Obagi Sun Shield Mineral Broad Spectrum SPF 50
79/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
Obagi Sun Shield Mineral Broad Spectrum SPF 50 is a fully mineral sunscreen using Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide. It wears balanced but a touch heavier than a fluid, with a medium white cast that mineral formulas commonly leave, and it sits okay under makeup. It is low for pore-clogging and does not commonly sting, which suits sensitive skin. Protection is good, and the overall score of 79 makes it a dependable mineral choice.
Ingredient & SPF scores
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UV protection
Good
75
- +33 Titanium Dioxide at #1, UV filter (UVA1 +5)
- +41 Zinc Oxide at #2, UV filter (UVA1 +18)
- β1 UVA2 coverage saturated
- +2 Label claims (SPF 50)
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White cast
Medium
35
- +100 Starting score
- β42 Zinc Oxide, 15.6% declared
- β18 Titanium Dioxide, 6.2% declared
- β10 Zinc Oxide + Titanium Dioxide together
- β15 Pure mineral formula (21.8% total declared)
- +8.5 PHSA dispersant, fights agglomeration
- +11.5 Coated minerals (Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Alumina)
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Heavy feel
Medium
50
- +100 Starting score
- β30 Zinc Oxide, 15.6% declared
- β10 Titanium Dioxide, 6.2% declared
- β10 Both minerals in the top 3, dual mineral paste
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Fungal acne
Medium
49
- +100 Starting score
- β47 3 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Steareth-2, Steareth-21, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate)
- β4 2 ubiquitous fatty ingredients (Stearic Acid, Cetearyl Glucoside), 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 3 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica)
- β 5 Zinc Oxide at #2, mild sebum absorbent
- β 2 Titanium Dioxide at #1, mild sebum absorbent
- β 4 Glycerin at #8, the anchor humectant
- β 1 Humectant polyols
- β 2 Light emollient/solvent (Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride)
- β 0.5 1 fatty-alcohol emollients (Cetearyl Alcohol)
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Finish
Balanced
MatteDewy
- β 3 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica)
- β 2 1 dry-touch emollients reduce greasy shine (Dicaprylyl Carbonate)
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Makeup base
Okay
PillsPrimer
- β 2 Dry-touch esters, smooth fast-absorbing base
- 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 (24)
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 6.2% declared
- β 10 6.2% 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 15.6% declared
- β 30 15.6% declared
- light β 5 mild sebum absorbent
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3 Water
Solvent base, the water phase
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- 2 β nourishing light emollient
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- matte β 2 dry-touch emollient, anti-shine
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Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 1 β nourishing humectant polyol
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 24 feeds malassezia
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8 Glycerin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 4 β nourishing the anchor humectant
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9 Silica
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light β 3 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte β 3 sebum-absorbing powder
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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11 Steareth-21
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 14 feeds malassezia
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Fatty alcohol, an emollient and thickener, not the drying kind
- 0.5 β nourishing fatty-alcohol emollient
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13 Propanediol
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
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14 Alumina
Supporting ingredient
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15 Stearic Acid
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- β 2 minor malassezia feeder
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 9 feeds malassezia
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Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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Supporting ingredient
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 2 minor malassezia feeder
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20 Xanthan Gum
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
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Soothing, skin-conditioning active
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Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
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Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
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Botanical extract
Does Obagi Sun Shield Mineral leave a white cast?
It can leave some. It is rated medium for white cast, which is common for fully mineral formulas using Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide.
Is the Obagi Sun Shield Mineral Broad Spectrum SPF 50 good for sensitive skin?
Yes, generally. As a mineral sunscreen it rates low for pore-clogging and does not commonly sting, which tends to suit sensitive skin.
Is it good?
Protection is good at SPF 50 and the overall score is 79, making it a dependable mineral choice.