MDSolarSciences Mineral Moisture Defense SPF 50
83/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
MDSolarSciences Mineral Moisture Defense SPF 50 is a mineral sunscreen built on titanium dioxide and zinc oxide with Polysilicone-15. It has a balanced finish and does not sting, though the mineral base feels moderately heavy and can leave some white cast. Scoring 82.8 out of 100 with excellent protection, it is one of the higher-rated mineral options here and a dependable daily choice for sensitive skin that does not mind a touch of 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
Medium
51
- +100 Starting score
- β42 Zinc Oxide, 17% declared
- β7 Titanium Dioxide, 2% declared
- β10 Zinc Oxide + Titanium Dioxide together
- +5.9 PHSA dispersant, fights agglomeration
- +3.7 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
Low
77
- +100 Starting score
- β23 2 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Glyceryl Isostearate, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate)
- +0 Dimethicone at #3, a safe base that does not feed Malassezia
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Fabric stains
Low
80
- +100 Starting score
- 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 2 Light emollient/solvent (Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride)
- β 8 Ceramide barrier lipids with cholesterol/phytosphingosine partners
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Makeup base
Okay
PillsPrimer
- β 4 Primer-style base, volatile silicones and dimethicone slip
- β 12 2 velvet elastomer fillers, blur and grip
- β 0.5 Gel polymers prone to pilling under friction (Carbomer)
- β 15 High mineral load at #1 greys under foundation
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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¨ Ceramides
- β¨ Vitamin C
- β¨ Green tea
Full ingredient list (27)
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 15 High mineral load greys under foundation
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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
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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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 Ceramide AP
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
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12 Ceramide EOP
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
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13 Ceramide NP
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
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Botanical extract
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Botanical extract
-
Botanical extract
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19 Water
Solvent base, the water phase
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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21 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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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 9 feeds malassezia
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Humectant, pulls water into the skin
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24 Cholesterol
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
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25 Carbomer
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
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26 Xanthan Gum
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Supporting ingredient
Does MDSolarSciences Mineral Moisture Defense SPF 50 leave a white cast?
It can leave a moderate cast. It is a mineral formula on titanium dioxide and zinc oxide, and its ghost-mode rating is medium, so some cast is possible on deeper tones.
Is the MDSolarSciences Mineral Moisture Defense SPF 50 mineral or chemical?
It is fully mineral, using titanium dioxide and zinc oxide with Polysilicone-15, and no chemical filters, which suits sensitive skin.
Is it a good sunscreen?
Yes, it is one of the higher-rated mineral options here. Protection is excellent and it scores 82.8 out of 100, making it a dependable daily choice.