Holland & Barrett Sunscreen
73/100 overall score
Sign in to see this product's score for your skin.
About this sunscreen
Holland & Barrett Sunscreen is a pure mineral sunscreen built on zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. It does not tend to sting, but it carries a high white cast and a somewhat heavier feel that is typical of all-mineral creams, and it is noted as a poor base under makeup. Scoring 73 out of 100 with good protection, it is a filter-friendly choice best suited to those who do not mind the cast and weight.
Ingredient & SPF scores
☀️
UV protection
Good
67
- +41 Zinc Oxide at #1, UV filter (UVA1 +18)
- +26.4 Titanium Dioxide at #8, UV filter (UVA1 +4)
👻
White cast
High
21
- +100 Starting score
- −55 Zinc Oxide at #1
- −15 Titanium Dioxide at #8
- −10 Zinc Oxide + Titanium Dioxide together
- −15 Pure mineral formula
- +9.5 PHSA dispersant, fights agglomeration
- +6 Coated minerals (Alumina)
🔥
Eye sting
Low
99
- +100 Starting score
- −4 Volatile alcohol at #10
- +3 Mineral filter system, low-sting filters
🪨
Heavy feel
Medium
51
- +100 Starting score
- −40 Zinc Oxide at #1
- −6 Titanium Dioxide at #8
- −3 Coconut Oil at #11, heavy oil
🔴
Comedogenic
Low
84
- +100 Starting score
- −7 Coconut Oil at #11, comedogenic oil/butter
- −9 Olea Europaea Fruit Oil at #4, moderate comedogenic signal
🍄
Fungal acne
High
3
- +100 Starting score
- −47 3 oils/butters that feed Malassezia (Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Coconut Oil)
- −38 2 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate, Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate)
- −2 1 ubiquitous fatty ingredients (Stearic Acid), weak Malassezia signal
- −10 2 different Malassezia-feeding families high in the list
- +0 Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride at #3, a safe base that does not feed Malassezia
👕
Fabric stains
Low
80
- +100 Starting score
- −15 Zinc Oxide at #1, white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
- −5 Both minerals present, heavier deposit
💧
Moisture
Balanced
LightNourishing
- ← 5 Volatile alcohol at #10
- ← 1.5 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Hydrated Silica)
- ← 5 Zinc Oxide at #1, mild sebum absorbent
- → 4 Glycerin at #9, the anchor humectant
- → 7 3 emollient lipids (Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Coconut Oil)
- → 4 Light emollient/solvent (Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride)
✨
Finish
Balanced
MatteDewy
- ← 1 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Hydrated Silica)
- ← 1 Volatile alcohol at #10
- ← 2 1 dry-touch emollients reduce greasy shine (Dicaprylyl Ether)
- → 10 3 emollient lipids (Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Coconut Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil)
💄
Makeup base
Poor
PillsPrimer
- → 2 Quick-setting carrier (alcohol at #10), fast, even canvas
- ← 4 Occlusives/waxes float the foundation
- ← 15 High mineral load at #1 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 (33)
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.
-
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
-
2 Water
Solvent base, the water phase
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- 4 → nourishing light emollient
-
Botanical extract
- ↑ 9 moderate comedogenic signal
- 4 → nourishing emollient lipid
- 6 → dewy emollient lipid
- ↑ 24 feeds malassezia
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- matte ← 2 dry-touch emollient, anti-shine
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 24 feeds malassezia
-
Botanical extract
-
Mineral UV filter (Titanium Dioxide), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- ↑ 26.4 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
-
9 Glycerin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 4 → nourishing the anchor humectant
-
10 Alcohol
Volatile alcohol, a drying solvent that can sting eyes
-
11 Coconut Oil
Plant oil, an emollient
- ↑ 3 heavy oil
- ↑ 7 comedogenic oil/butter
- 2 → nourishing emollient lipid
- 3 → dewy emollient lipid
- ↑ 14 feeds malassezia
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 14 feeds malassezia
-
13 Stearic Acid
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- ↑ 2 minor malassezia feeder
-
14 Oryzanol
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light ← 1.5 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte ← 1 sebum-absorbing powder
-
16 Mg Stearate+
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Botanical extract
-
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
Botanical extract
-
Botanical extract
-
Botanical extract
-
Botanical extract
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
25 Tocopherol
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Botanical extract
- 1 → nourishing emollient lipid
- 1 → dewy emollient lipid
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
-
27 Alumina
Supporting ingredient
-
28 Pongamol
Supporting ingredient
-
29 Ubiquinone
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
30 Maltodextrin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
Does Holland & Barrett Sunscreen leave a white cast?
White cast is rated high, which is typical of an all-mineral cream on zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, and it can be more noticeable on deeper skin tones.
Does the Holland & Barrett Sunscreen work under makeup?
It is rated a poor makeup base, since it feels somewhat heavy and leaves a visible cast, so it suits bare-face wear better.
Is it mineral or chemical, and is it good?
It is a pure mineral sunscreen and scores 73 out of 100 with good protection, a solid filter choice for those who do not mind the cast and weight.