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The Seaweed Bath Co. Active Defense SPF 50 Sport

The Seaweed Bath Co. SPF 50 πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ American
The Seaweed Bath Co. Active Defense SPF 50 Sport

69/100 overall score

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About this sunscreen

The Seaweed Bath Co. Active Defense SPF 50 Sport is a chemical sport sunscreen built on older filters (octocrylene, ethylhexyl salicylate) with zinc oxide. It has a dewy finish and low white cast but can feel somewhat heavier, though it does not commonly sting. It is generally not the best base under makeup but has a low pore-clogging profile. Scoring 69.1 out of 100 with good protection, it is a reasonable active-wear option.

Ingredient & SPF scores

β˜€οΈ

UV protection

Good 67
  • +16 Octocrylene at #1, UV filter
  • +41 Zinc Oxide at #2, UV filter (UVA1 +18)
  • +8 Ethylhexyl Salicylate at #3, UV filter
  • +2 Label claims (SPF 50)
How we rate uv protection β†’
☒️

Health safety

High 70
  • +100 Starting score
  • βˆ’30 Octocrylene at #1 (regulatory/evidence concern)
How we rate health safety β†’
🀧

Allergens

Low 67
  • +100 Starting score
  • βˆ’18 Fragrance
  • βˆ’1 1 declared fragrance allergens
  • βˆ’11 Opaque "Fragrance", hidden allergens that can't be checked from the label
  • βˆ’3 Photoallergen-tail UV filters (Octocrylene)
How we rate allergens β†’
πŸ‘»

White cast

Low 87
  • +100 Starting score
  • βˆ’14 Zinc Oxide, 8.5% declared
  • +1.4 PHSA dispersant, fights agglomeration
How we rate white cast β†’
πŸ”₯

Eye sting

Low 61
  • +100 Starting score
  • βˆ’22 Octocrylene at #1, migrates into eyes with sweat
  • βˆ’9 Octisalate at #3, migrates into eyes with sweat
  • βˆ’8 Fragrance
How we rate eye sting β†’
πŸͺ¨

Heavy feel

Medium 60
  • +100 Starting score
  • βˆ’8 Zinc Oxide, 8.5% declared
  • βˆ’10 Butyrospermum Parkii Fruit at #7, butter/occlusive fat
  • βˆ’2 Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter at #26, butter/occlusive fat
  • βˆ’1 Coconut Oil at #14, heavy oil
  • βˆ’10 Mineral suspended in a dense emollient base (basic)
  • βˆ’9 Dense mineral + wax system, stays heavy after dry-down
How we rate heavy feel β†’
πŸ”΄

Comedogenic

Low 95
  • +100 Starting score
  • βˆ’2 Coconut Oil at #14, comedogenic oil/butter
  • βˆ’2 Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter at #26, comedogenic oil/butter
  • βˆ’1 Persea Gratissima Oil at #23, moderate comedogenic signal
  • +0 Algae Extract at #4, disputed rating, watch if acne-prone
How we rate comedogenic β†’
πŸ„

Fungal acne

Medium 41
  • +100 Starting score
  • βˆ’50 5 oils/butters that feed Malassezia (Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Persea Gratissima Oil, Coconut Oil)
  • βˆ’9 1 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Glyceryl Stearate)
  • +0 Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil at #25, jojoba wax ester, fungal-acne exception (not penalized)
How we rate fungal acne β†’
πŸ‘•

Fabric stains

Low 70
  • +100 Starting score
  • βˆ’15 Octocrylene at #1, co-stains alongside avobenzone
  • βˆ’15 Zinc Oxide at #2, white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
How we rate fabric stains β†’
πŸ’§

Moisture

Hydrating
LightNourishing
  • ← 5 Zinc Oxide at #2, mild sebum absorbent
  • β†’ 1 Glycerin at #18, the anchor humectant
  • β†’ 9 6 emollient lipids (Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Persea Gratissima Oil, …)
  • β†’ 1 Light emollient/solvent (Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride)
  • β†’ 0.5 1 fatty-alcohol emollients (Cetearyl Alcohol)
How we rate moisture β†’
✨

Finish

Dewy
MatteDewy
  • β†’ 11 6 emollient lipids (Butyrospermum Parkii Fruit, Coconut Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, …)
How we rate finish β†’
πŸ’„

Makeup base

Poor
PillsPrimer
  • ← 4 Occlusives/waxes float the foundation
  • ← 15 High mineral load at #2 greys under foundation
How we rate makeup base β†’
🌊

Water resistance

Not resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
  • +12 Label claims water resistance (sport / 40-80 min)
How we rate water resistance β†’

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.

  • ✨ Aloe vera
  • ✨ Green tea

Full ingredient list (30)

What each ingredient does and how it moves each rating: green helps, red hurts, ↑ / ↓ give the direction, and ← / β†’ shift a slider toward its ends (finish, moisture, makeup base). Auto-derived from our scoring rules and the ingredient's position.

  1. 1 Octocrylene

    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
  2. 2 Zinc Oxide

    Mineral UV filter (Zinc Oxide), high in the list, a primary filter

    • ↑ 41 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
    • ↑ 14 8.5% declared
    • ↑ 8 8.5% declared
    • ↑ 15 white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
    • light ← 5 mild sebum absorbent
    • pills ← 15 High mineral load greys under foundation
  3. 3 Ethylhexyl Salicylate

    Legacy UV filter (Octisalate), high in the list, a primary filter

    • ↑ 8 UV protection
    • ↑ 9 migrates into eyes with sweat
  4. 4 Algae Extract

    Botanical extract

  5. 5 Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice

    Soothing, skin-conditioning active

  6. 6 Benzyl Alcohol

    Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling

  7. 7 Butyrospermum Parkii Fruit

    Botanical extract

    • ↑ 10 butter/occlusive fat
    • 4 β†’ nourishing emollient lipid
    • 6 β†’ dewy emollient lipid
    • ↑ 24 feeds malassezia
  8. 8 Calendula Officinalis

    Botanical extract

  9. 9 Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract

    Botanical extract

  10. 10 Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride

    Emollient, softens and smooths skin

    • 1 β†’ nourishing light emollient
  11. 11 Cetearyl Alcohol

    Fatty alcohol, an emollient and thickener, not the drying kind

    • 0.5 β†’ nourishing fatty-alcohol emollient
  12. 12 Citric Acid

    pH adjuster

  13. 13 Citrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract

    Botanical extract

  14. 14 Coconut Oil

    Plant oil, an emollient

    • ↑ 1 heavy oil
    • ↑ 2 comedogenic oil/butter
    • 1 β†’ nourishing emollient lipid
    • 1 β†’ dewy emollient lipid
    • ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
  15. 15 Decyl Glucoside

    Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended

  16. 16 Dehydroacetic Acid

    Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling

  17. 17 Fucus Vesiculosus Extract

    Botanical extract

  18. 18 Glycerin

    Humectant, pulls water into the skin

    • 1 β†’ nourishing the anchor humectant
  19. 19 Glyceryl Stearate

    Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended

    • ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
  20. 20 Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil

    Botanical extract

    • 1 β†’ nourishing emollient lipid
    • 1 β†’ dewy emollient lipid
    • ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
  21. 21 Hydroxyethylcellulose

    Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream

  22. 22 Fragrance

    Fragrance

  23. 23 Persea Gratissima Oil

    Plant oil, an emollient

    • ↑ 1 moderate comedogenic signal
    • 1 β†’ nourishing emollient lipid
    • 1 β†’ dewy emollient lipid
    • ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
  24. 24 Polyhydroxystearic Acid

    Emollient, softens and smooths skin

  25. 25 Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil

    Botanical extract

    • 1 β†’ nourishing emollient lipid
    • 1 β†’ dewy emollient lipid
  26. 26 Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter

    Botanical extract

    • ↑ 2 butter/occlusive fat
    • ↑ 2 comedogenic oil/butter
    • 1 β†’ nourishing emollient lipid
    • 1 β†’ dewy emollient lipid
    • ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
  27. 27 Tocopheryl Acetate

    Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin

  28. 28 Tridecyl Salicylate

    Emollient, softens and smooths skin

  29. 29 Water

    Solvent base, the water phase

  30. 30 Xanthan Gum

    Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream

Does The Seaweed Bath Co. Active Defense leave a white cast?

No, white cast is generally low. It wears with a dewy finish despite the zinc oxide content.

Is the The Seaweed Bath Co. Active Defense SPF 50 Sport good under makeup?

It is generally not the best base under makeup. As a sport sunscreen it feels a bit heavier and is built more for active wear.

Is it mineral or chemical?

It is mainly chemical. It uses older filters like octocrylene and ethylhexyl salicylate, with zinc oxide added.

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