Murad City Skin Age Defense Broad Spectrum SPF 50 Pa++++
83/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
Murad City Skin Age Defense Broad Spectrum SPF 50 is a mineral sunscreen built on titanium dioxide and zinc oxide. It wears with a dewy finish, stays lightweight, and is rated low for white cast, which is uncommon for an all-mineral formula. The low breakout-trigger rating makes it generally friendly for acne-prone skin, and it works well as a base under makeup. With a score of 82.6/100 and good broad-spectrum protection, it is a strong daily pick.
Ingredient & SPF scores
βοΈ
UV protection
Good
77
- +33 Titanium Dioxide at #1, UV filter (UVA1 +5)
- +41 Zinc Oxide at #2, UV filter (UVA1 +18)
- β1 UVA2 coverage saturated
- +4 Label claims (SPF 50, PA rating)
β’οΈ
Health safety
High
93
- +100 Starting score
- β7 Retinyl Palmitate at #18, disputed vitamin-A sunlight signal, under review
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White cast
Low
80
- +100 Starting score
- β28 Zinc Oxide, 10% declared
- β7 Titanium Dioxide, 2.7% declared
- β10 Zinc Oxide + Titanium Dioxide together
- β8 Pure mineral formula (12.7% total declared)
- +26.5 Iron-oxide undertone, partial masking
- +2.6 PHSA dispersant, fights agglomeration
- +3.6 Coated minerals (Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Alumina)
πͺ¨
Heavy feel
Low
62
- +100 Starting score
- β18 Zinc Oxide, 10% declared
- β10 Titanium Dioxide, 2.7% declared
- β10 Both minerals in the top 3, dual mineral paste
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Fungal acne
Low
86
- +100 Starting score
- β14 1 oils/butters that feed Malassezia (Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil)
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Fabric stains
Medium
40
- +100 Starting score
- β40 Iron-oxide pigments at #52, 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
Hydrating
LightNourishing
- β 3 2 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica, Polymethylsilsesquioxane)
- β 2 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
- β 5 Zinc Oxide at #2, mild sebum absorbent
- β 2 Titanium Dioxide at #1, mild sebum absorbent
- β 10 Glycerin at #6, the anchor humectant
- β 4 4 strong humectants (Betaine, Urea, Trehalose, β¦)
- β 6 2 emollient lipids (Triheptanoin, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil)
- β 1 Light emollient/solvent (Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride)
β¨
Finish
Dewy
MatteDewy
- β 2 2 sebum-absorbing powders (Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Silica)
- β 2 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
- β 15 3 emollient lipids (Triheptanoin, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate)
π
Makeup base
Good
PillsPrimer
- β 3 Primer-style base, volatile silicones and dimethicone slip
- β 8 1 velvet elastomer fillers, blur and grip
- β 1 Quick-setting carrier, fast, even canvas
- β 2 Dry-touch esters, smooth fast-absorbing base
- β 1.5 Humectant syrup tackiness (partly offset by the base)
- β 7.5 High mineral load at #1 greys under foundation (tinted)
π
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¨ Vitamin E
Full ingredient list (52)
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 2.7% declared
- β 10 2.7% 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 28 10% declared
- β 18 10% declared
- light β 5 mild sebum absorbent
-
3 Water
Solvent base, the water phase
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- 6 β dewy emollient lipid
-
6 Glycerin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 10 β nourishing the anchor humectant
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- 4 β nourishing emollient lipid
- 6 β dewy emollient lipid
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- 1 β nourishing light emollient
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- light β 2 volatile carrier, flashes off
- matte β 2 volatile carrier, flashes off
-
Plant oil, an emollient
- 2 β nourishing emollient lipid
- 3 β dewy emollient lipid
- β 14 feeds malassezia
-
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Film former, locks the formula onto skin for water resistance
- β 7 film former
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light β 1.5 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte β 1 sebum-absorbing powder
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
17 Xanthophylls
Supporting ingredient
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- β 7 disputed vitamin-A sunlight signal, under review
-
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
20 Bisabolol
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
22 Urea
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 1 β nourishing humectant
-
Protein, peptide or amino acid, conditions and hydrates skin
-
24 Trehalose
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 1 β nourishing humectant
-
25 Inositol
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 1 β nourishing humectant
-
26 Taurine
Protein, peptide or amino acid, conditions and hydrates skin
-
27 Betaine
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 1 β nourishing humectant
-
28 Tocopherol
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
31 Silica
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light β 1.5 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte β 1 sebum-absorbing powder
-
Botanical extract
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Fatty alcohol, an emollient and thickener, not the drying kind
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Supporting ingredient
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
43 Alumina
Supporting ingredient
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Botanical extract
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
52 Iron Oxides
Colorant or pigment
- β 40 makeup-like collar marks (washable)
Does Murad City Skin Age Defense SPF 50 leave a white cast?
It is rated low for white cast, which is notable for an all-mineral formula. The titanium dioxide and zinc oxide are formulated to blend cleanly. It wears with a dewy finish and stays lightweight.
Is the Murad City Skin Age Defense Broad Spectrum SPF 50 Pa++++ mineral or chemical?
It is a mineral sunscreen. Protection comes entirely from titanium dioxide and zinc oxide, with no chemical UV filters.
Is it good for acne-prone skin?
It rates low for breakout-trigger, so it is generally friendly for acne-prone skin. The finish is dewy rather than matte, which oilier skin should keep in mind. It also works well as a base under makeup.