Paula's Choice Calm Barrier Protect Mineral Sunscreen SPF 30
79/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
Paula's Choice Calm Barrier Protect Mineral Sunscreen SPF 30 is a pure mineral formula using Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide. The finish is dewy and lightweight with a medium chance of white cast, and it is generally low on pore-clogging, so it commonly suits sensitive skin. It does not typically sting and works okay under makeup. With good protection and a 79/100 score, it is a gentle, well-rounded daily mineral choice.
Ingredient & SPF scores
βοΈ
UV protection
Good
71
- +31.4 Titanium Dioxide at #4, UV filter (UVA1 +4.8)
- +38.9 Zinc Oxide at #5, UV filter (UVA1 +17.1)
- +1 Label claims (SPF 30)
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White cast
Medium
31
- +100 Starting score
- β30 Zinc Oxide at #5
- β35 Titanium Dioxide at #4
- β10 Zinc Oxide + Titanium Dioxide together
- β15 Pure mineral formula
- +9 PHSA dispersant, fights agglomeration
- +12.2 Coated minerals (Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Alumina)
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Heavy feel
Low
62
- +100 Starting score
- β22 Zinc Oxide at #5
- β16 Titanium Dioxide at #4
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Fungal acne
High
26
- +100 Starting score
- β24 2 polysorbate/sorbitan emulsifiers that feed Malassezia (Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan Isostearate)
- β32 3 oils/butters that feed Malassezia (Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Lecithin, Hydrogenated Lecithin)
- β18 2 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Glyceryl Oleate, Glyceryl Stearate)
- +0 Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil at #20, jojoba wax ester, fungal-acne exception (not penalized)
- +0 Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride at #2, a safe base that does not feed Malassezia
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Fabric stains
Low
85
- +100 Starting score
- β10 Titanium Dioxide at #4, white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
- β5 Both minerals present, heavier deposit
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Moisture
Hydrating
LightNourishing
- β 3 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica)
- β 2 Zinc Oxide at #5, mild sebum absorbent
- β 10 Glycerin at #7, the anchor humectant
- β 1 1 strong humectants (Trehalose)
- β 2 2 emollient lipids (Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil)
- β 4 Light emollient/solvent (Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride)
β¨
Finish
Dewy
MatteDewy
- β 3 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica)
- β 11 3 emollient lipids (Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate)
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Makeup base
Okay
PillsPrimer
- β 3 1 soft-focus powders in moderation
- β 3 Dry-touch esters, smooth fast-absorbing base
- β 1.5 Gel polymers prone to pilling under friction (Sodium Polyacrylate, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP Copolymer)
- β 1.5 Humectant syrup tackiness (partly offset by the base)
- β 6 High mineral load at #4 greys under foundation
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Water resistance
Not resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
- +7 1 film-forming polymers that lock the formula on for water resistance
Skincare 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 C
Full ingredient list (44)
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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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- 4 β nourishing light emollient
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- 9 β dewy emollient lipid
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Mineral UV filter (Titanium Dioxide)
- β 31.4 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- β 10 white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
- pills β 6 High mineral load greys under foundation
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Mineral UV filter (Zinc Oxide)
- β 38.9 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- light β 2 mild sebum absorbent
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Filter booster, photostabilizes the UV filters or lifts their SPF
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7 Glycerin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 10 β nourishing the anchor humectant
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Film former, locks the formula onto skin for water resistance
- β 7 film former
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 14 feeds malassezia
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12 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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13 Trehalose
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 1 β nourishing humectant
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14 Inulin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
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Humectant, pulls water into the skin
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Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
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17 Tocopherol
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
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Botanical extract
-
Botanical extract
- 1 β nourishing emollient lipid
- 1 β dewy emollient lipid
- β 9 feeds malassezia
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Botanical extract
- 1 β nourishing emollient lipid
- 1 β dewy emollient lipid
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Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
23 Alumina
Supporting ingredient
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
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Botanical extract
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
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Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
-
Supporting ingredient
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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31 Xanthan Gum
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
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32 Allantoin
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
pH adjuster
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
pH adjuster
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 12 feeds malassezia
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 12 feeds malassezia
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 9 feeds malassezia
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41 Lecithin
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 9 feeds malassezia
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- β 9 feeds malassezia
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43 Citric Acid
pH adjuster
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
Is Paula's Choice Calm Barrier Protect mineral or chemical?
It is a pure mineral sunscreen, using Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide. Mineral formulas commonly suit sensitive skin.
Does the Paula's Choice Calm Barrier Protect Mineral Sunscreen SPF 30 leave a white cast?
It can. With an all-mineral blend it carries a medium chance of white cast, though the dewy finish helps it look more natural on skin.
Is Paula's Choice Calm Barrier Protect a good sunscreen?
Yes. It scores 79 out of 100 with good protection, a gentle and well-rounded daily mineral choice.