BIOSSANCE Squalane + Mineral Spf 45
75/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
BIOSSANCE Squalane + Mineral SPF 45 is a 100% mineral face sunscreen using zinc oxide and titanium dioxide with squalane for slip. It is gentle and does not commonly sting, but the rich mineral base feels heavier, shows a high white cast and does not sit well under makeup. Protection is good and the score of 74.9/100 reflects a solid but cast-prone formula, best suited to fair skin or no-makeup days.
Ingredient & SPF scores
☀️
UV protection
Good
74
- +41 Zinc Oxide at #1, UV filter (UVA1 +18)
- +33 Titanium Dioxide at #2, UV filter (UVA1 +5)
- −1 UVA2 coverage saturated
- +1 Label claims (SPF 45)
👻
White cast
High
16
- +100 Starting score
- −55 Zinc Oxide at #1
- −50 Titanium Dioxide at #2
- −10 Zinc Oxide + Titanium Dioxide together
- −15 Pure mineral formula
- +30 Penalties exceed the scale, floored at 0
- +10 PHSA dispersant, fights agglomeration
- +6.3 Coated minerals (Triethoxycaprylylsilane)
🪨
Heavy feel
High
20
- +100 Starting score
- −40 Zinc Oxide at #1
- −30 Titanium Dioxide at #2
- −10 Both minerals in the top 3, dual mineral paste
👕
Fabric stains
Low
80
- +100 Starting score
- −15 Zinc Oxide at #1, white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
- −5 Both minerals present, heavier deposit
💧
Moisture
Balanced
LightNourishing
- ← 3 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Polymethylsilsesquioxane)
- ← 5 Zinc Oxide at #1, mild sebum absorbent
- ← 2 Titanium Dioxide at #2, mild sebum absorbent
- → 4 Glycerin at #10, the anchor humectant
- → 1 1 strong humectants (Saccharide Isomerate)
- → 4 1 emollient lipids (Squalane)
- → 2 Light emollient/solvent (Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride)
✨
Finish
Balanced
MatteDewy
- ← 3 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Polymethylsilsesquioxane)
- → 6 1 emollient lipids (Squalane)
💄
Makeup base
Poor
PillsPrimer
- → 1 Primer-style base, volatile silicones and dimethicone slip
- ← 8 Powder overload over a film former, some pilling risk
- ← 15 High mineral load at #1 greys under foundation
🌊
Water resistance
Not resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
- +7 1 film-forming polymers that lock the formula on for water resistance
Full ingredient list (28)
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 (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
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Mineral UV filter (Titanium Dioxide), high in the list, a primary filter
- ↑ 33 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- light ← 2 mild sebum absorbent
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3 Water
Solvent base, the water phase
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- 2 → nourishing light emollient
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5 Squalane
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- 4 → nourishing emollient lipid
- 6 → dewy emollient lipid
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light ← 3 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte ← 3 sebum-absorbing powder
-
10 Glycerin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 4 → nourishing the anchor humectant
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
- ↑ 7 film former
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Supporting ingredient
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Colorant or pigment
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
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Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 1 → nourishing humectant
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19 Caramel
Colorant or pigment
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Supporting ingredient
-
25 Bisabolol
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
Supporting ingredient
-
Botanical extract
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Botanical extract
Does BIOSSANCE Squalane + Mineral SPF 45 leave a white cast?
Yes, white cast is rated high. As an all-mineral zinc oxide and titanium dioxide formula it can leave a visible film, especially on deeper tones.
Can I wear makeup over it?
Makeup-base performance is rated poor. The rich, heavier mineral base does not layer well under foundation, so it suits no-makeup days better.
Is the BIOSSANCE Squalane + Mineral Spf 45 mineral or chemical?
It is 100% mineral, using zinc oxide and titanium dioxide with squalane for slip. It contains no chemical filters.