La Shield Mineral Sunscreen Gel SPF 40
79/100 overall score
Sign in to see this product's score for your skin.
About this sunscreen
La Shield Mineral Sunscreen Gel SPF 40 is a hybrid gel despite the mineral name, combining Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide with several filters (Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Tinosorb S, Uvinul A Plus, Uvasorb HEB) for broad coverage. It shows a moderate, medium white cast over a balanced finish, stays lightweight, is generally gentle, and is low risk for clogged pores. It sits okay under makeup. Protection is rated excellent and the score is 79.2/100, a strong daily gel.
Ingredient & SPF scores
☀️
UV protection
Excellent
100
- +18 Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate at #2, UV filter
- +38.9 Zinc Oxide at #6, UV filter (UVA1 +17.1)
- +26.4 Titanium Dioxide at #9, UV filter (UVA1 +4)
- +38.4 Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine at #10, UV filter (UVA1 +12.8)
- +21.6 Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate at #13, UV filter (UVA1 +13.2)
- +14.4 Diethylhexyl Butamido Triazone at #14, UV filter
- −34.5 UVB coverage saturated
- −21.2 UVA2 coverage saturated
- −2.1 UVA1 coverage saturated
- +1 Label claims (SPF 40)
☢️
Health safety
High
64
- +100 Starting score
- −36 Octinoxate at #2 (regulatory/evidence concern)
🤧
Allergens
Low
70
- +100 Starting score
- −18 Fragrance
- −12 Opaque "Fragrance", hidden allergens that can't be checked from the label
👻
White cast
Medium
49
- +100 Starting score
- −30 Zinc Oxide at #6
- −15 Titanium Dioxide at #9
- −10 Zinc Oxide + Titanium Dioxide together
- +3.8 Coated minerals (Aluminum Hydroxide)
🔥
Eye sting
Low
76
- +100 Starting score
- −16 Octinoxate at #2, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −8 Fragrance
🪨
Heavy feel
Low
72
- +100 Starting score
- −22 Zinc Oxide at #6
- −6 Titanium Dioxide at #9
🍄
Fungal acne
Medium
74
- +100 Starting score
- −24 2 polysorbate/sorbitan emulsifiers that feed Malassezia (Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan Isostearate)
- −2 1 ubiquitous fatty ingredients (Stearic Acid), weak Malassezia signal
👕
Fabric stains
Low
70
- +100 Starting score
- −15 Uvinul A Plus (DHHB) at #13, oil-soluble UVA filter, fabric stains
- −10 Zinc Oxide at #6, white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
- −5 Both minerals present, heavier deposit
💧
Moisture
Balanced
LightNourishing
- ← 1 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
- ← 2 Zinc Oxide at #6, mild sebum absorbent
- → 0.5 1 fatty-alcohol emollients (Cetearyl Alcohol)
✨
Finish
Balanced
MatteDewy
- ← 1 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
- ← 6 3 dry-touch emollients reduce greasy shine (Diisopropyl Sebacate, Caprylyl Methicone, Diisopropyl Adipate)
- → 6 1 emollient lipids (C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate)
💄
Makeup base
Okay
PillsPrimer
- → 6 Dry-touch esters, smooth fast-absorbing base
- ← 0.5 Gel polymers prone to pilling under friction (Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer)
- ← 6 High mineral load at #6 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 (30)
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.
-
1 Water
Solvent base, the water phase
-
Legacy UV filter (Octinoxate), high in the list, a primary filter
- ↑ 18 UV protection
- ↑ 16 migrates into eyes with sweat
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- matte ← 3 dry-touch emollient, anti-shine
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- matte ← 2 dry-touch emollient, anti-shine
-
Mineral UV filter (Zinc Oxide)
- ↑ 38.9 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- ↑ 10 white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
- light ← 2 mild sebum absorbent
- pills ← 6 High mineral load greys under foundation
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- 6 → dewy emollient lipid
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- matte ← 1 dry-touch emollient, anti-shine
-
Mineral UV filter (Titanium Dioxide), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- ↑ 26.4 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
-
Modern UV filter, broad-spectrum and photostable (Tinosorb S), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- ↑ 38.4 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
-
Fatty alcohol, an emollient and thickener, not the drying kind
- 0.5 → nourishing fatty-alcohol emollient
-
Plant oil, an emollient
-
Modern UV filter, broad-spectrum and photostable (Uvinul A Plus), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- ↑ 21.6 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- ↑ 15 oil-soluble UVA filter, fabric stains
-
Modern UV filter, broad-spectrum and photostable (Iscotrizinol), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- ↑ 14.4 UV protection
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
-
Fatty alcohol, an emollient and thickener, not the drying kind
-
Volatile hydrocarbon, flashes off for a light finish
- light ← 1 volatile carrier, flashes off
- matte ← 1 volatile carrier, flashes off
-
21 Fragrance
Fragrance
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
-
Supporting ingredient
-
24 Stearic Acid
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- ↑ 2 minor malassezia feeder
-
25 Xanthan Gum
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 12 feeds malassezia
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
pH adjuster
-
Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 12 feeds malassezia
Is La Shield Mineral Sunscreen Gel SPF 40 mineral or chemical?
Despite the mineral name it is a hybrid, combining Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide with chemical filters like Tinosorb S and Uvinul A Plus.
Does the La Shield Mineral Sunscreen Gel SPF 40 leave a white cast?
It has a medium white cast, so apply it evenly. The gel stays lightweight with a balanced finish.
Is it a good sunscreen?
Yes, protection is rated excellent and it scores 79.2/100. It is low risk for breakouts and works okay under makeup.