Arc Suncare Gentle SPF 50+
70/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
Arc Suncare Gentle SPF 50+ is a pure mineral sunscreen relying on zinc oxide alone. It has a balanced finish but can leave a moderate white cast and a somewhat heavier feel, though it does not commonly sting. Its low pore-clogging profile is friendly to congestion-prone skin, but it is generally not the best base under makeup. Scoring 69.7 out of 100 with moderate protection, it is a decent gentle mineral option.
Ingredient & SPF scores
☀️
UV protection
Moderate
43
- +41 Zinc Oxide at #2, UV filter (UVA1 +18)
- +2 Label claims (SPF 50)
👻
White cast
Medium
37
- +100 Starting score
- −55 Zinc Oxide at #2
- −15 Pure mineral formula
- +7 PHSA dispersant, fights agglomeration
🪨
Heavy feel
Medium
54
- +100 Starting score
- −40 Zinc Oxide at #2
- −6 Cera Alba at #8, wax film
🍄
Fungal acne
Low
76
- +100 Starting score
- −24 1 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate)
- +0 Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil at #6, jojoba wax ester, fungal-acne exception (not penalized)
👕
Fabric stains
Low
85
- +100 Starting score
- −15 Zinc Oxide at #2, white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
💧
Moisture
Hydrating
LightNourishing
- ← 5 Zinc Oxide at #2, mild sebum absorbent
- → 10 Glycerin at #4, the anchor humectant
- → 4 1 emollient lipids (Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil)
✨
Finish
Balanced
MatteDewy
- ← 3 1 dry-touch emollients reduce greasy shine (Coco-Caprylate/Caprate)
- → 6 1 emollient lipids (Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil)
💄
Makeup base
Poor
PillsPrimer
- → 3 Dry-touch esters, smooth fast-absorbing base
- ← 4 Occlusives/waxes float the foundation
- ← 3 Humectant syrup tackiness
- ← 15 High mineral load at #2 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.
- ✨ Vitamin E
Full ingredient list (19)
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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1 Water
Solvent base, the water phase
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Mineral UV filter (Zinc Oxide), high in the list, a primary filter
- ↑ 41 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- ↑ 15 white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
- light ← 5 mild sebum absorbent
- pills ← 15 High mineral load greys under foundation
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- matte ← 3 dry-touch emollient, anti-shine
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4 Glycerin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 10 → nourishing the anchor humectant
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Botanical extract
- 4 → nourishing emollient lipid
- 6 → dewy emollient lipid
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 24 feeds malassezia
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Occlusive, seals moisture into the skin
- ↑ 6 wax film
- ↑ 4 wax water lock
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
10 Maltodextrin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
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13 Tocopherol
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
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Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
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15 Propanediol
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
Does Arc Suncare Gentle SPF 50 leave a white cast?
It can leave a moderate white cast. As a pure mineral zinc oxide sunscreen, some residue is common, especially on deeper skin tones.
Is the Arc Suncare Gentle SPF 50+ mineral or chemical?
It is a pure mineral sunscreen. The only UV filter is zinc oxide, with no chemical filters.
Does it work under makeup?
It is generally not the best base under makeup. The mineral formula and slightly heavier feel can make layering trickier.