Dot & Key Reef Safe Sunblock Mineral Sunscreen Lotion Spf 40, Uva/Uvb Pa+++
75/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
Dot & Key Reef Safe Sunblock Mineral Sunscreen Lotion SPF 40 is a pure mineral formula using Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide. It has a balanced finish and stays lightweight, with a low-sting, low-clogging profile, though white cast is reported as high, which is common for mineral lotions on deeper tones. It works okay under makeup. Protection is good and the 74.7/100 score makes it a solid mineral option.
Ingredient & SPF scores
☀️
UV protection
Good
69
- +41 Zinc Oxide at #3, UV filter (UVA1 +18)
- +26.4 Titanium Dioxide at #10, UV filter (UVA1 +4)
- +2 Label claims (SPF 40, PA rating)
🤧
Allergens
Low
70
- +100 Starting score
- −18 Fragrance
- −12 Opaque "Fragrance", hidden allergens that can't be checked from the label
👻
White cast
High
15
- +100 Starting score
- −55 Zinc Oxide at #3
- −15 Titanium Dioxide at #10
- −10 Zinc Oxide + Titanium Dioxide together
- −15 Pure mineral formula
- +9.5 PHSA dispersant, fights agglomeration
🔥
Eye sting
Low
98
- +100 Starting score
- −8 Fragrance
- +6 Mineral filter system, low-sting filters
🪨
Heavy feel
Low
66
- +100 Starting score
- −40 Zinc Oxide at #3
- −6 Titanium Dioxide at #10
- +11.5 Volatile silicone at #2, flashes off
👕
Fabric stains
Low
80
- +100 Starting score
- −15 Zinc Oxide at #3, white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
- −5 Both minerals present, heavier deposit
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Moisture
Light
LightNourishing
- ← 3 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica)
- ← 8 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
- ← 5 Zinc Oxide at #3, mild sebum absorbent
- → 4 Glycerin at #9, the anchor humectant
✨
Finish
Balanced
MatteDewy
- ← 3 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica)
- ← 7 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
- → 6 1 emollient lipids (C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate)
💄
Makeup base
Okay
PillsPrimer
- → 9 Primer-style base, volatile silicones and dimethicone slip
- → 8 1 velvet elastomer fillers, blur and grip
- → 2 Dry-touch esters, smooth fast-absorbing base
- ← 15 High mineral load at #3 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 (25)
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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1 Water
Solvent base, the water phase
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Volatile silicone, flashes off for a light finish
- light ← 8 volatile carrier, flashes off
- matte ← 7 volatile carrier, flashes off
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Mineral UV filter (Zinc Oxide), high in the list, a primary filter
- ↑ 41 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- ↑ 15 white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
- light ← 5 mild sebum absorbent
- pills ← 15 High mineral load greys under foundation
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- 6 → dewy emollient lipid
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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Volatile silicone, flashes off for a light finish
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
9 Glycerin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 4 → nourishing the anchor humectant
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Mineral UV filter (Titanium Dioxide), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- ↑ 26.4 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
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11 Silica
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light ← 3 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte ← 3 sebum-absorbing powder
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12 Dimethicone
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
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Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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Humectant, pulls water into the skin
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20 Fragrance
Fragrance
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Botanical extract
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Botanical extract
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Botanical extract
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Botanical extract
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Botanical extract
Does the Dot & Key Reef Safe Sunblock Mineral Sunscreen Lotion Spf 40, Uva/Uvb Pa+++ leave a white cast?
White cast is reported as high, which is common for pure mineral lotions using Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide, especially on deeper tones. Thorough blending helps reduce it.
Is the Dot & Key Reef Safe Sunblock Mineral Sunscreen Lotion Spf 40, Uva/Uvb Pa+++ mineral or chemical?
It is a pure mineral sunscreen, using only Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide. That makes it a fully physical filter formula.
Is it good?
Protection is good at SPF 40 and it scores 74.7/100, making it a solid mineral option. The main trade-off is the higher white cast.