The INKEY List Polyglutamic Acid Dewy Sunscreen SPF 30.

Q: Is The INKEY List Polyglutamic Acid Dewy Sunscreen SPF 30 worth it?

The gurus are split. 6 of the 9 gurus give it their stamp of approval while 2 would skip it, which lands it in the middle at a Guru Score of 67%.

Q: What is The INKEY List Polyglutamic Acid Dewy Sunscreen SPF 30's Guru Score?

The INKEY List Polyglutamic Acid Dewy Sunscreen SPF 30 holds a Guru Score of 67%. That is our read on how warmly the experts talk about it, based on the verdicts of 9 expert reviewers we have collected.

Q: Who is The INKEY List Polyglutamic Acid Dewy Sunscreen SPF 30 best for?

The INKEY List Polyglutamic Acid Dewy Sunscreen SPF 30 is generally suited to dry skin and sensitive skin.

Save to Pinterest

Sunscreen

About this product

A lightweight chemical sunscreen with SPF 30 formulated with polyglutamic acid and hydrating ingredients to deliver a dewy finish without white cast.

Full ingredients

Water (Aqua/Eau), Octocrylene (10%), Glycerin, Ethylhexyl Salicylate (5%), Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane (3%), Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid (3%), Triheptanoin, Saccharomyces Ferment, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate SE, Tromethamine, Glyceryl Caprylate, Propanediol, C9-12 Alkane, Dilinoleic Acid/Butanediol Copolymer, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Dimethicone, Squalane, Hectorite, Lauroyl Lysine, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Dimethiconol, Polysorbate 60, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Oryza Sativa (Purple Rice) Hull Extract, Castor Oil/Ipdi Copolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Polyglutamic Acid, Sorbitan Isostearate, Camellia Sinensis (Purple Tea) Leaf Extract, Ipomoea Batatas (Purple Sweet Potato) Root Extract, Hydroxyacetophenone, Sodium Benzoate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol

Guru Score

67%

Mixed

9 experts · Strong agreement

What the gurus are saying

This sunscreen earns strong praise for its dewy, moisturizing finish and clean formulation, though it splits sharply on texture. Dermatologists and estheticians love how it hydrates and supports the skin barrier, making it especially good for dry skin and those wanting a luminous look, but some found it greasy or irritating. Those with rosacea or oily skin may want to patch-test first; it's best for cooler months or indoor days rather than heavy outdoor use.

Synthesized from 9 expert reviews · most recent take April 2025

What they liked

Hydrating without drying skin down
Dewy finish without looking greasy or shiny
Blends in quickly, no white cast

What they flagged

Takes time to spread, fairly dense texture
May trigger sensitivity in rosacea-prone skin

Best for

Dry skin Sensitive skin

Type

SunscreenLotion

Key actives

SPFSqualane

Formula notes

Fragrance-freeNo drying alcohol

Where to buy

Sephora → Ulta → Amazon → Google →

Opens a store search. We may earn from these links.

Scan it in the shopFree iPhone app. Scores in the aisle.

What the gurus are saying.

Every take we've logged from this product's reviews across YouTube. Click any row to watch the moment they said it.

All takes Yay takes Nay takes Mixed takes Hide sponsored

James Welsh

1.58M subs

~Nay

"It hates one of these UV filters. I'm not sure which one. This isn't an Inkey List thing, it's a chemical sunscreen thing for me. But if you want a sunscreen that's not going to dry your skin down, doesn't smell alcohol heavy, doesn't sting your eyes, doesn't sting your skin, and you don't have rosacea, I would give this one a try. It's a really nice sunscreen, it just feels like a nice quenching moisturizer. Unfortunately my rosacea was not having it."

Beyond50Skin

32k subs

~Yay

"This is the one by The INKEY List, their Polyglutamic Acid Dewy Sunscreen SPF 30. It is really moisturizing, I like it a lot and I don't have any irritation from it. It dries down beautifully and it is super moisturizing and absolutely of course no white cast. It has the typical US filters, so if you're looking for a hydrating sunscreen that gives you a lot of moisturizer and you're not going to be out and about and you don't need that high sunscreen protection, this is a great one to try."

Dr. Shereene Idriss

1.73M subs

~Yay

"The Inkey List has their polyglutamic acid dewy sunscreen at SPF 30 which is great for dry skin. It has no HA but it does help to keep you hydrated with the polyglutamic acid."

No BS Beauty

89k subs

~Mixed

"This is just a US chemical sunscreen it uses four US chemical filters so not quite as elegant as some of the other products that can use European filters or ones that can use EU filters so the UVA protection's probably not as good as some of the other ones but for the winter or for days when you're inside a lot it's a nice one it has a nice finish."

Mad About Skin

731k subs

~Nay

"I tried their sunscreen, it's like SPF 30 which is fine, I mean SPF 30 is fine, but it's just basically greasy. And I got my skin, my friend with a dry skin type to try because I thought maybe it's just not translating well, but she was like, oh this is gross, terrible sunscreen."

Nadine Baggott

164k subs

~Yay

"The INKEY List have just gone into an SPF and I love this one, the Polyglutamic Dewy Sunscreen SPF 30. It's an SPF 30 so it's going to be an easier texture to formulate with. I'm choosing this because it's for those people who want a dewy finish because this is a much dewier finish. It's a beautiful moisturizer with a very slight sheen to it, really nicely formulated. It's about finding an SPF that you can afford that your skin really loves to protect you from pollution."

The Budget Dermatologist

724k subs

~Yay

"You can follow it up with their polyglutamic acid dewy SPF 30 sunscreen. It's very lightweight and sheer on the skin. And at the end of your routine after those three products, you will have a very glass glowy skin look."

Sponsored

All 8 takes from The Budget Dermatologist

The BEST Budget Skincare of 2023! | The Budget Derm

"The INKEY List has one of the best budget sunscreens of the year. It's the polyglutamic acid SPF 30, a dewy finish sunscreen that's chemical based with no white cast and no tint, so this could be good for anybody's skin tone."

Anti-aging Routine on a BUDGET! | The Budget Dermatologist

"It has a lot of hydrating ingredients in it too which helps give it that healthy dewy look. It has polyglutamic acid, squalane and glycerin. It's very lightweight and no white cast here because it is chemical filter based. I've been wearing this a lot outdoors this summer to Disney, the beach, all over and it's done a wonderful job. This one is only 14.99 which is an incredible price for a sunscreen and it is one of my absolute top budget pick sunscreens this year at this price point."

Budget Sunscreen Pick! Under $15 | The Budget Dermatologist

"It is really good. I kind of have more dry skin type, so this really helps with dehydration. The Inkey List is so transparent with their ingredients, which I love, and they always tell us the percentages that are in this product, which is so helpful when I'm judging products to determine if they're going to work for my skin type. [...] This sunscreen is clean, vegan, and fragrance-free, which are really important for a lot of people, including me, when I am choosing products."

My 2023 Skincare Product of the Year! | The Budget Dermatologist

"This dewy sunscreen by The INKEY List is right around $10. It is so nice on the skin, gives you a nice little dewy finish. It is chemical based so there really is no white cast with this. It can be used in a variety of skin tones. It's gentle on the skin, great formulation."

Step-By-Step Guide For Glass Skin! | The Budget Dermatologist

GRWM! Skincare Favorites on Sale Now

"The polyglutamic acid dewy sunscreen, which I love for the summer, has chemical filters in it. [...] It blends in really quickly and nicely with no white cast because it doesn't have the mineral filters."

Affordable Acne Skincare Routine: Step-by-step! | The Budget Dermatologist

"This is super lightweight. I actually used this last week at Disney and I did not get a sunburn, and that is about as hot and non-shady of a place as there is, so I highly approve of this one. It is a chemical based sunscreen so it rubs in with no white cast very nice and it does not feel heavy on the skin. When I was outside sweating it up I loved this one and how it felt."

Best of Sunscreens 2023! | The Budget Dermatologist

"It is just so nice. It is a great healthy sunscreen, so affordable. If you are looking for a workhorse sunscreen you can even use this outdoors. It is very affordable, feels amazing on the skin, and once it absorbs in it does not sit on the skin like a layer or film. It is just nice and it is so affordable. There is no reason not to get SPF on your face constantly when you have these amazing affordable picks."

Dr. Jenny Liu

323k subs

~Yay

"I absolutely adore this sunscreen, I think it's probably my favorite product to be honest with you guys from the INKEY List and it's their polyglutamic acid sunscreen. [...] I really love the texture, it's super nourishing but yet kind of dries down with this semi-dewy matte finish, and the polyglutamic acid really helps to support your skin moisture barrier. It is fragrance-free, it's got a good amount of SPF protection at SPF 30, and also it's pretty affordable for about $15."