Cancer Council Classic Zinc SPF 50+
80/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
Cancer Council Classic Zinc SPF 50+ is a hybrid that pairs zinc oxide with modern chemical filters such as Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol and Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine. The balanced finish carries a medium white cast and a somewhat heavier feel, but it does not sting and reads low on breakout potential. With a score of 80.4 and excellent protection, it is a dependable high-protection sunscreen for active outdoor use.
Ingredient & SPF scores
☀️
UV protection
Excellent
100
- +41 Zinc Oxide at #1, UV filter (UVA1 +18)
- +16 Octocrylene at #2, UV filter
- +48 Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol at #3, UV filter (UVA1 +18)
- +45.6 Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine at #4, UV filter (UVA1 +15.2)
- −24.1 UVB coverage saturated
- −20.3 UVA2 coverage saturated
- −6.2 UVA1 coverage saturated
- +2 Label claims (SPF 50)
☢️
Health safety
High
70
- +100 Starting score
- −30 Octocrylene at #2 (regulatory/evidence concern)
🤧
Allergens
Low
97
- +100 Starting score
- −3 Photoallergen-tail UV filters (Octocrylene)
👻
White cast
Medium
39
- +100 Starting score
- −55 Zinc Oxide, 20% declared
- −6 Tinosorb M, 2.5% declared, may look bluish-grey on deeper skin tones
🔥
Eye sting
Low
78
- +100 Starting score
- −22 Octocrylene at #2, migrates into eyes with sweat
👕
Fabric stains
Low
70
- +100 Starting score
- −15 Octocrylene at #2, co-stains alongside avobenzone
- −15 Zinc Oxide at #1, white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
💧
Moisture
Balanced
LightNourishing
- ← 5 Zinc Oxide at #1, mild sebum absorbent
- → 1 Humectant polyols
💄
Makeup base
Okay
PillsPrimer
- ← 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 (8)
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)
- ↑ 55 20% declared
- ↑ 40 20% 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 (Octocrylene), high in the list, a primary filter
- ↑ 16 UV protection
- ↑ 22 migrates into eyes with sweat
- ↑ 15 co-stains alongside avobenzone
-
Modern UV filter, broad-spectrum and photostable (Tinosorb M), high in the list, a primary filter
- ↑ 48 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- ↑ 6 2.5% declared, may look bluish-grey on deeper skin tones
-
Modern UV filter, broad-spectrum and photostable (Tinosorb S)
- ↑ 45.6 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 1 → nourishing humectant polyol
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
Does the Cancer Council Classic Zinc SPF 50+ leave a white cast?
White cast is moderate. The zinc oxide can leave some visible tone, and the feel is a touch heavier than ultralight chemical sunscreens.
Is the Cancer Council Classic Zinc SPF 50+ mineral or chemical?
It is a hybrid, pairing zinc oxide with modern chemical filters like Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol and Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine.
Is it good?
It scores 80.4 out of 100 with excellent protection, making it a dependable high-protection sunscreen for outdoor use.