Obagi Sun Shield Broad Spectrum SPF 50 Tint (cool)
76/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
Obagi Sun Shield Broad Spectrum SPF 50 (cool tint) is a sunscreen using older-generation chemical filters Homosalate and Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate alongside Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide. The tint helps keep white cast low, the finish reads balanced, and it stays lightweight without common stinging. Protection is rated good and it is generally low on pore-clogging risk. With a score of 75.7/100, it is a dependable tinted daily option.
Ingredient & SPF scores
βοΈ
UV protection
Good
79
- +12 Homosalate at #1, UV filter
- +18 Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate at #2, UV filter
- +33 Titanium Dioxide at #3, UV filter (UVA1 +5)
- +38.9 Zinc Oxide at #4, UV filter (UVA1 +17.1)
- β24.5 UVB coverage saturated
- β0.4 UVA2 coverage saturated
- +2 Label claims (SPF 50)
β’οΈ
Health safety
Medium
47
- +100 Starting score
- β40 Homosalate at #1 (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β12.6 Octinoxate at #2, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- +0 2 endocrine-scrutinized filters together
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White cast
Low
92
- +100 Starting score
- β14 Zinc Oxide, 5% declared
- β7 Titanium Dioxide, 3.2% declared
- β10 Zinc Oxide + Titanium Dioxide together
- +21.7 Tinted formula, pigment masks the cast
- +0.9 PHSA dispersant, fights agglomeration
- +0.6 Coated minerals (Alumina)
π₯
Eye sting
Low
75
- +100 Starting score
- β16 Octinoxate at #2, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β9 Homosalate at #1, migrates into eyes with sweat
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Heavy feel
Low
82
- +100 Starting score
- β8 Zinc Oxide, 5% declared
- β10 Titanium Dioxide, 3.2% declared
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Fungal acne
High
24
- +100 Starting score
- β24 2 polysorbate/sorbitan emulsifiers that feed Malassezia (Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan Oleate)
- β50 5 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Polyglyceryl-10 Pentastearate, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate)
- β2 1 ubiquitous fatty ingredients (Stearic Acid), weak Malassezia signal
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Fabric stains
Medium
40
- +100 Starting score
- β40 Iron-oxide pigments at #45, makeup-like collar marks (washable)
- β15 Titanium Dioxide at #3, 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 2 Zinc Oxide at #4, mild sebum absorbent
- β 2 Titanium Dioxide at #3, mild sebum absorbent
- β 1 Glycerin at #19, the anchor humectant
- β 1 1 emollient lipids (Squalane)
- β 2 Light emollient/solvent (Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride)
β¨
Finish
Balanced
MatteDewy
- β 1 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica)
- β 1 1 dry-touch emollients reduce greasy shine (Caprylyl Methicone)
- β 1 1 emollient lipids (Squalane)
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Makeup base
Okay
PillsPrimer
- β 1 Dry-touch esters, smooth fast-absorbing base
- β 1 Gel polymers prone to pilling under friction (Sodium Polyacrylate, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer)
- β 7.5 High mineral load at #3 greys under foundation (tinted)
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Water resistance
Not resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
Nothing flagged in the ingredient list.
How we rate water resistance βFull ingredient list (45)
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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Legacy UV filter (Homosalate), high in the list, a primary filter
- β 12 UV protection
- β 9 migrates into eyes with sweat
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Legacy UV filter (Octinoxate), high in the list, a primary filter
- β 18 UV protection
- β 12.6 stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β 16 migrates into eyes with sweat
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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 3.2% declared
- β 10 3.2% 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)
- β 38.9 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- β 14 5% declared
- β 8 5% declared
- light β 2 mild sebum absorbent
-
5 Water
Solvent base, the water phase
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- 2 β nourishing light emollient
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- matte β 1 dry-touch emollient, anti-shine
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 14 feeds malassezia
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Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 14 feeds malassezia
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 14 feeds malassezia
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
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Fatty alcohol, an emollient and thickener, not the drying kind
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Botanical extract
-
16 Dimethicone
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 9 feeds malassezia
-
Supporting ingredient
-
19 Glycerin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 1 β nourishing the anchor humectant
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 9 feeds malassezia
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
23 Mannitol
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
24 Mica
Colorant or pigment
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
26 Citric Acid
pH adjuster
-
27 Squalane
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- 1 β nourishing emollient lipid
- 1 β dewy emollient lipid
-
28 Xanthan Gum
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Colorant or pigment
-
30 Alumina
Supporting ingredient
-
31 Stearic Acid
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- β 2 minor malassezia feeder
-
Supporting ingredient
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
-
Colorant or pigment
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 12 feeds malassezia
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
38 Zinc Sulfate
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 12 feeds malassezia
-
40 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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Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
43 Tocopherol
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
44 Tin Oxide
Colorant or pigment
-
45 Iron Oxides
Colorant or pigment
- β 40 makeup-like collar marks (washable)
Does Obagi Sun Shield SPF 50 (cool tint) leave a white cast?
No, the tint keeps white cast low under a balanced, lightweight finish. The cool tone is aimed at blending into a range of skin tones.
Is the Obagi Sun Shield Broad Spectrum SPF 50 Tint (cool) good?
It scores 75.7/100 with good protection, making it a dependable tinted daily SPF 50. It is a reliable mid-to-upper range option.
Is it mineral or chemical?
It is mainly a chemical sunscreen using Homosalate and Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, with Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide added.