Physicians Formula Mineral Wear Loose Powder Spf 16
77/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
Physicians Formula Mineral Wear Loose Powder SPF 16 is a pure mineral powder using Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide, designed more for touch-up coverage than primary protection. It delivers a matte finish and does not sting, with a medium white cast typical of mineral powders and a heavier feel as buildable layers accumulate. Pore-clogging risk is low and it sits okay over makeup. With a score of 76.7 but only SPF 16 and good measured protection, it is best treated as a midday top-up rather than a standalone sunscreen.
Ingredient & SPF scores
βοΈ
UV protection
Good
73
- +33 Titanium Dioxide at #1, UV filter (UVA1 +5)
- +41 Zinc Oxide at #2, UV filter (UVA1 +18)
- β1 UVA2 coverage saturated
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White cast
Medium
50
- +100 Starting score
- β55 Zinc Oxide at #2
- β50 Titanium Dioxide at #1
- β10 Zinc Oxide + Titanium Dioxide together
- β2 Titanium Dioxide as pigment (CI 77891) at #13
- β15 Pure mineral formula
- +32 Penalties exceed the scale, floored at 0
- +50 Iron-oxide undertone, partial masking
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Heavy feel
High
20
- +100 Starting score
- β40 Zinc Oxide at #2
- β30 Titanium Dioxide at #1
- β10 Both minerals in the top 3, dual mineral paste
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Fabric stains
Medium
40
- +100 Starting score
- β40 Iron-oxide pigments at #12, makeup-like collar marks (washable)
- β15 Titanium Dioxide at #1, white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
- β5 Both minerals present, heavier deposit
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Moisture
Light
LightNourishing
- β 10 2 sebum-absorbing powders (Lauroyl Lysine, Boron Nitride)
- β 5 Zinc Oxide at #2, mild sebum absorbent
- β 2 Titanium Dioxide at #1, mild sebum absorbent
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Finish
Matte
MatteDewy
- β 12 2 sebum-absorbing powders (Lauroyl Lysine, Boron Nitride)
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Makeup base
Okay
PillsPrimer
- β 7.5 High mineral load at #1 greys under foundation (tinted)
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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 (13)
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 15 white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
- light β 2 mild sebum absorbent
- pills β 7.5 High mineral load greys under foundation (tinted)
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Mineral UV filter (Zinc Oxide), high in the list, a primary filter
- β 41 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- light β 5 mild sebum absorbent
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3 Mica
Colorant or pigment
-
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light β 5 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte β 6 sebum-absorbing powder
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light β 5 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte β 6 sebum-absorbing powder
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Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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Humectant, pulls water into the skin
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Humectant, pulls water into the skin
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11 O-Cymen-5-Ol
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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12 Iron Oxides
Colorant or pigment
- β 40 makeup-like collar marks (washable)
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Colorant or pigment
What SPF is this powder?
It is SPF 16, which is lower than a typical daily sunscreen. It is best used as a midday touch-up over an existing sunscreen rather than as your only protection.
Is the Physicians Formula Mineral Wear Loose Powder Spf 16 mineral or chemical?
It is a pure mineral powder. It uses Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide as its UV filters, with no chemical filters.
Is the Physicians Formula Mineral Wear Loose Powder any good?
As a top-up product it is decent, scoring 76.7 out of 100 with a matte finish and a low pore-clogging risk. Keep in mind it is only SPF 16, so treat it as a reapply layer rather than a standalone sunscreen.