Calpharma Spf Rx Ultra-Clear Daily Skin Hydrator Spf 50
76/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
Calpharma SPF Rx Ultra-Clear Daily Skin Hydrator SPF 50 is a daily sunscreen that combines mineral Zinc Oxide with the chemical filter Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, an older-generation pairing. It dries down to a matte finish, stays lightweight, shows low white cast, and is rated as non-stinging, which is helpful for daily wear. Pore-clogging risk is low and it works okay under makeup. With good rated protection and a score of 76.4, it is a dependable everyday option for those who like a matte feel.
Ingredient & SPF scores
☀️
UV protection
Good
61
- +41 Zinc Oxide at #1, UV filter (UVA1 +18)
- +18 Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate at #2, UV filter
- +2 Label claims (SPF 50)
☢️
Health safety
High
64
- +100 Starting score
- −36 Octinoxate at #2 (regulatory/evidence concern)
👻
White cast
Low
88
- +100 Starting score
- −14 Zinc Oxide, 9% declared
- +1.4 PHSA dispersant, fights agglomeration
- +0.9 Coated minerals (Methicone)
🔥
Eye sting
Low
84
- +100 Starting score
- −16 Octinoxate at #2, migrates into eyes with sweat
🪨
Heavy feel
Low
95
- +100 Starting score
- −8 Zinc Oxide, 9% declared
- +2 Volatile silicone at #4, flashes off
- +0.9 Volatile hydrocarbon at #7, flashes off
👕
Fabric stains
Low
85
- +100 Starting score
- −15 Zinc Oxide at #1, white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
💧
Moisture
Light
LightNourishing
- ← 4.5 3 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica, Tapioca Starch, Polymethylsilsesquioxane)
- ← 9 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
- ← 5 Zinc Oxide at #1, mild sebum absorbent
- → 1 Glycerin at #15, the anchor humectant
- → 2 Sodium Hyaluronate at #27, hyaluronic family
- → 1 Light emollient/solvent (Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride)
- → 6 Ceramide barrier lipids
✨
Finish
Matte
MatteDewy
- ← 3 3 sebum-absorbing powders (Tapioca Starch, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Silica)
- ← 8 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
- ← 1 1 dry-touch emollients reduce greasy shine (Isodecyl Neopentanoate)
💄
Makeup base
Okay
PillsPrimer
- → 5 Primer-style base, volatile silicones and dimethicone slip
- → 8 1 velvet elastomer fillers, blur and grip
- → 3 Quick-setting carrier, fast, even canvas
- → 1 Dry-touch esters, smooth fast-absorbing base
- ← 15 High mineral load at #1 greys under foundation
🌊
Water resistance
Not resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
Nothing flagged in the ingredient list.
How we rate water resistance →Full ingredient list (37)
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)
- ↑ 14 9% declared
- ↑ 8 9% declared
- ↑ 15 white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
- light ← 5 mild sebum absorbent
- pills ← 15 High mineral load greys under foundation
-
Legacy UV filter (Octinoxate), high in the list, a primary filter
- ↑ 18 UV protection
- ↑ 16 migrates into eyes with sweat
-
3 Water
Solvent base, the water phase
-
Volatile silicone, flashes off for a light finish
- light ← 5 volatile carrier, flashes off
- matte ← 4 volatile carrier, flashes off
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Volatile hydrocarbon, flashes off for a light finish
- light ← 4 volatile carrier, flashes off
- matte ← 4 volatile carrier, flashes off
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- 1 → nourishing light emollient
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- matte ← 1 dry-touch emollient, anti-shine
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Supporting ingredient
-
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light ← 1.5 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte ← 1 sebum-absorbing powder
-
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light ← 1.5 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte ← 1 sebum-absorbing powder
-
15 Glycerin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 1 → nourishing the anchor humectant
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
18 Dimethicone
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
20 Benzoic Acid
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Botanical extract
-
26 Melanin
Supporting ingredient
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 2 → nourishing hyaluronic family
-
28 Silica
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light ← 1.5 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte ← 1 sebum-absorbing powder
-
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
Botanical extract
-
Botanical extract
-
Botanical extract
-
Botanical extract
-
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
36 Allantoin
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
37 Ceramide NP
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
Is the Calpharma SPF Rx hydrator mineral or chemical?
It is a mix of both. It uses mineral Zinc Oxide alongside the chemical filter Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, an older-generation combination.
Will the Calpharma Spf Rx Ultra-Clear Daily Skin Hydrator Spf 50 work for oily skin?
It is well suited to oily skin. The formula dries to a matte finish, stays lightweight, and has low pore-clogging risk, so it commonly feels comfortable on shine-prone skin.
Does it sting the eyes or skin?
No, it is rated as non-stinging. That, plus low white cast, makes it a comfortable pick for daily wear.