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Dr Dennis Gross Dark Spot Sun Defense Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF50

Dr Dennis Gross Dark Spot Sun Defense Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF50

83/100 overall score

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Ingredient & SPF scores

β˜€οΈ

UV protection

Good 75
  • +33 Titanium Dioxide at #1, UV filter (UVA1 +5)
  • +41 Zinc Oxide at #2, UV filter (UVA1 +18)
  • βˆ’1 UVA2 coverage saturated
  • +2 Label claims (SPF 50)
How we rate uv protection β†’
☒️

Health safety

High 100
  • +100 Starting score
How we rate health safety β†’
🀧

Allergens

Low 97
  • +100 Starting score
  • βˆ’1 1 declared fragrance allergens
  • βˆ’2 Essential oils (Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Oil)
How we rate allergens β†’
πŸ‘»

White cast

Low 74
  • +100 Starting score
  • βˆ’6 Zinc Oxide, 4.4% declared
  • βˆ’7 Titanium Dioxide, 4.9% declared
  • βˆ’10 Zinc Oxide + Titanium Dioxide together
  • βˆ’8 Pure mineral formula (9.3% total declared)
  • +3.1 PHSA dispersant, fights agglomeration
  • +2 Coated minerals (Aluminum Hydroxide)
How we rate white cast β†’
πŸ”₯

Eye sting

Low 100
  • +100 Starting score
How we rate eye sting β†’
πŸͺ¨

Heavy feel

Low 72
  • +100 Starting score
  • βˆ’8 Zinc Oxide, 4.4% declared
  • βˆ’10 Titanium Dioxide, 4.9% declared
  • βˆ’10 Both minerals in the top 3, dual mineral paste
How we rate heavy feel β†’
πŸ”΄

Comedogenic

Low 96
  • +100 Starting score
  • βˆ’4 Olea Europaea Fruit Oil at #8, moderate comedogenic signal
How we rate comedogenic β†’
πŸ„

Fungal acne

Medium 66
  • +100 Starting score
  • βˆ’32 3 oils/butters that feed Malassezia (Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Oenothera Biennis Oil, Hydrogenated Lecithin)
  • βˆ’2 1 ubiquitous fatty ingredients (Stearic Acid), weak Malassezia signal
How we rate fungal acne β†’
πŸ‘•

Fabric stains

Low 80
  • +100 Starting score
  • βˆ’15 Titanium Dioxide at #1, white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
  • βˆ’5 Both minerals present, heavier deposit
How we rate fabric stains β†’
πŸ’§

Moisture

Hydrating
LightNourishing
  • ← 3 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
  • ← 5 Zinc Oxide at #2, mild sebum absorbent
  • ← 2 Titanium Dioxide at #1, mild sebum absorbent
  • β†’ 10 Glycerin at #4, the anchor humectant
  • β†’ 2 Sodium Hyaluronate at #16, hyaluronic family
  • β†’ 2 2 strong humectants (Sodium PCA, Saccharide Isomerate)
  • β†’ 1 Humectant polyols
  • β†’ 3 2 emollient lipids (Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Oenothera Biennis Oil)
How we rate moisture β†’
✨

Finish

Balanced
MatteDewy
  • ← 3 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
  • ← 2 1 dry-touch emollients reduce greasy shine (Isononyl Isononanoate)
  • β†’ 7 3 emollient lipids (Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Oenothera Biennis Oil, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate)
How we rate finish β†’
πŸ’„

Makeup base

Okay
PillsPrimer
  • β†’ 1 Quick-setting carrier, fast, even canvas
  • β†’ 3 Dry-touch esters, smooth fast-absorbing base
  • ← 2.5 Gel polymers prone to pilling under friction (Carbomer, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer)
  • ← 1.5 Humectant syrup tackiness (partly offset by the base)
  • ← 15 High mineral load at #1 greys under foundation
How we rate makeup base β†’
🌊

Water resistance

Not resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant

Nothing flagged in the ingredient list.

How we rate water resistance β†’

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.

  • ✨ Vitamin C
  • ✨ Vitamin E

Full ingredient list (57)

What each ingredient does and how it moves each rating: green helps, red hurts, ↑ / ↓ give the direction, and ← / β†’ shift a slider toward its ends (finish, moisture, makeup base). Auto-derived from our scoring rules and the ingredient's position.

  1. 1 Titanium Dioxide

    Mineral UV filter (Titanium Dioxide), high in the list, a primary filter

    • ↑ 33 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
    • ↑ 7 4.9% declared
    • ↑ 10 4.9% declared
    • ↑ 15 white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
    • light ← 2 mild sebum absorbent
    • pills ← 15 High mineral load greys under foundation
  2. 2 Zinc Oxide

    Mineral UV filter (Zinc Oxide), high in the list, a primary filter

    • ↑ 41 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
    • ↑ 6 4.4% declared
    • ↑ 8 4.4% declared
    • light ← 5 mild sebum absorbent
  3. 3 Water

    Solvent base, the water phase

  4. 4 Glycerin

    Humectant, pulls water into the skin

    • 10 β†’ nourishing the anchor humectant
  5. Emollient, softens and smooths skin

    • matte ← 2 dry-touch emollient, anti-shine
  6. 6 Pentylene Glycol

    Humectant, pulls water into the skin

    • 1 β†’ nourishing humectant polyol
  7. Botanical extract

  8. Botanical extract

    • ↑ 4 moderate comedogenic signal
    • 2 β†’ nourishing emollient lipid
    • 3 β†’ dewy emollient lipid
    • ↑ 14 feeds malassezia
  9. Emollient, softens and smooths skin

    • 3 β†’ dewy emollient lipid
  10. 10 Coconut Alkanes

    Volatile hydrocarbon, flashes off for a light finish

    • light ← 2 volatile carrier, flashes off
    • matte ← 2 volatile carrier, flashes off
  11. Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream

  12. 12 Butylene Glycol

    Humectant, pulls water into the skin

  13. 13 Melatonin

    Supporting ingredient

  14. 14 Ascorbyl Glucoside

    Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin

  15. 15 Tocopherol

    Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin

  16. 16 Sodium Hyaluronate

    Humectant, pulls water into the skin

    • 2 β†’ nourishing hyaluronic family
  17. 17 Saccharide Isomerate

    Humectant, pulls water into the skin

    • 1 β†’ nourishing humectant
  18. Supporting ingredient

  19. Botanical extract

  20. 20 Phospholipids

    Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended

  21. 21 Sphingolipids

    Supporting ingredient

  22. Protein, peptide or amino acid, conditions and hydrates skin

  23. 23 Oryza Sativa Extract

    Botanical extract

  24. Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin

  25. Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin

  26. 26 Zinc Pca

    Humectant, pulls water into the skin

  27. 27 Sodium PCA

    Humectant, pulls water into the skin

    • 1 β†’ nourishing humectant
  28. Botanical extract

  29. 29 Oenothera Biennis Oil

    Plant oil, an emollient

    • 1 β†’ nourishing emollient lipid
    • 1 β†’ dewy emollient lipid
    • ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
  30. 30 Oleanolic Acid

    Supporting ingredient

  31. 31 Lactic Acid

    pH adjuster

  32. 32 Glycolic Acid

    pH adjuster

  33. Emollient, softens and smooths skin

  34. 34 Xanthan Gum

    Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream

  35. 35 Hydrogenated Lecithin

    Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended

    • ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
  36. Emollient, softens and smooths skin

  37. Filter booster, photostabilizes the UV filters or lifts their SPF

  38. 38 Sodium Hydroxide

    pH adjuster

  39. 39 Isohexadecane

    Volatile hydrocarbon, flashes off for a light finish

    • light ← 1 volatile carrier, flashes off
    • matte ← 1 volatile carrier, flashes off
  40. 40 Caprylyl Glycol

    Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling

  41. 41 Propanediol

    Humectant, pulls water into the skin

  42. Emollient, softens and smooths skin

  43. 43 Stearic Acid

    Emollient, softens and smooths skin

    • ↑ 2 minor malassezia feeder
  44. 44 Carbomer

    Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream

  45. 45 Tromethamine

    pH adjuster

  46. Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream

  47. 47 Aluminum Hydroxide

    Supporting ingredient

  48. Humectant, pulls water into the skin

  49. 49 Disodium EDTA

    Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable

  50. 50 Citric Acid

    pH adjuster

  51. 51 Sodium Citrate

    pH adjuster

  52. Plant oil, an emollient

  53. Botanical extract

  54. 54 Phenoxyethanol

    Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling

  55. 55 Benzyl Alcohol

    Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling

  56. 56 Sodium Benzoate

    Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling

  57. 57 Potassium Sorbate

    Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling

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