Olecule Physical Shield Spf 45 Tinted
81/100 overall score
Sign in to see this product's score for your skin.
About this sunscreen
Olecule Physical Shield is a tinted SPF 45 mineral sunscreen relying on Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide. The tint keeps the white cast low, the finish balanced, and stinging is unlikely, though it can feel slightly heavier on the skin than the lightest formulas. Scoring a strong 81/100 with good protection, it is one of the better all-round mineral options here, especially for those who prefer a physical filter with a natural-looking tint.
Ingredient & SPF scores
☀️
UV protection
Good
74
- +41 Zinc Oxide at #1, UV filter (UVA1 +18)
- +33 Titanium Dioxide at #2, UV filter (UVA1 +5)
- −1 UVA2 coverage saturated
- +1 Label claims (SPF 45)
👻
White cast
Low
89
- +100 Starting score
- −14 Zinc Oxide, 5.1% declared
- −18 Titanium Dioxide, 7.4% declared
- −10 Zinc Oxide + Titanium Dioxide together
- −8 Pure mineral formula (12.5% total declared)
- +35 Tinted formula, pigment masks the cast
- +1.5 PHSA dispersant, fights agglomeration
- +2 Coated minerals (Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Alumina)
🪨
Heavy feel
Medium
60
- +100 Starting score
- −8 Zinc Oxide, 5.1% declared
- −20 Titanium Dioxide, 7.4% declared
- −2 Hydrogenated Castor Oil at #21, butter/occlusive fat
- −10 Both minerals in the top 3, dual mineral paste
🔴
Comedogenic
Low
83
- +100 Starting score
- −17 Ethylhexyl Palmitate at #5, heavy comedogenic ester
🍄
Fungal acne
High
25
- +100 Starting score
- −27 3 oils/butters that feed Malassezia (Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Hydrogenated Castor Oil)
- −48 2 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Polyglyceryl-3 Ricinoleate)
- +0 Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil at #18, jojoba wax ester, fungal-acne exception (not penalized)
👕
Fabric stains
Medium
40
- +100 Starting score
- −40 Iron-oxide pigments at #15, makeup-like collar marks (washable)
- −15 Zinc Oxide at #1, white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
- −5 Both minerals present, heavier deposit
💧
Moisture
Balanced
LightNourishing
- ← 5 Zinc Oxide at #1, mild sebum absorbent
- ← 2 Titanium Dioxide at #2, mild sebum absorbent
- → 4 Glycerin at #8, the anchor humectant
- → 2 Sodium Hyaluronate at #26, hyaluronic family
- → 1 1 strong humectants (Panthenol)
- → 3 3 emollient lipids (Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil)
- → 2 Light emollient/solvent (Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride)
✨
Finish
Balanced
MatteDewy
- → 3 3 emollient lipids (Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil)
- → 4 1 slippy emollient esters (Ethylhexyl Palmitate)
💄
Makeup base
Okay
PillsPrimer
- → 3 Primer-style base, volatile silicones and dimethicone slip
- ← 2 Occlusives/waxes float the foundation
- ← 7.5 High mineral load at #1 greys under foundation (tinted)
🌊
Water resistance
Not resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
Nothing flagged in the ingredient list.
How we rate water resistance →Full ingredient list (36)
What each ingredient does and how it moves each rating: green helps, red hurts, ↑ / ↓ give the direction, and ← / → shift a slider toward its ends (finish, moisture, makeup base). Auto-derived from our scoring rules and the ingredient's position.
-
Mineral UV filter (Zinc Oxide), high in the list, a primary filter
- ↑ 41 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- ↑ 14 5.1% declared
- ↑ 8 5.1% declared
- ↑ 15 white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
- light ← 5 mild sebum absorbent
- pills ← 7.5 High mineral load greys under foundation (tinted)
-
Mineral UV filter (Titanium Dioxide), high in the list, a primary filter
- ↑ 33 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- ↑ 18 7.4% declared
- ↑ 20 7.4% declared
- light ← 2 mild sebum absorbent
-
3 Water
Solvent base, the water phase
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- 2 → nourishing light emollient
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- ↑ 17 heavy comedogenic ester
- 4 → dewy slippy emollient ester
- ↑ 24 feeds malassezia
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 24 feeds malassezia
-
8 Glycerin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 4 → nourishing the anchor humectant
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
13 Alumina
Supporting ingredient
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
15 Iron Oxides
Colorant or pigment
- ↑ 40 makeup-like collar marks (washable)
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Botanical extract
- 1 → nourishing emollient lipid
- 1 → dewy emollient lipid
-
Botanical extract
- 1 → nourishing emollient lipid
- 1 → dewy emollient lipid
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
-
Supporting ingredient
-
Plant oil, an emollient
- ↑ 2 butter/occlusive fat
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
-
Plant oil, an emollient
- 1 → nourishing emollient lipid
- 1 → dewy emollient lipid
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
25 Bisabolol
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 2 → nourishing hyaluronic family
-
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
28 Ubiquinone
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
29 Panthenol
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
- 1 → nourishing humectant
-
Botanical extract
-
Botanical extract
-
32 Citric Acid
pH adjuster
-
33 Tocopherol
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Protein, peptide or amino acid, conditions and hydrates skin
-
Supporting ingredient
-
36 Glucose
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
Is the Olecule Physical Shield Spf 45 Tinted mineral or chemical?
It is a pure mineral (physical) sunscreen, using only Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide. It also has a tint built in.
Does the Olecule Physical Shield Spf 45 Tinted leave a white cast?
The white cast is low thanks to the tint, which helps offset the whitening that mineral filters can cause. Shade matching still helps for the most natural look.
Is it any good?
Yes, it scores a strong 81/100 with good measured protection. It is one of the better all-round mineral options, with a balanced finish and low sting risk.