MDSolarSciences Mineral Sunscreen Stick Broad Spectrum SPF 40
77/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
MDSolarSciences Mineral Sunscreen Stick SPF 40 is a pure mineral stick using Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide. It has a dewy finish and a heavier, more occlusive feel typical of stick formats, with a medium white cast. It does not sting and has low pore-clogging concern, but it works poorly as a makeup base. With good protection and a score of 76.5/100, it is a convenient mineral stick for targeted reapplication.
Ingredient & SPF scores
βοΈ
UV protection
Good
74
- +33 Titanium Dioxide at #1, UV filter (UVA1 +5)
- +41 Zinc Oxide at #2, UV filter (UVA1 +18)
- β1 UVA2 coverage saturated
- +1 Label claims (SPF 40)
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White cast
Medium
58
- +100 Starting score
- β14 Zinc Oxide, 6.6% declared
- β18 Titanium Dioxide, 8.1% declared
- β10 Zinc Oxide + Titanium Dioxide together
- β8 Pure mineral formula (14.7% total declared)
- +5 PHSA dispersant, fights agglomeration
- +3.1 Coated minerals (Aluminum Hydroxide)
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Heavy feel
High
0
- +100 Starting score
- β8 Zinc Oxide, 6.6% declared
- β20 Titanium Dioxide, 8.1% declared
- β14 Petrolatum at #6, heaviest occlusive
- β2 Cera Alba at #16, wax film
- β20 Polyethylene at #3, wax film
- β10 Butyrospermum Parkii Fruit at #5, butter/occlusive fat
- β10 Both minerals in the top 3, dual mineral paste
- β18 Mineral suspended in a dense emollient base (strong)
- β12 Stick/balm format with a wax skeleton
- +14 Penalties exceed the scale, floored at 0
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Fungal acne
Medium
65
- +100 Starting score
- β24 1 oils/butters that feed Malassezia (Butyrospermum Parkii Fruit)
- β9 1 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Glyceryl Isostearate)
- β2 1 ubiquitous fatty ingredients (Stearic Acid), weak Malassezia signal
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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 5 Zinc Oxide at #2, mild sebum absorbent
- β 2 Titanium Dioxide at #1, mild sebum absorbent
- β 4 1 emollient lipids (Butyrospermum Parkii Fruit)
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Finish
Dewy
MatteDewy
- β 1 1 dry-touch emollients reduce greasy shine (Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate)
- β 9 2 emollient lipids (Butyrospermum Parkii Fruit, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate)
- β 5 Occlusives seal moisture in (Petrolatum)
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Makeup base
Poor
PillsPrimer
- β 3 Primer-style base, volatile silicones and dimethicone slip
- β 2 Dry-touch esters, smooth fast-absorbing base
- β 19 Occlusives/waxes float the foundation
- β 15 High mineral load at #1 greys under foundation
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Water resistance
Resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
- +7 1 film-forming polymers that lock the formula on for water resistance
- +12 2 water-locking waxes
Full ingredient list (21)
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 18 8.1% declared
- β 20 8.1% 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 14 6.6% declared
- β 8 6.6% declared
- light β 5 mild sebum absorbent
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- β 20 wax film
- β 10 wax water lock
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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Botanical extract
- β 10 butter/occlusive fat
- 4 β nourishing emollient lipid
- 6 β dewy emollient lipid
- β 24 feeds malassezia
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Occlusive, seals moisture into the skin
- β 14 heaviest occlusive
- 5 β dewy occlusive
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- 3 β dewy emollient lipid
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- matte β 1 dry-touch emollient, anti-shine
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Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
- β 7 film former
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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Supporting ingredient
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14 Stearic Acid
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- β 2 minor malassezia feeder
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- β 9 feeds malassezia
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16 Cera Alba
Occlusive, seals moisture into the skin
- β 2 wax film
- β 2 wax water lock
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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19 BHT
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
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Supporting ingredient
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Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
Does the MDSolarSciences mineral stick leave a white cast?
It has a medium white cast, which is common for mineral sticks. The finish is dewy and the feel is on the heavier, more occlusive side.
Is the MDSolarSciences Mineral Sunscreen Stick Broad Spectrum SPF 40 mineral or chemical?
It is a pure mineral sunscreen using Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide.
Does it work under makeup?
It is rated poor as a makeup base, so it suits standalone or reapplication use more than layering. It does not sting and has low pore-clogging concern.