Paula's Choice Barely There Sheer Matte Tint SPF 30
83/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
Paula's Choice Barely There Sheer Matte Tint SPF 30 is a pure mineral sunscreen using Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide, with a sheer tint that keeps white cast generally low. It dries to a matte finish, feels lightweight, and commonly sits well under makeup. It does not sting and is generally low for pore-clogging, so it is friendly for oily and sensitive skin. With good protection and a strong score of 83.1/100, it is a polished daily mineral pick.
Ingredient & SPF scores
βοΈ
UV protection
Good
73
- +33 Titanium Dioxide at #3, UV filter (UVA1 +5)
- +38.9 Zinc Oxide at #4, UV filter (UVA1 +17.1)
- β0.4 UVA2 coverage saturated
- +1 Label claims (SPF 30)
β’οΈ
Health safety
High
90
- +100 Starting score
- β10 Propylparaben at #24, endocrine-scrutinized preservative
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White cast
Low
91
- +100 Starting score
- β7 Zinc Oxide, 5% declared (nano)
- β9 Titanium Dioxide, 5% declared (nano)
- β10 Zinc Oxide + Titanium Dioxide together
- β8 Pure mineral formula (10% total declared)
- +23.8 Tinted formula, pigment masks the cast
- +1.5 Coated minerals (Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Aluminum Hydroxide)
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Heavy feel
Low
87
- +100 Starting score
- β8 Zinc Oxide, 5% declared
- β10 Titanium Dioxide, 5% declared
- +4.5 Volatile silicone at #2, flashes off
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Comedogenic
Low
99
- +100 Starting score
- β1 Palmitic Acid at #20, moderate comedogenic signal
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Fungal acne
Safe
96
- +100 Starting score
- β4 2 ubiquitous fatty ingredients (Stearic Acid, Palmitic Acid), weak Malassezia signal
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Fabric stains
Medium
40
- +100 Starting score
- β40 Iron-oxide pigments at #25, 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
Light
LightNourishing
- β 4.5 2 sebum-absorbing powders (Boron Nitride, Talc)
- β 10 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
- β 2 Zinc Oxide at #4, mild sebum absorbent
- β 2 Titanium Dioxide at #3, mild sebum absorbent
- β 1 Glycerin at #14, the anchor humectant
- β 1 Humectant polyols
β¨
Finish
Matte
MatteDewy
- β 4 2 sebum-absorbing powders (Talc, Boron Nitride)
- β 9 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
- β 2 1 dry-touch emollients reduce greasy shine (Octyldodecyl Neopentanoate)
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Makeup base
Good
PillsPrimer
- β 9 Primer-style base, volatile silicones and dimethicone slip
- β 3.8 High mineral load at #3 greys under foundation (tinted) (nano)
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Water resistance
Not resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
Nothing flagged in the ingredient list.
How we rate water resistance βSkincare 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
- β¨ Vitamin C
Full ingredient list (26)
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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1 Water
Solvent base, the water phase
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Volatile silicone, flashes off for a light finish
- light β 8 volatile carrier, flashes off
- matte β 7 volatile carrier, flashes off
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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 9 5% declared (nano)
- β 10 5% declared
- β 15 white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
- light β 2 mild sebum absorbent
- pills β 3.8 High mineral load greys under foundation (tinted) (nano)
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Mineral UV filter (Zinc Oxide)
- β 38.9 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- β 7 5% declared (nano)
- β 8 5% declared
- light β 2 mild sebum absorbent
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Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 1 β nourishing humectant polyol
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- matte β 2 dry-touch emollient, anti-shine
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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9 Talc
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light β 3 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte β 3 sebum-absorbing powder
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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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11 Phytantriol
Supporting ingredient
-
12 Tocopherol
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
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Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
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14 Glycerin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 1 β nourishing the anchor humectant
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Supporting ingredient
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16 Stearic Acid
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- β 2 minor malassezia feeder
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Supporting ingredient
-
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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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- β 1 moderate comedogenic signal
- β 2 minor malassezia feeder
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
- β 10 endocrine-scrutinized preservative
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25 Iron Oxides
Colorant or pigment
- β 40 makeup-like collar marks (washable)
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26 Mica
Colorant or pigment
Does Paula's Choice Barely There Sheer Matte Tint leave a white cast?
Its white cast is generally low. The sheer tint balances the Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide, so it blends in cleanly.
Is the Paula's Choice Barely There Sheer Matte Tint SPF 30 good for oily skin?
It suits oily skin well. It dries to a matte finish, feels lightweight and is generally low for pore-clogging.
Is this a good sunscreen?
It scores 83.1/100 with good protection, a strong result. The matte tinted mineral finish makes it a polished daily pick.