Drunk Elephant Umbra Sheer Physical Daily Defence Spf 30
72/100 overall score
Sign in to see this product's score for your skin.
About this sunscreen
Drunk Elephant Umbra Sheer Physical Daily Defence SPF 30 is a pure mineral sunscreen based on zinc oxide. It has a balanced finish, a low white cast, and a low pore-clogging profile, though it can feel moderately heavy on skin. Protection is rated moderate, and the overall score is about 72 out of 100. It is generally a reasonable mineral choice for those who prefer a single physical filter, with feel being the main trade-off.
Ingredient & SPF scores
βοΈ
UV protection
Moderate
42
- +41 Zinc Oxide at #1, UV filter (UVA1 +18)
- +1 Label claims (SPF 30)
π»
White cast
Low
71
- +100 Starting score
- β55 Zinc Oxide, 20% declared
- β15 Pure mineral formula (20% total declared)
- +35 Iron-oxide undertone, partial masking
- +3.5 PHSA dispersant, fights agglomeration
- +2.2 Coated minerals (Triethoxycaprylylsilane)
πͺ¨
Heavy feel
Medium
60
- +100 Starting score
- β40 Zinc Oxide, 20% declared
π
Fungal acne
High
33
- +100 Starting score
- β18 2 oils/butters that feed Malassezia (Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Lecithin)
- β47 3 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Steareth-2, Steareth-21, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate)
- β2 1 ubiquitous fatty ingredients (Cetearyl Glucoside), weak Malassezia signal
- +0 Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil at #20, jojoba wax ester, fungal-acne exception (not penalized)
- +0 Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride at #3, a safe base that does not feed Malassezia
π
Fabric stains
Medium
45
- +100 Starting score
- β40 Iron-oxide pigments at #41, makeup-like collar marks (washable)
- β15 Zinc Oxide at #1, white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
π§
Moisture
Hydrating
LightNourishing
- β 3 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica)
- β 5 Zinc Oxide at #1, mild sebum absorbent
- β 10 Glycerin at #6, the anchor humectant
- β 1 Humectant polyols
- β 2 2 emollient lipids (Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil)
- β 4 Light emollient/solvent (Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride)
- β 0.5 1 fatty-alcohol emollients (Cetearyl Alcohol)
β¨
Finish
Balanced
MatteDewy
- β 3 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica)
- β 2 1 dry-touch emollients reduce greasy shine (Dicaprylyl Carbonate)
- β 2 2 emollient lipids (Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil)
π
Makeup base
Okay
PillsPrimer
- β 2 Dry-touch esters, smooth fast-absorbing base
- β 3 Humectant syrup tackiness
- β 7.5 High mineral load at #1 greys under foundation (tinted)
π
Water resistance
Not resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
Nothing flagged in the ingredient list.
How we rate water resistance βSkincare extras
Beneficial actives this formula contains. Informational only, not part of the rating: their effect depends on a concentration the label does not disclose.
- β¨ Aloe vera
Full ingredient list (41)
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.
-
Mineral UV filter (Zinc Oxide), high in the list, a primary filter
- β 41 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- β 55 20% declared
- β 40 20% declared
- β 15 white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
- light β 5 mild sebum absorbent
- pills β 7.5 High mineral load greys under foundation (tinted)
-
2 Water
Solvent base, the water phase
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- 4 β nourishing light emollient
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- matte β 2 dry-touch emollient, anti-shine
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 1 β nourishing humectant polyol
-
6 Glycerin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 10 β nourishing the anchor humectant
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 24 feeds malassezia
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 14 feeds malassezia
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Fatty alcohol, an emollient and thickener, not the drying kind
- 0.5 β nourishing fatty-alcohol emollient
-
12 Silica
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light β 3 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte β 3 sebum-absorbing powder
-
Botanical extract
-
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
Botanical extract
-
Botanical extract
-
Botanical extract
-
Botanical extract
-
Botanical extract
- 1 β nourishing emollient lipid
- 1 β dewy emollient lipid
- β 9 feeds malassezia
-
Botanical extract
- 1 β nourishing emollient lipid
- 1 β dewy emollient lipid
-
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Protein, peptide or amino acid, conditions and hydrates skin
-
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
24 Tocopherol
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
25 Maris Aqua
Solvent base, the water phase
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 2 minor malassezia feeder
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 9 feeds malassezia
-
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
30 Glycine
Protein, peptide or amino acid, conditions and hydrates skin
-
31 Sucrose
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
32 Lecithin
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 9 feeds malassezia
-
Supporting ingredient
-
34 Xanthan Gum
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
-
Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
41 Iron Oxides
Colorant or pigment
- β 40 makeup-like collar marks (washable)
Is the Drunk Elephant Umbra Sheer Physical Daily Defence Spf 30 mineral or chemical?
It is a pure mineral sunscreen. Zinc oxide is the only UV filter, so it contains no chemical absorbers.
Does Drunk Elephant Umbra Sheer leave a white cast?
White cast is rated low. Despite being zinc-based, the sheer formula keeps visible whiteness generally minimal.
Is Drunk Elephant Umbra Sheer SPF 30 good?
It scores about 72 out of 100. Protection is rated moderate and it can feel a bit heavy, so it is generally a reasonable mineral choice with feel as the main trade-off.