Vaseline Sun + Pollution Protection Spf 30 Pa+++ Serum
49/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
Vaseline Sun + Pollution Protection SPF 30 PA+++ Serum is an older-style chemical sunscreen serum using Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid, and avobenzone. It has a balanced, lightweight finish with low white cast and is generally non-stinging and low for pore-clogging. It scores 49.0/100 with protection rated weak, so it is better suited to light, low-exposure days than to extended sun.
Ingredient & SPF scores
☀️
UV protection
Weak
31
- +8 Ethylhexyl Salicylate at #2, UV filter
- +13.3 Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid at #5, UV filter
- +24 Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane at #9, UV filter (UVA1 +12.8)
- ×0.9 Limited long-UVA1 coverage
- ×0.72 Avobenzone without a photostabilizer
- +2 Label claims (SPF 30, PA rating)
☢️
Health safety
High
90
- +100 Starting score
- −10 Avobenzone at #9 (regulatory/evidence concern)
🤧
Allergens
Low
70
- +100 Starting score
- −18 Fragrance
- −12 Opaque "Fragrance", hidden allergens that can't be checked from the label
🔥
Eye sting
Low
71
- +100 Starting score
- −8 Avobenzone at #9, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −9 Octisalate at #2, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −4 Ensulizole at #5, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −8 Fragrance
🪨
Heavy feel
Low
95
- +100 Starting score
- −5 Stearic Acid at #4, rich gel-network thickener
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Fungal acne
High
40
- +100 Starting score
- −50 3 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Glycol Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate)
- −10 1 ubiquitous fatty ingredients (Stearic Acid), weak Malassezia signal
👕
Fabric stains
Low
62
- +100 Starting score
- −38 Avobenzone at #9, reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
💧
Moisture
Hydrating
LightNourishing
- → 16 Glycerin at #3, the anchor humectant
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Makeup base
Okay
PillsPrimer
- → 1 Primer-style base, volatile silicones and dimethicone slip
- ← 0.5 Gel polymers prone to pilling under friction (Carbomer)
- ← 7 Humectant syrup tackiness
🌊
Water resistance
Not resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
Nothing flagged in the ingredient list.
How we rate water resistance →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.
- ✨ Niacinamide
Full ingredient list (26)
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 (Octisalate), high in the list, a primary filter
- ↑ 8 UV protection
- ↑ 9 migrates into eyes with sweat
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3 Glycerin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 16 → nourishing the anchor humectant
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- ↑ 5 rich gel-network thickener
- ↑ 10 minor malassezia feeder
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Legacy UV filter (Ensulizole)
- ↑ 13.3 UV protection
- ↑ 4 migrates into eyes with sweat
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- ↑ 24 feeds malassezia
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Soothing, skin-conditioning active
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 14 feeds malassezia
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Legacy UV filter (Avobenzone), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- ↑ 24 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- ↑ 8 migrates into eyes with sweat
- ↑ 38 reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
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10 Dimethicone
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 14 feeds malassezia
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12 Hydroxide K
pH adjuster
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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15 Carbomer
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
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Fatty alcohol, an emollient and thickener, not the drying kind
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17 Xanthan Gum
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
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18 Fragrance
Fragrance
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Soothing, skin-conditioning active
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pH adjuster
-
Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
-
Supporting ingredient
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23 BHT
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
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24 Maltodextrin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
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Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
Is Vaseline Sun + Pollution Protection SPF 30 Serum good?
It scores 49.0/100 with protection rated weak, so it is better suited to light, low-exposure days than extended sun. For strong sun a higher performing sunscreen is generally advised.
Does the Vaseline Sun + Pollution Protection Spf 30 Pa+++ Serum leave a white cast?
No, white cast is rated low. The serum has a balanced, lightweight finish that absorbs cleanly, and it is generally non-stinging.
Is it mineral or chemical?
It is an older-style chemical sunscreen using Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid, and avobenzone.