The Inkey List Polyglutamic Acid Dewy Sunscreen SPF30
71/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
The Inkey List Polyglutamic Acid Dewy Sunscreen SPF30 is a chemical sunscreen using Octocrylene, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, and Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid. Despite the dewy name it reads as a balanced finish, stays lightweight, and shows low white cast, though it may sting somewhat for sensitive eyes. With a score of 71.4/100 and good protection, it is a serviceable hydrating daily sunscreen for those who like a fresh, moisturizing feel.
Ingredient & SPF scores
☀️
UV protection
Good
59
- +16 Octocrylene at #2, UV filter
- +7.6 Ethylhexyl Salicylate at #4, UV filter
- +28.5 Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane at #6, UV filter (UVA1 +15.2)
- +13.3 Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid at #7, UV filter
- −0.9 UVB coverage saturated
- ×0.9 Limited long-UVA1 coverage
- +1 Label claims (SPF 30)
☢️
Health safety
High
67
- +100 Starting score
- −30 Octocrylene at #2 (regulatory/evidence concern)
- −3.5 Avobenzone at #6, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
🤧
Allergens
Low
97
- +100 Starting score
- −3 Photoallergen-tail UV filters (Octocrylene)
🔥
Eye sting
Medium
52
- +100 Starting score
- −16 Avobenzone at #6, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −22 Octocrylene at #2, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −6 Octisalate at #4, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −4 Ensulizole at #7, migrates into eyes with sweat
🔴
Comedogenic
Low
96
- +100 Starting score
- −4 Glyceryl Stearate SE at #11, moderate comedogenic signal
🍄
Fungal acne
Medium
53
- +100 Starting score
- −24 2 polysorbate/sorbitan emulsifiers that feed Malassezia (Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan Isostearate)
- −23 2 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Glyceryl Stearate SE, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate)
- +0 Saccharomyces Ferment at #9, ferment, disputed Malassezia trigger (not penalized)
👕
Fabric stains
High
30
- +100 Starting score
- −45 Avobenzone at #6, reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
- −15 Octocrylene at #2, co-stains alongside avobenzone
- −10 Avobenzone + Octocrylene, the classic staining pair
💧
Moisture
Nourishing
LightNourishing
- ← 1.5 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Lauroyl Lysine)
- ← 1 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
- → 16 Glycerin at #3, the anchor humectant
- → 1 1 strong humectants (Polyglutamic Acid)
- → 3 2 emollient lipids (Squalane, Triheptanoin)
- → 0.5 1 fatty-alcohol emollients (Cetearyl Alcohol)
✨
Finish
Balanced
MatteDewy
- ← 1 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Lauroyl Lysine)
- ← 1 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
- ← 2 1 dry-touch emollients reduce greasy shine (Coco-Caprylate/Caprate)
- → 4 2 emollient lipids (Triheptanoin, Squalane)
💄
Makeup base
Okay
PillsPrimer
- → 2 Dry-touch esters, smooth fast-absorbing base
- ← 1 Gel polymers prone to pilling under friction (Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer)
- ← 7 Humectant syrup tackiness
🌊
Water resistance
Not resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
Nothing flagged in the ingredient list.
How we rate water resistance →Full ingredient list (40)
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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1 Water
Solvent base, the water phase
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Legacy UV filter (Octocrylene), high in the list, a primary filter
- ↑ 16 UV protection
- ↑ 22 migrates into eyes with sweat
- ↑ 15 co-stains alongside avobenzone
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3 Glycerin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 16 → nourishing the anchor humectant
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Legacy UV filter (Octisalate)
- ↑ 7.6 UV protection
- ↑ 6 migrates into eyes with sweat
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- matte ← 2 dry-touch emollient, anti-shine
-
Legacy UV filter (Avobenzone)
- ↑ 28.5 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- ↓ 3.5 stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- ↑ 16 migrates into eyes with sweat
- ↑ 45 reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
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Legacy UV filter (Ensulizole)
- ↑ 13.3 UV protection
- ↑ 4 migrates into eyes with sweat
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- 2 → nourishing emollient lipid
- 3 → dewy emollient lipid
-
Supporting ingredient
-
Fatty alcohol, an emollient and thickener, not the drying kind
- 0.5 → nourishing fatty-alcohol emollient
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 4 moderate comedogenic signal
- ↑ 14 feeds malassezia
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12 Tromethamine
pH adjuster
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
14 Propanediol
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
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15 C9-12 Alkane
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- light ← 1 volatile carrier, flashes off
- matte ← 1 volatile carrier, flashes off
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
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19 Dimethicone
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
20 Squalane
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- 1 → nourishing emollient lipid
- 1 → dewy emollient lipid
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21 Hectorite
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light ← 1.5 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte ← 1 sebum-absorbing powder
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
-
25 Dimethiconol
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 12 feeds malassezia
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Botanical extract
-
Plant oil, an emollient
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Protein, peptide or amino acid, conditions and hydrates skin
- 1 → nourishing humectant
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 12 feeds malassezia
-
Botanical extract
-
Botanical extract
-
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Supporting ingredient
-
Supporting ingredient
Does The Inkey List Dewy Sunscreen leave a white cast?
No, it shows low white cast and stays lightweight on the skin. The finish reads as balanced rather than heavily dewy. It is comfortable for daily wear.
Is the The Inkey List Polyglutamic Acid Dewy Sunscreen SPF30 mineral or chemical, and what SPF?
It is a chemical sunscreen rated SPF 30, using Octocrylene, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, and Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid. There are no mineral filters in the formula.
Is it good for acne-prone skin?
It is low on pore-clogging concerns, so it is generally a reasonable pick for acne-prone skin. It may sting somewhat for sensitive eyes. The score is 71.4/100 with good protection.