Magwai Reef-Safe Sunscreen Spf 50+
62/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
Magwai Reef-Safe Sunscreen is an SPF 50+ mineral formula relying on zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, with no chemical UV filters. It leaves a dewy finish but carries a visible white cast and wears on the heavier side, which is common with pure mineral sunscreens. It does not commonly sting, yet its pore-clogging risk is higher and it works poorly as a makeup base. With good protection and a score of 61.7/100, it suits those who specifically want a mineral, reef-conscious option and do not mind a heavier feel.
Ingredient & SPF scores
☀️
UV protection
Good
74
- +41 Zinc Oxide at #2, UV filter (UVA1 +18)
- +31.4 Titanium Dioxide at #7, UV filter (UVA1 +4.8)
- −0.4 UVA2 coverage saturated
- +2 Label claims (SPF 50)
👻
White cast
High
0
- +100 Starting score
- −55 Zinc Oxide at #2
- −35 Titanium Dioxide at #7
- −10 Zinc Oxide + Titanium Dioxide together
- −15 Pure mineral formula
- +15 Penalties exceed the scale, floored at 0
🪨
Heavy feel
High
0
- +100 Starting score
- −40 Zinc Oxide at #2
- −16 Titanium Dioxide at #7
- −12 Cera Alba at #4, wax film
- −5 Butyrospermum Parkii Fruit at #8, butter/occlusive fat
- −10 Coconut Oil at #3, heavy oil
- −5 Cetearyl Alcohol at #5, rich gel-network thickener
- −5 Cetyl Alcohol at #6, rich gel-network thickener
- −18 Mineral suspended in a dense emollient base (strong)
- +11 Penalties exceed the scale, floored at 0
🔴
Comedogenic
High
16
- +100 Starting score
- −32 Isopropyl Myristate at #1, heavy comedogenic ester
- −38 Coconut Oil at #3, comedogenic oil/butter
- −14 2 heavy comedogens high in the list
🍄
Fungal acne
High
4
- +100 Starting score
- −50 2 oils/butters that feed Malassezia (Coconut Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii Fruit)
- −36 1 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Isopropyl Myristate)
- −10 2 different Malassezia-feeding families high in the list
👕
Fabric stains
Low
80
- +100 Starting score
- −15 Zinc Oxide at #2, white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
- −5 Both minerals present, heavier deposit
💧
Moisture
Balanced
LightNourishing
- ← 5 Zinc Oxide at #2, mild sebum absorbent
- → 8 2 emollient lipids (Coconut Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii Fruit)
- → 2 2 fatty-alcohol emollients (Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol)
✨
Finish
Dewy
MatteDewy
- → 12 2 emollient lipids (Coconut Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii Fruit)
- → 6 1 slippy emollient esters (Isopropyl Myristate)
💄
Makeup base
Poor
PillsPrimer
- ← 16 Occlusives/waxes float the foundation
- ← 15 High mineral load at #2 greys under foundation
🌊
Water resistance
Not resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
- +7 1 water-locking waxes
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 E
Full ingredient list (11)
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.
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- ↑ 32 heavy comedogenic ester
- 6 → dewy slippy emollient ester
- ↑ 36 feeds malassezia
-
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
-
Plant oil, an emollient
- ↑ 10 heavy oil
- ↑ 38 comedogenic oil/butter
- 6 → nourishing emollient lipid
- 9 → dewy emollient lipid
- ↑ 36 feeds malassezia
-
Occlusive, seals moisture into the skin
- ↑ 12 wax film
- ↑ 7 wax water lock
-
Fatty alcohol, an emollient and thickener, not the drying kind
- ↑ 5 rich gel-network thickener
- 1 → nourishing fatty-alcohol emollient
-
Fatty alcohol, an emollient and thickener, not the drying kind
- ↑ 5 rich gel-network thickener
- 1 → nourishing fatty-alcohol emollient
-
Mineral UV filter (Titanium Dioxide)
- ↑ 31.4 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
-
Botanical extract
- ↑ 5 butter/occlusive fat
- 2 → nourishing emollient lipid
- 3 → dewy emollient lipid
- ↑ 14 feeds malassezia
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
Does Magwai Reef-Safe Sunscreen leave a white cast?
Yes, the white cast is visible. It is a pure mineral SPF 50+ formula with zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, which commonly leaves a noticeable cast, and it finishes dewy and wears on the heavier side.
Is the Magwai Reef-Safe Sunscreen Spf 50+ mineral or chemical?
It is fully mineral. The only UV filters are zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, with no chemical filters, which fits its reef-conscious positioning.
Is it good for acne-prone skin?
It is less ideal. Breakout risk is rated higher and it works poorly as a makeup base, so acne-prone or makeup-wearing users may prefer a lighter formula.