Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer SPF 20
49/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer SPF 20 is a tinted base using older chemical filters Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate and Menthyl Anthranilate alongside Titanium Dioxide. It has a balanced, lightweight finish with low white cast and does not commonly sting. It gives light coverage and okay makeup pairing. Protection is weak at SPF 20, so it works as light daily makeup rather than dedicated sun protection, which its lower score reflects.
Ingredient & SPF scores
βοΈ
UV protection
Weak
29
- +18 Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate at #1, UV filter
- +10 Menthyl Anthranilate at #2, UV filter (UVA1 +2)
- +19.8 Titanium Dioxide at #20, UV filter (UVA1 +3)
- Γ0.6 Almost no UVA1, poor aging protection
β’οΈ
Health safety
Medium
49
- +100 Starting score
- β36 Octinoxate at #1 (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β4.9 Meradimate at #2, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β10 Propylparaben at #19, endocrine-scrutinized preservative
π»
White cast
Low
98
- +100 Starting score
- β6 Titanium Dioxide at #20
- +4.2 Tinted formula, pigment masks the cast
π₯
Eye sting
Low
84
- +100 Starting score
- β16 Octinoxate at #1, migrates into eyes with sweat
πͺ¨
Heavy feel
Low
93
- +100 Starting score
- β2 Titanium Dioxide at #20
- β5 Cetearyl Alcohol at #4, rich gel-network thickener
π
Fungal acne
Low
76
- +100 Starting score
- β24 1 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate)
π
Fabric stains
Medium
58
- +100 Starting score
- β40 Iron-oxide pigments at #21, makeup-like collar marks (washable)
- β2 Titanium Dioxide at #20, white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
π§
Moisture
Balanced
LightNourishing
- β 2 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
- β 2 Sodium Hyaluronate at #13, hyaluronic family
- β 1 1 fatty-alcohol emollients (Cetearyl Alcohol)
β¨
Finish
Balanced
MatteDewy
- β 2 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
π
Makeup base
Okay
PillsPrimer
- β 5 Primer-style base, volatile silicones and dimethicone slip
- β 0.5 Gel polymers prone to pilling under friction (Carbomer)
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¨ Vitamin E
- β¨ Allantoin
Full ingredient list (22)
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.
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Legacy UV filter (Octinoxate), high in the list, a primary filter
- β 18 UV protection
- β 16 migrates into eyes with sweat
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UV filter
- β 10 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- β 4.9 Meradimate, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
-
3 Water
Solvent base, the water phase
-
Fatty alcohol, an emollient and thickener, not the drying kind
- β 5 rich gel-network thickener
- 1 β nourishing fatty-alcohol emollient
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 24 feeds malassezia
-
Volatile silicone, flashes off for a light finish
- light β 2 volatile carrier, flashes off
- matte β 2 volatile carrier, flashes off
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 2 β nourishing hyaluronic family
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14 Allantoin
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
15 Carbomer
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
- β 10 endocrine-scrutinized preservative
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Mineral UV filter (Titanium Dioxide), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- β 19.8 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- β 2 white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
-
21 Iron Oxides
Colorant or pigment
- β 40 makeup-like collar marks (washable)
-
22 Mica
Colorant or pigment
Does Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer give enough sun protection?
Its protection is rated weak at SPF 20, so it works as light daily makeup rather than a dedicated sunscreen. Pairing it with a separate SPF is generally a good idea for sun days.
Does the Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer SPF 20 leave a white cast?
No, white cast is rated low and the finish is balanced and lightweight. As a tinted base it is designed to blend into skin tone.
Is it mineral or chemical?
It is a hybrid, using chemical Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate and Menthyl Anthranilate with some Titanium Dioxide. The mineral content is minor.