Altruist SPF 50 Sunscreen for acne-prone skin
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
Titanium Dioxide
Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid
Ethylhexyl Triazone
Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
High
- HighCombination Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- HighSafety
A great choice for acne-prone skin; a few sunscreens fit it even better.
- Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
- Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 1987
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with acne-prone skin: breakouts, blackheads, and post-acne marks. For scores and recommendations based on your full skin profile, including your 12D face scan results and any goals or preferences you have, please use the Lovi app.
Page built Nov 8, 2026How the Fit score works
Lovi Assistant explains
- This sunscreen offers excellent UV protection for your combination skin, with butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane and ethylhexyl triazone providing robust defense against sun damage, while glycerin and titanium dioxide maintain hydration and prevent oiliness.
- Piroctone Olamine is included to offer supportive benefits for your acne, blemishes, and breakouts by helping to regulate sebum and reduce inflammation.
- The formulation is safe for your acne-prone skin, as it lacks harsh ingredients that could cause irritation.
How to apply
- Apply this sunscreen every morning as the final step of your skincare routine. Reapply every two hours if you are outdoors for best protection against breakouts.
- Apply the sunscreen after your moisturizer and before applying any makeup. Let it absorb completely ⏱ before going outside.
- Take a nickel-sized amount and gently pat it evenly across your face and neck. Avoid rubbing aggressively to keep your combination skin calm.
- Apply the sunscreen on clean, dry skin to ensure an even protective layer. This helps manage excess shine without clogging your pores.
- Avoid the immediate eye area and do a quick patch test before first use. Stop using it if you notice any irritation and consult a specialist.
People Say
★4.5Overall rating based on 15.0k+ reviewsThis sunscreen is widely praised for its excellent UVA protection and affordability, making it a favorite for dry and sensitive skin due to its moisturizing texture. However, users with oily or acne-prone skin often find it too heavy and greasy, and there are mixed reports about a white cast, which tends to fade on lighter skin tones but may be more noticeable on darker complexions.
Highlights
High protection efficacy Mostly Mentioned
- “5-star UVA rating is unbeatable”
- “never burned once using this”
- “peace of mind for fair skin”
- “excellent PPD 54 rating”
Unbeatable value Mostly Mentioned
- “best budget sunscreen”
- “so cheap I use it generously”
- “can't beat the price per ml”
- “affordable enough for daily body use”
Moisturizing dry skin Often Mentioned
- “skips my morning moisturizer”
- “leaves a healthy dewy glow”
- “perfect for winter dryness”
- “feels like a rich face cream”
Greasy shiny finish Often Mentioned
- “looked like a greaseball”
- “way too shiny for summer”
- “never dries down completely”
- “makeup slides right off”
Sensitive friendly Sometimes Noted
- “no fragrance is a huge plus”
- “great for my reactive skin”
- “gentle enough for my kids”
Pilling issues Sometimes Noted
- “balls up under foundation”
- “pills if I rub my face”
- “flakes off in little white bits”
- “can't layer anything over it”
White cast Sometimes Noted
- “ghostly cast on brown skin”
- “takes 20 minutes to fade”
- “looks purple on my dark skin”
- “stuck in my beard/hairline”
Charitable mission Rarely Noted
- “love that it supports albinism charities”
- “feel good buying it”
- “ethical brand mission”
- “profits go to a good cause”
Eye stinging Rarely Noted
- “burns my eyes badly”
- “tearing up by midday”
- “can't put it near my eyelids”
- “stings when I sweat”
Yellow staining Rarely Noted
- “ruined my white t-shirts”
- “yellow collars on all my shirts”
- “stains are hard to wash out”
- “be careful with light clothes”
Sources: lovi.care, amazon.co.uk, reddit.com, youtube.com, theguardian.com, marieclaire.co.uk, and more
Questions and answers
What makes Altruist SPF 50 Sunscreen a great fit for acne-prone skin?
This sunscreen is a great fit because it protects your skin from the sun while maintaining hydration and preventing excess oiliness. It also includes piroctone olamine to help regulate oil and calm breakouts, and the formula avoids harsh ingredients that may cause irritation.
Which ingredients make this sunscreen a good fit for acne-prone skin?
Glycerin and titanium dioxide help maintain hydration and prevent excess oiliness on your skin, while piroctone olamine offers supportive benefits for your acne by regulating sebum and reducing inflammation. Additionally, the formula is safe and unlikely to cause irritation because it lacks harsh ingredients.
What does Avobenzone do for acne-prone skin?
Avobenzone helps protect acne-prone skin from harmful ultraviolet rays that can worsen dark spots left by breakouts. However, sunscreens with this ingredient may feel heavy on oily skin, so acne-prone skin needs lightweight, oil-free formulas that block UV rays without clogging pores.
What does Titanium Dioxide do for acne-prone skin?
Titanium dioxide sits on the surface of your skin to block UV rays without sinking in, which is generally safe for acne-prone skin. However, a product for this skin type needs extra soothing ingredients and oil control to help manage breakouts.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2000Skin Pharmacology and Applied Skin Physiology, 2001
Where does this sunscreen go in a skincare routine for acne-prone skin?
This sunscreen is applied as the last step of your morning skincare routine after your moisturizer. It protects your skin from the sun while keeping your skin hydrated and helping to control oiliness.
Can I use this sunscreen with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this sunscreen in the morning as the final step of your skincare routine after applying your moisturizer. It is safe for acne-prone skin and provides strong sun defense while helping to keep oiliness in balance.
How often should I use this sunscreen?
This sunscreen is a great fit for your acne-prone skin and is designed to be used every morning as the final step in your daytime routine. It provides robust UV defense while helping to maintain hydration and manage oiliness without causing irritation.
Can this sunscreen clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for acne-prone skin?
This sunscreen is safe for your acne-prone skin and is unlikely to cause breakouts because it lacks harsh ingredients and includes piroctone olamine to help regulate oil and soothe blemishes. It provides strong sun defense while maintaining hydration to keep your skin calm.
Is this sunscreen fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol. Cetyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol, which soften the skin.
What the research says
A single application of a moisturizing fluid containing hyaluronic acid 1%, glycerin 5%, and Centella asiatica stem cells extract significantly increased skin hydration by 29% and reduced transepidermal water loss at 24 hours compared to baseline and an untreated control site in twenty healthy women.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017Parsol 1789 and Eusolex 8020 provided slightly better photoprotection than oxybenzone in both normal and sensitized human skin when assessed using pigmentation end points, whereas all three sunscreens performed similarly against UVA-induced erythema.
Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 1987Encapsulation of ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate and butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane in lipid microparticles significantly reduced their in vivo human skin penetration compared to nonencapsulated filters.
Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, 2011Microencapsulation of the BMDBM/HP-beta-CD complex in lipid microparticles significantly decreased the percutaneous penetration of the UV filter into the stratum corneum of human volunteers compared to the non-encapsulated sunscreen agent.
Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis, 2011Following human skin application of an O/W emulsion containing 2% BMDBM loaded in lipospheres, 15% of the sunscreen accumulated in the uppermost layers of the stratum corneum without remarkably modifying skin permeation compared to unencapsulated sunscreen.
Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, 2008Microfine titanium dioxide does not penetrate human skin when formulated in an oil-in-water emulsion with the pigment dispersed in the aqueous phase, compared to oily dispersions and liposomal encapsulation which allow deeper skin penetration.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2000Replacing microsized titanium dioxide and zinc oxide with nanoparticles in sunscreens eliminates opaqueness and alters UV protection balance while inducing (photo)cyto- and genotoxicity and penetrating viable skin layers during long-term exposures.
Nanotechnology, Science and Applications, 2011Microfine zinc oxide and titanium dioxide do not penetrate the stratum corneum of porcine skin in vitro, indicating that their use in sunscreens does not pose a health risk from internal exposure.
Toxicology in Vitro, 2006A topical sunscreen containing octyl triazone, phenylbenzimidazole sulfonic acid, and methylbenzylidene camphor prevented UVB-induced suppression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 expression and mixed-lymphocyte reaction in epidermal cell cultures compared to control sunscreens with comparable SPF lacking octyl triazone.
Toxicology in Vitro, 1994Microencapsulation of ethylhexyl triazone in lipid microparticles significantly reduced its in vivo human stratum corneum penetration by 45.7% compared to the nonencapsulated sunscreen.
Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, 2019Maximal topical applications of 6% bemotrizinol in a model sunscreen formulation did not result in meaningful systemic exposure in humans.
Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology, 2023
Ingredients
Water, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Glycerin, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Ethylhexyl Stearate, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Octocrylene, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Titanium Dioxide, Cetyl Alcohol, Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid, Glyceryl Stearate, Cyclopentasiloxane, Triacontanyl Pvp, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Phenoxyethanol, Alumina, Piroctone Olamine, Acrylates C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Panthenol, Aminomethyl Propanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Simethicone, Tris-Biphenyl Triazine, Decyl Glucoside, Diethylhexyl Sodium Sulfosuccinate, Propylene Glycol, Disodium Phosphate, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Xanthan Gum, Butylene Glycol, Silver Chloride, Tetrasodium Edta
Behind this fit score
Lovi calculates every fit score from the full ingredient list with brand-independent rules our dermatologists and cosmetic chemists build and review, and personalizes every pick with AI trained on the real results of millions of users. Lovi trains its fit score models on a proprietary dataset built from more than 10,000 expert-labeled products and more than 100,000 simulated examples, following an internally consistent methodology presented at Cosmoprof, AMWC, and Skin of Color Update.
-
Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
-
Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
-
Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
-
Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
-
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
-
Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
-
Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
-
Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
How does it fit your skin?
Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.