3rd Rock Essentials Sunblock® For Infants Zinc Oxide SPF 35
66/100 overall score
Sign in to see this product's score for your skin.
About this sunscreen
3rd Rock Essentials Sunblock for Infants is an SPF 35 mineral formula using zinc oxide as its only filter. As a pure-zinc baby sunscreen it can leave a high white cast and sits with a medium weight, with a dewy finish and a low-sting, low pore-clogging profile that is generally gentle for sensitive and infant skin. It is poor as a makeup base. With moderate protection and a 65.9 score, it is a simple, single-ingredient mineral choice for parents who prioritize a minimal filter list.
Ingredient & SPF scores
☀️
UV protection
Moderate
42
- +41 Zinc Oxide at #1, UV filter (UVA1 +18)
- +1 Label claims (SPF 35)
👻
White cast
High
30
- +100 Starting score
- −55 Zinc Oxide, 23.5% declared
- −15 Pure mineral formula (23.5% total declared)
🪨
Heavy feel
Medium
51
- +100 Starting score
- −40 Zinc Oxide, 23.5% declared
- −6 Cera Alba at #9, wax film
- −3 Coconut Oil at #12, heavy oil
🔴
Comedogenic
Low
84
- +100 Starting score
- −7 Coconut Oil at #12, comedogenic oil/butter
- −9 Olea Europaea Fruit Oil at #6, moderate comedogenic signal
🍄
Fungal acne
Medium
62
- +100 Starting score
- −38 2 oils/butters that feed Malassezia (Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Coconut Oil)
- +0 Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil at #4, jojoba wax ester, fungal-acne exception (not penalized)
👕
Fabric stains
Low
85
- +100 Starting score
- −15 Zinc Oxide at #1, white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
💧
Moisture
Nourishing
LightNourishing
- ← 1.5 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Zea Mays Starch)
- ← 5 Zinc Oxide at #1, mild sebum absorbent
- → 16 Glycerin at #2, the anchor humectant
- → 10 3 emollient lipids (Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Coconut Oil)
✨
Finish
Dewy
MatteDewy
- ← 1 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Zea Mays Starch)
- → 15 3 emollient lipids (Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Coconut Oil)
💄
Makeup base
Poor
PillsPrimer
- ← 8 Occlusives/waxes float the foundation
- ← 7 Humectant syrup tackiness
- ← 15 High mineral load at #1 greys under foundation
🌊
Water resistance
Not resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
- +4 1 water-locking waxes
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
- ✨ Vitamin E
- ✨ Vitamin C
Full ingredient list (17)
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.
-
Mineral UV filter (Zinc Oxide), high in the list, a primary filter
- ↑ 41 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- ↑ 55 23.5% declared
- ↑ 40 23.5% declared
- ↑ 15 white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
- light ← 5 mild sebum absorbent
- pills ← 15 High mineral load greys under foundation
-
2 Glycerin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 16 → nourishing the anchor humectant
-
3 Water
Solvent base, the water phase
-
Botanical extract
- 4 → nourishing emollient lipid
- 6 → dewy emollient lipid
-
5 Oryzanol
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Botanical extract
- ↑ 9 moderate comedogenic signal
- 4 → nourishing emollient lipid
- 6 → dewy emollient lipid
- ↑ 24 feeds malassezia
-
7 Arginine
pH adjuster
-
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
Occlusive, seals moisture into the skin
- ↑ 6 wax film
- ↑ 4 wax water lock
-
Occlusive, seals moisture into the skin
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
-
12 Coconut Oil
Plant oil, an emollient
- ↑ 3 heavy oil
- ↑ 7 comedogenic oil/butter
- 2 → nourishing emollient lipid
- 3 → dewy emollient lipid
- ↑ 14 feeds malassezia
-
13 Tocopherol
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light ← 1.5 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte ← 1 sebum-absorbing powder
-
Botanical extract
-
17 Xanthan Gum
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
Does 3rd Rock Essentials Sunblock leave a white cast?
Yes, it can leave a high white cast. As a pure zinc oxide formula, visible residue is common, so work it in thoroughly.
Is the 3rd Rock Essentials Sunblock® For Infants Zinc Oxide SPF 35 mineral or chemical?
It is a 100 percent mineral sunscreen using zinc oxide as its only filter. It contains no chemical filters, which many parents prefer for infants.
Is it good for sensitive or baby skin?
It is generally gentle. With a single zinc oxide filter, a low-sting profile, and a low pore-clogging rating, it is commonly suited to sensitive and infant skin.