dr. denese SPF 40 Defense Day Cream
82/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
The dr. denese SPF 40 Defense Day Cream is a pure mineral sunscreen using Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide in a day-cream format. It has a balanced finish, wears light, and leaves little to no white cast, which is notable for a fully mineral formula. It is generally gentle with a low sting risk and low breakout risk, and it works well under makeup. With a score of 82.1 out of 100 and good protection, it is a dependable daily mineral day cream.
Ingredient & SPF scores
☀️
UV protection
Good
74
- +33 Titanium Dioxide at #1, UV filter (UVA1 +5)
- +41 Zinc Oxide at #2, UV filter (UVA1 +18)
- −1 UVA2 coverage saturated
- +1 Label claims (SPF 40)
☢️
Health safety
High
93
- +100 Starting score
- −7 Retinyl Palmitate at #19, disputed vitamin-A sunlight signal, under review
👻
White cast
Low
75
- +100 Starting score
- −28 Zinc Oxide, 14% declared
- −7 Titanium Dioxide, 4% declared
- −10 Zinc Oxide + Titanium Dioxide together
- −15 Pure mineral formula (18% total declared)
- +30 Iron-oxide undertone, partial masking
- +4.5 Coated minerals (Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Alumina, Hydrogen Dimethicone)
🪨
Heavy feel
Low
72
- +100 Starting score
- −18 Zinc Oxide, 14% declared
- −10 Titanium Dioxide, 4% declared
- −10 Both minerals in the top 3, dual mineral paste
- +9.5 Volatile silicone at #4, flashes off
🍄
Fungal acne
Low
86
- +100 Starting score
- −14 1 oils/butters that feed Malassezia (Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil)
👕
Fabric stains
Medium
40
- +100 Starting score
- −40 Iron-oxide pigments at #48, makeup-like collar marks (washable)
- −15 Titanium Dioxide at #1, white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
- −5 Both minerals present, heavier deposit
💧
Moisture
Balanced
LightNourishing
- ← 5 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
- ← 5 Zinc Oxide at #2, mild sebum absorbent
- ← 2 Titanium Dioxide at #1, mild sebum absorbent
- → 2 Sodium Hyaluronate at #14, hyaluronic family
- → 3 3 strong humectants (Sodium PCA, Pca, Sodium Lactate)
- → 1 Humectant polyols
- → 2 1 emollient lipids (Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil)
✨
Finish
Balanced
MatteDewy
- ← 4 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
- ← 2 1 dry-touch emollients reduce greasy shine (Octyldodecyl Neopentanoate)
- → 3 1 emollient lipids (Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil)
💄
Makeup base
Good
PillsPrimer
- → 8 Primer-style base, volatile silicones and dimethicone slip
- → 8 1 velvet elastomer fillers, blur and grip
- ← 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.
- ✨ Bisabolol
Full ingredient list (53)
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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Mineral UV filter (Titanium Dioxide), high in the list, a primary filter
- ↑ 33 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- ↑ 7 4% declared
- ↑ 10 4% declared
- ↑ 15 white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
- light ← 2 mild sebum absorbent
- pills ← 7.5 High mineral load greys under foundation (tinted)
-
Mineral UV filter (Zinc Oxide), high in the list, a primary filter
- ↑ 41 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- ↑ 28 14% declared
- ↑ 18 14% declared
- light ← 5 mild sebum absorbent
-
3 Water
Solvent base, the water phase
-
Volatile silicone, flashes off for a light finish
- light ← 5 volatile carrier, flashes off
- matte ← 4 volatile carrier, flashes off
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- matte ← 2 dry-touch emollient, anti-shine
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 1 → nourishing humectant polyol
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
-
Plant oil, an emollient
- 2 → nourishing emollient lipid
- 3 → dewy emollient lipid
- ↑ 14 feeds malassezia
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 2 → nourishing hyaluronic family
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
16 Bisabolol
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
17 Melanin
Supporting ingredient
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- ↓ 7 disputed vitamin-A sunlight signal, under review
-
Supporting ingredient
-
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
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Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
23 Sodium PCA
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 1 → nourishing humectant
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 1 → nourishing humectant
-
25 Arginine
pH adjuster
-
Protein, peptide or amino acid, conditions and hydrates skin
-
27 Pca
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 1 → nourishing humectant
-
28 Glycine
Protein, peptide or amino acid, conditions and hydrates skin
-
29 Alanine
Protein, peptide or amino acid, conditions and hydrates skin
-
30 Serine
Protein, peptide or amino acid, conditions and hydrates skin
-
31 Valine
Protein, peptide or amino acid, conditions and hydrates skin
-
32 Proline
Protein, peptide or amino acid, conditions and hydrates skin
-
33 Threonine
Protein, peptide or amino acid, conditions and hydrates skin
-
34 Isoleucine
Protein, peptide or amino acid, conditions and hydrates skin
-
35 Histidine
Protein, peptide or amino acid, conditions and hydrates skin
-
Protein, peptide or amino acid, conditions and hydrates skin
-
37 Alumina
Supporting ingredient
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Supporting ingredient
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Supporting ingredient
-
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
48 Iron Oxides
Colorant or pigment
- ↑ 40 makeup-like collar marks (washable)
-
49 Iron Oxides
Colorant or pigment
-
50 Iron Oxides
Colorant or pigment
-
51 Iron Oxides
Colorant or pigment
-
52 Iron Oxides
Colorant or pigment
-
53 Iron Oxides
Colorant or pigment
Is the dr. denese SPF 40 Defense Day Cream mineral or chemical?
It is a pure mineral sunscreen using Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide. It comes in a day-cream format. The mineral filters sit on the skin surface.
Does the dr. denese SPF 40 Defense Day Cream leave a white cast?
No, it is rated low for white cast, which is notable for a fully mineral formula. The balanced finish helps it blend. A thin, even layer applies best.
Is it good under makeup?
Yes, it works well under makeup, wears light, and is generally low risk for clogged pores. It is gentle with a low sting risk and low breakout risk. It scores 82.1 out of 100 with good protection.