Obagi Sun Shield Matte Broad Spectrum Spf 50
72/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
Obagi Sun Shield Matte Broad Spectrum SPF 50 is a hybrid sunscreen pairing Zinc Oxide with the chemical filter Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, an older filter approach. It has a balanced, lightweight finish with low white cast and a low tendency to clog pores, and it does not commonly sting. It is okay as a makeup base. With good protection and a score of 71.8/100, it is a steady matte daily option for the face.
Ingredient & SPF scores
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UV protection
Good
61
- +41 Zinc Oxide at #1, UV filter (UVA1 +18)
- +18 Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate at #2, UV filter
- +2 Label claims (SPF 50)
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Health safety
High
64
- +100 Starting score
- β36 Octinoxate at #2 (regulatory/evidence concern)
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Allergens
Low
82
- +100 Starting score
- β18 Sensitizing preservatives (Methylisothiazolinone)
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White cast
Low
72
- +100 Starting score
- β28 Zinc Oxide, 10.5% declared
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Eye sting
Low
84
- +100 Starting score
- β16 Octinoxate at #2, migrates into eyes with sweat
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Heavy feel
Low
77
- +100 Starting score
- β18 Zinc Oxide, 10.5% declared
- β5 Cetearyl Alcohol at #6, rich gel-network thickener
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Fungal acne
Medium
55
- +100 Starting score
- β12 1 polysorbate/sorbitan emulsifiers that feed Malassezia (Polysorbate 60)
- β33 2 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (PEG-40 Stearate, Ceteareth-20)
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Fabric stains
Low
85
- +100 Starting score
- β15 Zinc Oxide at #1, white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
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Moisture
Balanced
LightNourishing
- β 2 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
- β 5 Zinc Oxide at #1, mild sebum absorbent
- β 1 Glycerin at #13, the anchor humectant
- β 2 Humectant polyols
- β 1 1 emollient lipids (Squalane)
- β 1 1 fatty-alcohol emollients (Cetearyl Alcohol)
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Finish
Balanced
MatteDewy
- β 2 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
- β 1 1 emollient lipids (Squalane)
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Makeup base
Okay
PillsPrimer
- β 3 Primer-style base, volatile silicones and dimethicone slip
- β 8 1 velvet elastomer fillers, blur and grip
- β 1 Gel polymers prone to pilling under friction (Sodium Polyacrylate, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer)
- β 15 High mineral load at #1 greys under foundation
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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 (32)
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 (Zinc Oxide), high in the list, a primary filter
- β 41 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- β 28 10.5% declared
- β 18 10.5% declared
- β 15 white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
- light β 5 mild sebum absorbent
- pills β 15 High mineral load greys under foundation
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Legacy UV filter (Octinoxate), high in the list, a primary filter
- β 18 UV protection
- β 16 migrates into eyes with sweat
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Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 2 β nourishing humectant polyol
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Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 24 feeds malassezia
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Fatty alcohol, an emollient and thickener, not the drying kind
- β 5 rich gel-network thickener
- 1 β nourishing fatty-alcohol emollient
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Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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pH adjuster
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Volatile silicone, flashes off for a light finish
- light β 2 volatile carrier, flashes off
- matte β 2 volatile carrier, flashes off
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10 Dimethicone
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
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13 Glycerin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 1 β nourishing the anchor humectant
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
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Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 9 feeds malassezia
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Humectant, pulls water into the skin
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Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 12 feeds malassezia
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Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
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27 Squalane
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- 1 β nourishing emollient lipid
- 1 β dewy emollient lipid
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Fatty alcohol, an emollient and thickener, not the drying kind
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Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
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30 Tropolone
Supporting ingredient
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31 Water
Solvent base, the water phase
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32 Xanthan Gum
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
Does the Obagi Sun Shield Matte leave a white cast?
No, it commonly leaves little to no white cast despite containing Zinc Oxide. Its balanced finish helps it wear clear on most skin tones.
Is the Obagi Sun Shield Matte Broad Spectrum Spf 50 mineral or chemical?
It is a hybrid, pairing mineral Zinc Oxide with the chemical filter Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, using an older filter approach.
Is it a good sunscreen?
Its protection is rated good and it scores 71.8/100, making it a steady matte daily option for the face.