Colorescience Brightening Primer SPF 20
83/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
Colorescience Brightening Primer is an SPF 20 mineral sunscreen and primer using Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide. It has a balanced finish with low white cast, does not sting and stays lightweight with low pore-clogging risk, and it doubles passably as a makeup base. Scoring 83/100, though with the lower SPF 20 rating, it is a pleasant primer-style mineral option best suited for lighter daily sun exposure.
Ingredient & SPF scores
βοΈ
UV protection
Good
73
- +33 Titanium Dioxide at #1, UV filter (UVA1 +5)
- +41 Zinc Oxide at #2, UV filter (UVA1 +18)
- β1 UVA2 coverage saturated
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Allergens
Low
94
- +100 Starting score
- β2 2 declared fragrance allergens
- β4 Essential oils (Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Citrus Reticulata Peel Oil)
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White cast
Low
65
- +100 Starting score
- β6 Zinc Oxide, 4.5% declared
- β18 Titanium Dioxide, 5% declared
- β10 Zinc Oxide + Titanium Dioxide together
- β8 Pure mineral formula (9.5% total declared)
- +4.2 PHSA dispersant, fights agglomeration
- +2.6 Coated minerals (Alumina)
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Eye sting
Low
99
- +100 Starting score
- β4 2 declared fragrance allergens
- +3 Mineral filter system, low-sting filters
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Heavy feel
Low
79
- +100 Starting score
- β8 Zinc Oxide, 4.5% declared
- β10 Titanium Dioxide, 5% declared
- β10 Both minerals in the top 3, dual mineral paste
- +7 Volatile silicone at #3, flashes off
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Comedogenic
Low
99
- +100 Starting score
- β1 Glycine Soja Oil at #29, moderate comedogenic signal
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Fungal acne
Low
82
- +100 Starting score
- β9 1 oils/butters that feed Malassezia (Glycine Soja Oil)
- β9 1 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Glyceryl Behenate/Eicosadioate)
- +0 Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil at #11, jojoba wax ester, fungal-acne exception (not penalized)
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Fabric stains
Low
80
- +100 Starting score
- β15 Titanium Dioxide at #1, white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
- β5 Both minerals present, heavier deposit
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Moisture
Balanced
LightNourishing
- β 3 2 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica, Lauroyl Lysine)
- β 8 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 10 Glycerin at #7, the anchor humectant
- β 3 2 emollient lipids (Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Glycine Soja Oil)
- β 2 Light emollient/solvent (Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride)
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Finish
Balanced
MatteDewy
- β 2 2 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica, Lauroyl Lysine)
- β 7 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
- β 4 2 emollient lipids (Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Glycine Soja Oil)
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Makeup base
Okay
PillsPrimer
- β 8 Primer-style base, volatile silicones and dimethicone slip
- β 12 2 velvet elastomer fillers, blur and grip
- β 1.5 Humectant syrup tackiness (partly offset by the base)
- β 15 High mineral load at #1 greys under foundation
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Water resistance
Not resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
Nothing flagged in the ingredient list.
How we rate water resistance βSkincare extras
Beneficial actives this formula contains. Informational only, not part of the rating: their effect depends on a concentration the label does not disclose.
- β¨ Vitamin E
Full ingredient list (36)
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 18 5% declared
- β 10 5% declared
- β 15 white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
- light β 2 mild sebum absorbent
- pills β 15 High mineral load greys under foundation
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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 6 4.5% declared
- β 8 4.5% declared
- light β 5 mild sebum absorbent
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Volatile silicone, flashes off for a light finish
- light β 8 volatile carrier, flashes off
- matte β 7 volatile carrier, flashes off
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- 2 β nourishing light emollient
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6 Water
Solvent base, the water phase
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7 Glycerin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 10 β nourishing the anchor humectant
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
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10 Mica
Colorant or pigment
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Botanical extract
- 2 β nourishing emollient lipid
- 3 β dewy emollient lipid
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Protein, peptide or amino acid, conditions and hydrates skin
-
13 Dimethiconol
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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Soothing, skin-conditioning active
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Botanical extract
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16 Alumina
Supporting ingredient
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17 Silica
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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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 9 feeds malassezia
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Soothing, skin-conditioning active
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22 Tea Tree Oil
Plant oil, an emollient
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Plant oil, an emollient
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Plant oil, an emollient
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Botanical extract
-
Botanical extract
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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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Protein, peptide or amino acid, conditions and hydrates skin
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Plant oil, an emollient
- β 1 moderate comedogenic signal
- 1 β nourishing emollient lipid
- 1 β dewy emollient lipid
- β 9 feeds malassezia
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30 Tocopherol
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
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Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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Humectant, pulls water into the skin
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Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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34 Limonene
Fragrance component, a declared allergen
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35 Linalool
Fragrance component, a declared allergen
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Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
Is Colorescience Brightening Primer mineral or chemical?
It is a pure mineral sunscreen using Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide. White cast is rated low, which is favorable for a mineral primer.
Does the Colorescience Brightening Primer SPF 20 work under makeup?
Yes, it doubles passably as a makeup base. The finish is balanced, it stays lightweight, and the pore-clogging risk is low.
What SPF is it and is it good?
It is SPF 20 and scores 83/100. The score is strong, though the lower SPF makes it best for lighter daily sun exposure rather than long outdoor stretches.