Dermalogica Prisma Protect SPF30
68/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
Dermalogica Prisma Protect SPF 30 is a chemical sunscreen on older-generation filters such as homosalate, octocrylene, and avobenzone. It wears with a matte finish, stays lightweight, and keeps white cast low, with okay makeup compatibility. Pore-clogging risk is commonly low, though it may sting slightly near the eyes. With good protection and a score of 67.6 out of 100, it is a serviceable daily face sunscreen, especially for those who prefer a matte result.
Ingredient & SPF scores
βοΈ
UV protection
Good
59
- +12 Homosalate at #2, UV filter
- +16 Octocrylene at #3, UV filter
- +7.6 Ethylhexyl Salicylate at #6, UV filter
- +28.5 Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane at #7, UV filter (UVA1 +15.2)
- Γ0.9 Limited long-UVA1 coverage
- +1 Label claims (SPF 30)
β’οΈ
Health safety
Medium
46
- +100 Starting score
- β40 Homosalate at #2 (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β10.5 Octocrylene at #3, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β3.5 Avobenzone at #7, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
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Allergens
Low
89
- +100 Starting score
- β8 4 declared fragrance allergens
- β3 Photoallergen-tail UV filters (Octocrylene)
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Eye sting
Medium
41
- +100 Starting score
- β16 Avobenzone at #7, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β22 Octocrylene at #3, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β9 Homosalate at #2, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β6 Octisalate at #6, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β6 3 declared fragrance allergens
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Comedogenic
Low
99
- +100 Starting score
- β1 Glyceryl Stearate SE at #23, moderate comedogenic signal
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Fungal acne
Medium
68
- +100 Starting score
- β32 3 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Polyglyceryl-2 Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate SE, PEG-100 Stearate)
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Fabric stains
High
30
- +100 Starting score
- β45 Avobenzone at #7, reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
- β15 Octocrylene at #3, co-stains alongside avobenzone
- β10 Avobenzone + Octocrylene, the classic staining pair
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Moisture
Balanced
LightNourishing
- β 5 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica)
- β 2 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
- β 4 Glycerin at #10, the anchor humectant
- β 1 1 strong humectants (Saccharide Isomerate)
- β 1 Humectant polyols
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Finish
Matte
MatteDewy
- β 6 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica)
- β 2 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
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Makeup base
Okay
PillsPrimer
- β 1 Primer-style base, volatile silicones and dimethicone slip
- β 1 Quick-setting carrier, fast, even canvas
- β 3 1 soft-focus powders in moderation
- β 0.5 Gel polymers prone to pilling under friction (Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer)
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Water resistance
Not resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
- +3 1 film-forming polymers that lock the formula on for water resistance
Full ingredient list (49)
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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1 Water
Solvent base, the water phase
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Legacy UV filter (Homosalate), high in the list, a primary filter
- β 12 UV protection
- β 9 migrates into eyes with sweat
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Legacy UV filter (Octocrylene), high in the list, a primary filter
- β 16 UV protection
- β 10.5 stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β 22 migrates into eyes with sweat
- β 15 co-stains alongside avobenzone
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4 Silica
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light β 5 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte β 6 sebum-absorbing powder
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Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 1 β nourishing humectant polyol
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Legacy UV filter (Octisalate)
- β 7.6 UV protection
- β 6 migrates into eyes with sweat
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Legacy UV filter (Avobenzone)
- β 28.5 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- β 3.5 stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β 16 migrates into eyes with sweat
- β 45 reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
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Volatile hydrocarbon, flashes off for a light finish
- light β 2 volatile carrier, flashes off
- matte β 2 volatile carrier, flashes off
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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10 Glycerin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 4 β nourishing the anchor humectant
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Supporting ingredient
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 14 feeds malassezia
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Film former, locks the formula onto skin for water resistance
- β 3 film former
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Botanical extract
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Protein, peptide or amino acid, conditions and hydrates skin
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Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 1 β nourishing humectant
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Botanical extract
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18 Sclareolide
Supporting ingredient
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19 Tocopherol
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
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Botanical extract
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Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 1 moderate comedogenic signal
- β 9 feeds malassezia
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 9 feeds malassezia
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
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Fatty alcohol, an emollient and thickener, not the drying kind
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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Fatty alcohol, an emollient and thickener, not the drying kind
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Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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31 Xanthan Gum
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
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Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
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Humectant, pulls water into the skin
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35 Methicone
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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pH adjuster
-
Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
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38 Citric Acid
pH adjuster
-
pH adjuster
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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41 Propanediol
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
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42 Geraniol
Fragrance component, a declared allergen
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43 Limonene
Fragrance component, a declared allergen
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44 Citral
Fragrance component, a declared allergen
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Film former, locks the formula onto skin for water resistance
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Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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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
Is the Dermalogica Prisma Protect SPF30 good for oily skin?
It has a matte finish and low pore-clogging risk, so it is commonly suitable for oily skin. It may sting slightly near the eyes.
Does Prisma Protect leave a white cast?
White cast is rated low, so it generally dries down without visible residue.
Is the Dermalogica Prisma Protect SPF30 mineral or chemical?
It is a chemical sunscreen on older-generation filters such as homosalate, octocrylene, and avobenzone.