bareMinerals Prep Step Spf 50
80/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
bareMinerals Prep Step SPF 50 is a pure mineral sunscreen using Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide. It has a balanced finish with a medium white cast and a slightly heavier feel common to mineral formulas, and it works okay as a makeup base. It does not sting and has low pore-clogging concern. With good protection and a score of 80.1/100, it is a solid mineral prep step before makeup.
Ingredient & SPF scores
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UV protection
Good
75
- +33 Titanium Dioxide at #1, UV filter (UVA1 +5)
- +41 Zinc Oxide at #2, UV filter (UVA1 +18)
- β1 UVA2 coverage saturated
- +2 Label claims (SPF 50)
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White cast
Medium
60
- +100 Starting score
- β55 Zinc Oxide, 23.8% declared
- β7 Titanium Dioxide, 4.1% declared
- β10 Zinc Oxide + Titanium Dioxide together
- β15 Pure mineral formula (27.9% total declared)
- +43.5 Iron-oxide undertone, partial masking
- +3 Coated minerals (Triethoxycaprylylsilane)
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Heavy feel
Medium
49
- +100 Starting score
- β40 Zinc Oxide, 23.8% declared
- β10 Titanium Dioxide, 4.1% declared
- β10 Both minerals in the top 3, dual mineral paste
- +9 Volatile hydrocarbon at #3, flashes off
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Fungal acne
Medium
68
- +100 Starting score
- β18 1 polysorbate/sorbitan emulsifiers that feed Malassezia (Sorbitan Sesquiisostearate)
- β14 1 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Polyglyceryl-2 Diisostearate)
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Fabric stains
Medium
40
- +100 Starting score
- β40 Iron-oxide pigments at #28, makeup-like collar marks (washable)
- β15 Titanium Dioxide at #1, white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
- β5 Both minerals present, heavier deposit
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Moisture
Light
LightNourishing
- β 4.5 2 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica, Silica Dimethyl Silylate)
- β 7 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
- β 5 Zinc Oxide at #2, mild sebum absorbent
- β 2 Titanium Dioxide at #1, mild sebum absorbent
- β 4 Glycerin at #10, the anchor humectant
- β 4 1 emollient lipids (Squalane)
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Finish
Balanced
MatteDewy
- β 4 2 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica, Silica Dimethyl Silylate)
- β 7 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
- β 6 1 emollient lipids (Squalane)
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Makeup base
Okay
PillsPrimer
- β 4 Quick-setting carrier, fast, even canvas
- β 7.5 High mineral load at #1 greys under foundation (tinted)
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Water resistance
Not resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
Nothing flagged in the ingredient list.
How we rate water resistance βFull ingredient list (28)
What each ingredient does and how it moves each rating: green helps, red hurts, β / β give the direction, and β / β 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
- β 33 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- β 7 4.1% declared
- β 10 4.1% declared
- β 15 white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
- light β 2 mild sebum absorbent
- pills β 7.5 High mineral load greys under foundation (tinted)
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Mineral UV filter (Zinc Oxide), high in the list, a primary filter
- β 41 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- β 55 23.8% declared
- β 40 23.8% declared
- light β 5 mild sebum absorbent
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Volatile hydrocarbon, flashes off for a light finish
- light β 7 volatile carrier, flashes off
- matte β 7 volatile carrier, flashes off
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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5 Water
Solvent base, the water phase
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6 Squalane
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- 4 β nourishing emollient lipid
- 6 β dewy emollient lipid
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Film former, locks the formula onto skin for water resistance
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 14 feeds malassezia
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9 Silica
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light β 3 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte β 3 sebum-absorbing powder
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10 Glycerin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 4 β nourishing the anchor humectant
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11 Propanediol
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 18 feeds malassezia
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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Supporting ingredient
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Botanical extract
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Botanical extract
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Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Supporting ingredient
-
pH adjuster
-
21 Citric Acid
pH adjuster
-
22 Polyester-1
Film former, locks the formula onto skin for water resistance
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Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light β 1.5 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte β 1 sebum-absorbing powder
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pH adjuster
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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26 Mica
Colorant or pigment
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Mineral UV filter (Titanium Dioxide), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
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28 Iron Oxides
Colorant or pigment
- β 40 makeup-like collar marks (washable)
Does bareMinerals Prep Step SPF 50 leave a white cast?
It has a medium white cast, which is typical of mineral formulas. The finish is balanced and the feel is slightly heavier.
Is the bareMinerals Prep Step Spf 50 mineral or chemical?
It is a pure mineral sunscreen using Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide.
Does it work under makeup?
It is rated okay as a makeup base and is designed as a prep step before makeup. It does not sting and has low pore-clogging concern.