Colorscience Sunforgettable® Total Protection® Face Shield Matte SPF 50
76/100 overall score
Sign in to see this product's score for your skin.
About this sunscreen
Colorscience Sunforgettable Total Protection Face Shield Matte SPF 50 is a mineral sunscreen for the face that relies on zinc oxide for broad-spectrum defense. It wears with a balanced finish, stays lightweight, and keeps white cast low, which is uncommon for an all-mineral formula. A non-stinging feel, low pore-clogging risk, and a makeup-friendly base make it easy to wear daily. With moderate measured protection and a score of 75.6, it is a solid mineral pick that suits sensitive and acne-prone skin.
Ingredient & SPF scores
☀️
UV protection
Moderate
43
- +41 Zinc Oxide at #1, UV filter (UVA1 +18)
- +2 Label claims (SPF 50)
👻
White cast
Low
82
- +100 Starting score
- −28 Zinc Oxide, 12% declared
- −8 Pure mineral formula (12% total declared)
- +18 Iron-oxide undertone, partial masking
🍄
Fungal acne
Low
91
- +100 Starting score
- −9 1 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Isoceteth-10)
👕
Fabric stains
Medium
45
- +100 Starting score
- −40 Iron-oxide pigments at #38, makeup-like collar marks (washable)
- −15 Zinc Oxide at #1, white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
💧
Moisture
Light
LightNourishing
- ← 6.5 2 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica, Polymethylsilsesquioxane/Silica Crosspolymer)
- ← 5 Zinc Oxide at #1, mild sebum absorbent
✨
Finish
Balanced
MatteDewy
- ← 7 2 sebum-absorbing powders (Polymethylsilsesquioxane/Silica Crosspolymer, Silica)
- → 9 1 emollient lipids (C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate)
💄
Makeup base
Good
PillsPrimer
- → 1 Primer-style base, volatile silicones and dimethicone slip
- → 12 2 velvet elastomer fillers, blur and grip
- → 3 Dry-touch esters, smooth fast-absorbing base
- → 4 Transfer-resistant grip resin, holds makeup
- ← 7.5 High mineral load at #1 greys under foundation (tinted)
🌊
Water resistance
Not resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
Nothing flagged in the ingredient list.
How we rate water resistance →Skincare extras
Beneficial actives this formula contains. Informational only, not part of the rating: their effect depends on a concentration the label does not disclose.
- ✨ Niacinamide
Full ingredient list (38)
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.
-
Mineral UV filter (Zinc Oxide), high in the list, a primary filter
- ↑ 41 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- ↑ 28 12% declared
- ↑ 18 12% declared
- ↑ 15 white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
- light ← 5 mild sebum absorbent
- pills ← 7.5 High mineral load greys under foundation (tinted)
-
2 Water
Solvent base, the water phase
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- 9 → dewy emollient lipid
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light ← 5 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte ← 6 sebum-absorbing powder
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
10 Niacinamide
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
-
15 Maltodextrin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
17 Bisabolol
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
22 Allantoin
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
Botanical extract
-
24 Silica
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light ← 1.5 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte ← 1 sebum-absorbing powder
-
25 Isoceteth-10
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Botanical extract
-
Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
-
Botanical extract
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
35 Benzoic Acid
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
pH adjuster
-
38 Iron Oxides
Colorant or pigment
- ↑ 40 makeup-like collar marks (washable)
Does this Colorscience sunscreen leave a white cast?
White cast is rated low here, which is notable for an all-mineral zinc oxide formula. Most users should find it sits without an obvious gray or white film, and the balanced matte finish helps it look natural.
Is the Colorscience Sunforgettable® Total Protection® Face Shield Matte SPF 50 good for oily or acne-prone skin?
It is generally well suited. The finish is balanced and pore-clogging risk is rated low, so it is commonly an acne-friendly choice. It also does not sting and works as a makeup base.
Is this mineral or chemical, and is it any good?
It is a pure mineral sunscreen using zinc oxide. With a score of 75.6 and moderate measured protection, it is a solid daily pick for sensitive skin.