Alex MD PHD SPF 50+ Daily Defense Tinted Mineral Anti-aging Sunscreen
81/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
Alex MD PHD SPF 50+ Daily Defense is a fully mineral tinted sunscreen using only Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide, which makes it a common pick for sensitive skin. It wears matte with low white cast thanks to the tint, though the mineral base feels a touch heavier than a lightweight fluid. Breakout risk is generally low and it does not commonly sting. Scoring 80.8 with good protection, it is a dependable daily mineral option for those who prefer zinc and titanium filters.
Ingredient & SPF scores
☀️
UV protection
Good
75
- +33 Titanium Dioxide at #1, UV filter (UVA1 +5)
- +41 Zinc Oxide at #2, UV filter (UVA1 +18)
- −1 UVA2 coverage saturated
- +2 Label claims (SPF 50)
🤧
Allergens
Low
96
- +100 Starting score
- −4 Essential oils (Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Citrus Sinensis Oil)
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White cast
Low
75
- +100 Starting score
- −55 Zinc Oxide at #2
- −50 Titanium Dioxide at #1
- −10 Zinc Oxide + Titanium Dioxide together
- −15 Pure mineral formula
- +30 Penalties exceed the scale, floored at 0
- +70 Tinted formula, pigment masks the cast
- +4.5 Coated minerals (Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Aluminum Hydroxide)
🪨
Heavy feel
Medium
39
- +100 Starting score
- −40 Zinc Oxide at #2
- −30 Titanium Dioxide at #1
- −2 Butyrospermum Parkii Fruit at #15, butter/occlusive fat
- −10 Both minerals in the top 3, dual mineral paste
- +20.5 Volatile silicone at #3, flashes off
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Fungal acne
Medium
68
- +100 Starting score
- −9 1 oils/butters that feed Malassezia (Butyrospermum Parkii Fruit)
- −18 2 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate, Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate)
- −5 1 ubiquitous fatty ingredients (Stearic Acid), weak Malassezia signal
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Fabric stains
Medium
40
- +100 Starting score
- −40 Iron-oxide pigments at #39, makeup-like collar marks (washable)
- −15 Titanium Dioxide at #1, white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
- −5 Both minerals present, heavier deposit
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Moisture
Light
LightNourishing
- ← 8 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
- ← 5 Zinc Oxide at #2, mild sebum absorbent
- ← 2 Titanium Dioxide at #1, mild sebum absorbent
- → 4 Glycerin at #8, the anchor humectant
- → 1 1 strong humectants (Betaine)
- → 2 2 emollient lipids (Squalane, Butyrospermum Parkii Fruit)
✨
Finish
Matte
MatteDewy
- ← 7 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
- ← 4 2 dry-touch emollients reduce greasy shine (Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Isononyl Isononanoate)
- → 3 3 emollient lipids (Butyrospermum Parkii Fruit, Squalane, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate)
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Makeup base
Okay
PillsPrimer
- → 8 Primer-style base, volatile silicones and dimethicone slip
- → 4 Dry-touch esters, smooth fast-absorbing base
- ← 7.5 High mineral load at #1 greys under foundation (tinted)
🌊
Water resistance
Not resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
Nothing flagged in the ingredient list.
How we rate water resistance →Full ingredient list (39)
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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Mineral UV filter (Titanium Dioxide), high in the list, a primary filter
- ↑ 33 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- ↑ 15 white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
- light ← 2 mild sebum absorbent
- pills ← 7.5 High mineral load greys under foundation (tinted)
-
Mineral UV filter (Zinc Oxide), high in the list, a primary filter
- ↑ 41 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- light ← 5 mild sebum absorbent
-
Volatile silicone, flashes off for a light finish
- light ← 8 volatile carrier, flashes off
- matte ← 7 volatile carrier, flashes off
-
4 Water
Solvent base, the water phase
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- matte ← 2 dry-touch emollient, anti-shine
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- matte ← 2 dry-touch emollient, anti-shine
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
-
8 Glycerin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 4 → nourishing the anchor humectant
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Supporting ingredient
-
11 Stearic Acid
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- ↑ 5 minor malassezia feeder
-
Botanical extract
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Botanical extract
-
Botanical extract
- ↑ 2 butter/occlusive fat
- 1 → nourishing emollient lipid
- 1 → dewy emollient lipid
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
-
Botanical extract
-
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Botanical extract
-
19 Bisabolol
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
20 Ubiquinone
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Botanical extract
-
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
24 Betaine
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 1 → nourishing humectant
-
Plant oil, an emollient
-
Plant oil, an emollient
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Supporting ingredient
-
Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
-
32 Squalane
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- 1 → nourishing emollient lipid
- 1 → dewy emollient lipid
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- 1 → dewy emollient lipid
-
Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
39 Iron Oxides
Colorant or pigment
- ↑ 40 makeup-like collar marks (washable)
Is the Alex MD PHD SPF 50+ Daily Defense Tinted Mineral Anti-aging Sunscreen mineral or chemical?
It is fully mineral, using only Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide, which is commonly a preferred choice for sensitive skin.
Does the Alex MD PHD SPF 50+ Daily Defense Tinted Mineral Anti-aging Sunscreen leave a white cast?
White cast is low because it is tinted, even though it uses mineral filters. The base feels a touch heavier than a lightweight fluid.
Is it good?
It scores 80.8 out of 100 with good measured protection, making it a dependable daily mineral and anti-aging tinted option.