MDSolarSciences Mineral Moisture Defense Spf 50
84/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
MDSolarSciences Mineral Moisture Defense SPF 50 is a hybrid mineral formula built on Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide with Polysilicone-15 for a smoother wear. It keeps white cast low and has a balanced finish, with a medium-weight feel, and it does not commonly sting. It layers well under makeup and is generally low risk for breakouts. At 84/100 with excellent protection, it is a strong mineral option for those who usually dislike white cast.
Ingredient & SPF scores
βοΈ
UV protection
Excellent
80
- +33 Titanium Dioxide at #1, UV filter (UVA1 +5)
- +41 Zinc Oxide at #2, UV filter (UVA1 +18)
- +9.6 Polysilicone-15 at #10, UV filter
- β4.6 UVB coverage saturated
- β1 UVA2 coverage saturated
- +2 Label claims (SPF 50)
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White cast
Low
73
- +100 Starting score
- β42 Zinc Oxide, 17% declared
- β7 Titanium Dioxide, 2% declared
- β10 Zinc Oxide + Titanium Dioxide together
- +29.5 Iron-oxide undertone, partial masking
- +2.1 Coated minerals (Triethoxycaprylylsilane)
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Heavy feel
Medium
50
- +100 Starting score
- β30 Zinc Oxide, 17% declared
- β10 Titanium Dioxide, 2% declared
- β10 Both minerals in the top 3, dual mineral paste
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Fungal acne
Medium
72
- +100 Starting score
- β23 2 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Glyceryl Isostearate, Ceteareth-25)
- β5 1 ubiquitous fatty ingredients (Behenic Acid), weak Malassezia signal
- +0 Dimethicone at #3, a safe base that does not feed Malassezia
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Fabric stains
Medium
40
- +100 Starting score
- β40 Iron-oxide pigments at #23, makeup-like collar marks (washable)
- β15 Titanium Dioxide at #1, white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
- β5 Both minerals present, heavier deposit
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Moisture
Balanced
LightNourishing
- β 1.5 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica)
- β 5 Zinc Oxide at #2, mild sebum absorbent
- β 2 Titanium Dioxide at #1, mild sebum absorbent
- β 1 Glycerin at #22, the anchor humectant
- β 2 Light emollient/solvent (Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride)
- β 8 Ceramide barrier lipids with cholesterol/phytosphingosine partners
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Makeup base
Good
PillsPrimer
- β 4 Primer-style base, volatile silicones and dimethicone slip
- β 12 2 velvet elastomer fillers, blur and grip
- β 7.5 High mineral load at #1 greys under foundation (tinted)
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Water resistance
Not resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
- +7 1 film-forming polymers that lock the formula on for water resistance
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.
- β¨ Green tea
- β¨ Ceramides
Full ingredient list (30)
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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Mineral UV filter (Titanium Dioxide), high in the list, a primary filter
- β 33 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- β 7 2% declared
- β 10 2% declared
- β 15 white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
- light β 2 mild sebum absorbent
- pills β 7.5 High mineral load greys under foundation (tinted)
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Mineral UV filter (Zinc Oxide), high in the list, a primary filter
- β 41 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- β 42 17% declared
- β 30 17% declared
- light β 5 mild sebum absorbent
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- 2 β nourishing light emollient
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- β 14 feeds malassezia
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Film former, locks the formula onto skin for water resistance
- β 7 film former
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Modern UV filter, broad-spectrum and photostable (Polysilicone-15), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- β 9.6 UV protection
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11 Behenic Acid
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- β 5 minor malassezia feeder
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Botanical extract
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Soothing, skin-conditioning active
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14 Ceramide AP
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
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15 Ceramide EOP
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
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16 Ceramide EOS
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
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17 Ceramide NP
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
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18 Ceramide NS
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
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19 Ceteareth-25
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 9 feeds malassezia
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Fatty alcohol, an emollient and thickener, not the drying kind
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21 Cholesterol
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
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22 Glycerin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 1 β nourishing the anchor humectant
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23 Iron Oxides
Colorant or pigment
- β 40 makeup-like collar marks (washable)
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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Botanical extract
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26 Silica
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light β 1.5 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte β 1 sebum-absorbing powder
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Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
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Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
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Supporting ingredient
-
Botanical extract
Is the MDSolarSciences Mineral Moisture Defense Spf 50 mineral or chemical?
It is a mineral sunscreen. It is built on Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide with Polysilicone-15 to smooth the wear at SPF 50.
Does the MDSolarSciences Mineral Moisture Defense Spf 50 leave a white cast?
White cast is low, which is notable for a mineral formula. The finish is balanced with a medium-weight feel.
Is it good?
Yes, it scores 84/100 with excellent protection. It does not commonly sting and layers well under makeup, so it is a strong mineral option.