Colorescience Total Protection Face Shield Flex SPF 50
76/100 overall score
Sign in to see this product's score for your skin.
About this sunscreen
Colorescience Total Protection Face Shield Flex is an SPF 50 mineral sunscreen on Zinc Oxide, with a flexible tint that keeps white cast low and rates well as a makeup base. It settles to a balanced finish, stays lightweight, and does not sting, though the single-filter formula gives only moderate measured protection. The low pore-clogging profile suits sensitive and acne-prone skin. At 75.7/100 it is a polished tinted physical option best paired with reapplication for longer sun exposure.
Ingredient & SPF scores
βοΈ
UV protection
Moderate
43
- +41 Zinc Oxide at #1, UV filter (UVA1 +18)
- +2 Label claims (SPF 50)
π»
White cast
Low
82
- +100 Starting score
- β28 Zinc Oxide, 12% declared
- β2 Titanium Dioxide as pigment (CI 77891) at #46
- β8 Pure mineral formula (12% total declared)
- +19 Iron-oxide undertone, partial masking
- +1.3 Coated minerals (Aluminum Hydroxide)
πͺ¨
Heavy feel
Low
85
- +100 Starting score
- β18 Zinc Oxide, 12% declared
- +2.7 Volatile hydrocarbon at #6, flashes off
π
Fungal acne
Medium
73
- +100 Starting score
- β9 1 oils/butters that feed Malassezia (Hydrogenated Lecithin)
- β18 2 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Isoceteth-10, Sodium Myristoyl Glutamate)
π
Fabric stains
Medium
45
- +100 Starting score
- β40 Iron-oxide pigments at #47, makeup-like collar marks (washable)
- β15 Zinc Oxide at #1, white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
π§
Moisture
Light
LightNourishing
- β 4.5 3 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Zea Mays Starch)
- β 4 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
- β 5 Zinc Oxide at #1, mild sebum absorbent
- β 1 Humectant polyols
β¨
Finish
Balanced
MatteDewy
- β 3 3 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Zea Mays Starch, Silica)
- β 4 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
- β 1 1 dry-touch emollients reduce greasy shine (Caprylyl Methicone)
- β 9 1 emollient lipids (C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate)
π
Makeup base
Good
PillsPrimer
- β 1 Primer-style base, volatile silicones and dimethicone slip
- β 8 1 velvet elastomer fillers, blur and grip
- β 3 Quick-setting carrier, fast, even canvas
- β 4 Dry-touch esters, smooth fast-absorbing base
- β 4 Transfer-resistant grip resin, holds makeup
- β 7.5 High mineral load at #1 greys under foundation (tinted)
π
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¨ Niacinamide
Full ingredient list (47)
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.
-
Mineral UV filter (Zinc Oxide), high in the list, a primary filter
- β 41 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- β 28 12% declared
- β 18 12% declared
- β 15 white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
- light β 5 mild sebum absorbent
- pills β 7.5 High mineral load greys under foundation (tinted)
-
2 Water
Solvent base, the water phase
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- 9 β dewy emollient lipid
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
-
Volatile hydrocarbon, flashes off for a light finish
- light β 4 volatile carrier, flashes off
- matte β 4 volatile carrier, flashes off
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 1 β nourishing humectant polyol
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- matte β 1 dry-touch emollient, anti-shine
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
10 Niacinamide
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
-
16 Mica
Colorant or pigment
-
17 Polyester-1
Film former, locks the formula onto skin for water resistance
-
18 Maltodextrin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
20 Bisabolol
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Botanical extract
-
24 Allantoin
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light β 1.5 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte β 1 sebum-absorbing powder
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
27 Isoceteth-10
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 9 feeds malassezia
-
28 Zein
Supporting ingredient
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Colorant or pigment
-
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light β 1.5 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte β 1 sebum-absorbing powder
-
33 Silica
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light β 1.5 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte β 1 sebum-absorbing powder
-
Botanical extract
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 9 feeds malassezia
-
Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Botanical extract
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
41 Benzoic Acid
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
pH adjuster
-
Supporting ingredient
- β 9 feeds malassezia
-
Supporting ingredient
-
Colorant or pigment
-
47 Iron Oxides
Colorant or pigment
- β 40 makeup-like collar marks (washable)
Is Colorescience Total Protection Face Shield Flex mineral or chemical?
It is a mineral sunscreen, built on Zinc Oxide, with a flexible tint that keeps white cast low. There are no chemical filters in it. The tint is key to its low-cast finish.
Does Colorescience Face Shield Flex work under makeup?
Yes, it is rated good as a makeup base. It finishes balanced, stays lightweight, and does not sting, with a low pore-clogging profile. The flexible tint helps it sit evenly.
Is this a good sunscreen?
It scores 75.7/100, with the single Zinc Oxide filter giving moderate measured protection. The polished, tinted finish suits sensitive and acne-prone skin. Pair it with reapplication for longer sun exposure.