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The INKEY List

Polyglutamic Acid Dewy Sunscreen SPF 30.

The INKEY List Polyglutamic Acid Dewy Sunscreen SPF 30
Sunscreen

About this product

A chemical sunscreen with SPF 30 designed to hydrate and protect skin, formulated with polyglutamic acid, squalane, and glycerin for a dewy finish.

Full ingredients

Guru Score

70%

Mixed

11 experts · Strong agreement
11Gurus
8Yay
1Mixed
2Nay

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

What the gurus are saying

This sunscreen earns consistent praise for its hydrating texture and dewy finish, thanks to the polyglutamic acid which holds significantly more water than hyaluronic acid. Experts note it blends cleanly with no white cast and works well for dry and combination skin types at an affordable price. However, a few people found it greasy or experienced irritation from one of the chemical UV filters, so anyone with sensitive or reactive skin may want to patch-test first.
Synthesized from 11 expert reviews · most recent take April 2025

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
~Nay
"My least favorite is The Inkey List Polyglutamic Acid Dewy Sunscreen SPF 30, which is a perfect example of what I mean by don't make really objectively a bad product, it just didn't work for me. [...] I was really looking forward to trying it. It's got polyglutamic acid in it which is super hydrating, soothing green tea, rice extract in, all things my skin usually loves. But unfortunately this time around, my rosacea did not enjoy this at all. 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."
~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."
~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."
~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."
~Yay
"For the best sunscreen for dry to combination skin, the Inkey List watery gel is one of my two big favorites."
~Yay
"The inky list is made by Mark and Colette they actually used to be co-workers and they fell in love and they created the inky list to literally help people with their skin to be affordable and effective"
~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."
~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."
~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."
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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
"My newest favorite this summer is The Inkey List Polyglutamic Acid Dewy Sunscreen SPF 30. 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
"This is a non-tinted chemical based sunscreen but it has zero white cast on the skin. The polyglutamic acid ingredient is the focus of this product and it's what really makes this unique in my opinion. Polyglutamic acid you can think of it like a hyaluronic acid but it holds four times more water, so the focus of this sunscreen is really to hydrate the skin as it protects you from UV damage. Many sunscreens, especially zinc based sunscreens, are so drying on the skin but you will find that that is not the case with this one because of that polyglutamic acid. It also has squalane and glycerin in it, so those three ingredients together really pack on hydration in the skin. I really love this one for all skin types, dry and combination skin, even mature skin. It is really good. I have more dry skin type so this really helps with dehydration. The Inkey List is so transparent with their ingredients, which I love. [...] 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."
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
"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."
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
"This is around $10, at least that is what I got it for recently on sale. This is a very traditional sunscreen, non-tinted, a chemical sunscreen. When you rub it in it starts to turn invisible a little more quickly. It is a little more gel serum-like than the Banana Boat one. There is no white cast on the skin as it rubs in. It gives you a little bit of a subtle glow on the skin but not shimmery, just like a little subtle glow. 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."
~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. I love the finish and I love the fact that it layers really nicely under makeup or wearing it alone. Ingredient-wise, aside from the chemical filters, it contains 8% tree of polyglutamic acid, squalene, and glycerin, so all wonderful ingredients that really is going to support your skin barrier and keep your skin hydrated."
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All 4 takes from Dr. Jenny Liu
Sensitive Skin routine for less then $100 from a dermatologist | Dr. Jenny Liu
"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. I love the finish and I love the fact that it layers really nicely under makeup or wearing it alone. Ingredient-wise, aside from the chemical filters, it contains 8% tree of polyglutamic acid, squalene, and glycerin, so all wonderful ingredients that really is going to support your skin barrier and keep your skin hydrated."
Dermatologist updated Morning Skincare Routine | Tips for winter and layering skincare
"Sunscreen, and the one that I'm absolutely obsessed with at the moment is from The INKEY List, it's their Polyglutamic Acid Dewy Sunscreen. Very hydrating, very supportive of your skin moisture barrier, but with such a nice, elegant finish. It is dewy but really honestly almost [...] mattifying at the same time, because your skin looks great but it doesn't look shiny or greasy, but it also doesn't look like it's dry, which sometimes I actually find many mineral-based suncreams will make my skin look. So you kind of get this great all-around look to your skin. It's a fairly dense cream, if that makes sense. I'm so used to the light, spreadable sunscreens from Korea, and this one, when I first applied it, it actually took some time to spread. It's not easily spreadable, it's heavy, and I think it's from the polyglutamic acid. But [...] once you rub it in, oh my God, it is literally what my skin needs."
Dermatologist Reviews The INKEY List Skincare | DR. JENNY LIU
"Though it's slightly stickier and tackier to spread, I actually think this is a great one to use for all skin types and even for my dry skin my skin feels hydrated it does not feel tight afterwards. And for oily combination skin you are going to feel that your skin is supported, like not that you're going to look extra shiny or just like you have something super thick on your skin. So I absolutely really really love this sunscreen and it really is one of my favorites right now."
Ultimate Sensitive skincare guide for winter from Dermatologist | Dr. Jenny Liu
"The Inkey List polyglutamic acid sunscreen is a dense cream formula but very hydrating, with a slight mattifying to semi dewy finish. It uses chemical filters that never really irritated my skin."
~Yay
"I didn't experience that with this. Now because of the finish of this sunscreen, it is something that I would prefer to wear in the warmer months so this is a spring summer sunscreen for me and I really like the way that it worked with makeup so I could wear it on days with makeup without makeup I love this."
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What the evidence says.

Independent of what the gurus think, this is what the published research supports about the main active ingredients here.

Sunscreen filters

Sun protection is the best evidenced way to slow visible ageing, and the filters are what does the work. Mineral and chemical filters both protect when a product is applied thickly enough and often enough, which is where most people fall short rather than on the choice of filter.

Source: DermNet

Humectants and emollients

Ingredients like these draw water into the surface layers and slow how fast it leaves. The evidence is for comfort, softness and hydration rather than for changing the structure of the skin.

Source: DermNet

Frequently asked.

What is The INKEY List Polyglutamic Acid Dewy Sunscreen SPF 30?

A chemical sunscreen with SPF 30 designed to hydrate and protect skin, formulated with polyglutamic acid, squalane, and glycerin for a dewy finish.

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

The gurus are split. 8 of the 11 gurus give it their stamp of approval while 2 would skip it, which lands it in the middle at a Guru Score of 70%.

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 70%. That is our read on how warmly the experts talk about it, based on the verdicts of 11 expert reviewers we have collected.

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.

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