3, UV filter
- +38.9 Zinc Oxide at #4, UV filter (UVA1 +17.1)
- β16.5 UVB coverage saturated
- Γ0.9 Limited long-UVA1 coverage
- +2 Label claims (SPF 50)
β’οΈ
Health safety
Medium
54
- +100 Starting score
- β36 Octinoxate at #1 (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β10.5 Octocrylene at #3, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
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Allergens
Medium
59
- +100 Starting score
- β18 Fragrance
- β12 Opaque "Fragrance", hidden allergens that can't be checked from the label
- β8 Sensitizing preservatives (DMDM Hydantoin)
- β3 Photoallergen-tail UV filters (Octocrylene)
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White cast
Low
87
- +100 Starting score
- β14 Zinc Oxide, 7% declared
- +1 Coated minerals (Triethoxycaprylylsilane)
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Eye sting
Medium
45
- +100 Starting score
- β22 Octocrylene at #3, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β16 Octinoxate at #1, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β9 Octisalate at #2, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β8 Fragrance
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Heavy feel
Low
81
- +100 Starting score
- β8 Zinc Oxide, 7% declared
- β2 Cera Alba at #19, wax film
- β2 Polyethylene at #15, wax film
- β2 Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter at #18, butter/occlusive fat
- β5 Hydrogenated Castor Oil at #12, butter/occlusive fat
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Comedogenic
Low
81
- +100 Starting score
- β17 Ethylhexyl Palmitate at #7, heavy comedogenic ester
- β2 Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter at #18, comedogenic oil/butter
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Fungal acne
Medium
53
- +100 Starting score
- β23 2 oils/butters that feed Malassezia (Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter, Hydrogenated Castor Oil)
- β24 1 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Ethylhexyl Palmitate)
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Fabric stains
Low
75
- +100 Starting score
- β15 Octocrylene at #3, co-stains alongside avobenzone
- β10 Zinc Oxide at #4, white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
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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 2 Zinc Oxide at #4, mild sebum absorbent
- β 4 Glycerin at #10, the anchor humectant
- β 1 1 emollient lipids (Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter)
β¨
Finish
Dewy
MatteDewy
- β 1 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Hydrated Silica)
- β 2 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
- β 7 2 emollient lipids (Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate)
- β 6 2 slippy emollient esters (Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Ethylhexyl Stearate)
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Makeup base
Okay
PillsPrimer
- β 2 Dry-touch esters, smooth fast-absorbing base
- β 4 Occlusives/waxes float the foundation
- β 6 High mineral load at #4 greys under foundation
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Water resistance
Not resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
- +4 2 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¨ Aloe vera
Full ingredient list (24)
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 (Octinoxate), high in the list, a primary filter
- β 18 UV protection
- β 16 migrates into eyes with sweat
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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 (Octocrylene), high in the list, a primary filter
- β 16 UV protection
- β 10.5 stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β 22 migrates into eyes with sweat
- β 15 co-stains alongside avobenzone
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Mineral UV filter (Zinc Oxide)
- β 38.9 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- β 14 7% declared
- β 8 7% declared
- β 10 white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
- light β 2 mild sebum absorbent
- pills β 6 High mineral load greys under foundation
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5 Water
Solvent base, the water phase
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- 6 β dewy emollient lipid
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- β 17 heavy comedogenic ester
- 4 β dewy slippy emollient ester
- β 24 feeds malassezia
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- 2 β dewy slippy emollient ester
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
10 Glycerin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 4 β nourishing the anchor humectant
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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Plant oil, an emollient
- β 5 butter/occlusive fat
- β 14 feeds malassezia
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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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Volatile silicone, flashes off for a light finish
- light β 1 volatile carrier, flashes off
- matte β 1 volatile carrier, flashes off
-
15 Polyethylene
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- β 2 wax film
- β 2 wax water lock
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Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
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Botanical extract
- β 2 butter/occlusive fat
- β 2 comedogenic oil/butter
- 1 β nourishing emollient lipid
- 1 β dewy emollient lipid
- β 9 feeds malassezia
-
19 Cera Alba
Occlusive, seals moisture into the skin
- β 2 wax film
- β 2 wax water lock
-
Volatile silicone, flashes off for a light finish
- light β 1 volatile carrier, flashes off
- matte β 1 volatile carrier, flashes off
-
Supporting ingredient
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
24 Fragrance
Fragrance
Does Sun Bum SPF 50 Clear Zinc leave a white cast?
White cast is low. Although it includes some zinc, it is balanced with chemical filters to wear more clear, with a dewy finish.
Is the Sun Bum Spf 50 Clear Zinc Oxide mineral or chemical?
It is mainly chemical, using Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Ethylhexyl Salicylate and Octocrylene, plus some Zinc Oxide.
Is it good overall?
It scores 63.0/100, which is middling. SPF 50 protection is good, but the older filter set keeps the score moderate. It may sting somewhat near the eyes.