Aveda Daily Light Guard™ Defense Fluid Broad Spectrum SPF 30
83/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
Aveda Daily Light Guard Defense Fluid Broad Spectrum SPF 30 is a pure mineral fluid using Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide. It wears lightweight with a balanced finish and commonly low white cast for a mineral formula. With good protection and a score of 82.6/100, it is generally a strong all-mineral pick for daily wear and works okay under makeup.
Ingredient & SPF scores
☀️
UV protection
Good
74
- +33 Titanium Dioxide at #1, UV filter (UVA1 +5)
- +41 Zinc Oxide at #2, UV filter (UVA1 +18)
- −1 UVA2 coverage saturated
- +1 Label claims (SPF 30)
👻
White cast
Low
61
- +100 Starting score
- −6 Zinc Oxide, 4.1% declared
- −18 Titanium Dioxide, 6.3% declared
- −10 Zinc Oxide + Titanium Dioxide together
- −8 Pure mineral formula (10.4% total declared)
- +2.9 Coated minerals (Triethoxycaprylylsilane)
🪨
Heavy feel
Low
69
- +100 Starting score
- −8 Zinc Oxide, 4.1% declared
- −10 Titanium Dioxide, 6.3% declared
- −3 Trimethylsiloxysilicate at #12, silicone wax film
- −10 Both minerals in the top 3, dual mineral paste
🍄
Fungal acne
Low
77
- +100 Starting score
- −9 1 oils/butters that feed Malassezia (Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil)
- −14 1 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Polyglyceryl-4 Diisostearate/Polyhydroxystearate/Sebacate)
👕
Fabric stains
Low
80
- +100 Starting score
- −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
- ← 1.5 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica)
- ← 5 Zinc Oxide at #2, mild sebum absorbent
- ← 2 Titanium Dioxide at #1, mild sebum absorbent
- → 1 1 emollient lipids (Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil)
✨
Finish
Balanced
MatteDewy
- ← 1 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica)
- ← 4 2 dry-touch emollients reduce greasy shine (Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate)
- → 1 1 emollient lipids (Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil)
💄
Makeup base
Okay
PillsPrimer
- → 3 Primer-style base, volatile silicones and dimethicone slip
- → 4 Dry-touch esters, smooth fast-absorbing base
- → 4 Transfer-resistant grip resin, holds makeup
- ← 15 High mineral load at #1 greys under foundation
🌊
Water resistance
Not resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
- +4 1 water-locking waxes
Full ingredient list (33)
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)
- ↑ 18 6.3% declared
- ↑ 10 6.3% declared
- ↑ 15 white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
- light ← 2 mild sebum absorbent
- pills ← 15 High mineral load greys under foundation
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Mineral UV filter (Zinc Oxide), high in the list, a primary filter
- ↑ 41 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- ↑ 6 4.1% declared
- ↑ 8 4.1% declared
- light ← 5 mild sebum absorbent
-
3 Water
Solvent base, the water phase
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- matte ← 2 dry-touch emollient, anti-shine
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- matte ← 2 dry-touch emollient, anti-shine
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 14 feeds malassezia
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Botanical extract
-
Film former, locks the formula onto skin for water resistance
- ↑ 3 silicone wax film
- ↑ 4 wax water lock
-
13 Silica
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light ← 1.5 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte ← 1 sebum-absorbing powder
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Plant oil, an emollient
-
Botanical extract
-
Botanical extract
- 1 → nourishing emollient lipid
- 1 → dewy emollient lipid
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
-
17 Tocopherol
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
18 Caffeine
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Botanical extract
-
Botanical extract
-
Botanical extract
-
Botanical extract
-
23 Oryzanol
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Supporting ingredient
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Supporting ingredient
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
Is Aveda Daily Light Guard a mineral sunscreen?
Yes, it is a pure mineral fluid using Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide. It provides broad-spectrum protection at SPF 30.
Does the Aveda Daily Light Guard™ Defense Fluid Broad Spectrum SPF 30 leave a white cast?
White cast is commonly low for a mineral formula, and the fluid wears lightweight with a balanced finish.
Is Aveda Daily Light Guard SPF 30 any good?
It scores 82.6/100 with good protection, so it is generally a strong all-mineral pick for daily wear. It works okay under makeup.