Revlon Colorstay Prep & Protect Primer/base Broad Spectrum SPF 34 Sunscreen
78/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
Revlon Colorstay Prep & Protect is a broad-spectrum SPF 34 primer that doubles as a sunscreen base, pairing mineral titanium dioxide and zinc oxide with a chemical filter. It leaves a matte finish with little to no white cast and a medium, somewhat substantial feel on the skin. The low pore-clogging profile and good performance under makeup make it a practical makeup-prep step, though the older filter mix is its main limitation. With good protection and a solid score of 78/100, it is a reliable everyday primer-sunscreen.
Ingredient & SPF scores
☀️
UV protection
Good
79
- +33 Titanium Dioxide at #1, UV filter (UVA1 +5)
- +41 Zinc Oxide at #2, UV filter (UVA1 +18)
- +18 Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate at #3, UV filter
- −13 UVB coverage saturated
- −1 UVA2 coverage saturated
- +1 Label claims (SPF 34)
☢️
Health safety
High
64
- +100 Starting score
- −36 Octinoxate at #3 (regulatory/evidence concern)
👻
White cast
Low
87
- +100 Starting score
- −14 Zinc Oxide, 9% declared
- −7 Titanium Dioxide, 3.6% declared
- −10 Zinc Oxide + Titanium Dioxide together
- +15.5 Iron-oxide undertone, partial masking
- +2.3 Coated minerals (Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Alumina)
🔥
Eye sting
Low
84
- +100 Starting score
- −16 Octinoxate at #3, migrates into eyes with sweat
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Heavy feel
Medium
60
- +100 Starting score
- −8 Zinc Oxide, 9% declared
- −10 Titanium Dioxide, 3.6% declared
- −8 Trimethylsiloxysilicate at #6, silicone wax film
- −10 Both minerals in the top 3, dual mineral paste
- −10 Mineral suspended in a dense emollient base (basic)
- +11.5 Volatile silicone at #4, flashes off
- −5.5 Dense mineral + wax system, stays heavy after dry-down
🍄
Fungal acne
Low
89
- +100 Starting score
- −9 1 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate)
- −2 1 ubiquitous fatty ingredients (Stearic Acid), weak Malassezia signal
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Fabric stains
Medium
40
- +100 Starting score
- −40 Iron-oxide pigments at #31, makeup-like collar marks (washable)
- −15 Titanium Dioxide at #1, white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
- −5 Both minerals present, heavier deposit
💧
Moisture
Balanced
LightNourishing
- ← 4.5 2 sebum-absorbing powders (Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Perlite)
- ← 5 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
- ← 5 Zinc Oxide at #2, mild sebum absorbent
- ← 2 Titanium Dioxide at #1, mild sebum absorbent
- → 10 Glycerin at #7, the anchor humectant
- → 2 2 strong humectants (Sodium PCA, Sodium Lactate)
✨
Finish
Matte
MatteDewy
- ← 4 2 sebum-absorbing powders (Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Perlite)
- ← 4 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
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Makeup base
Good
PillsPrimer
- → 6 Primer-style base, volatile silicones and dimethicone slip
- → 8 1 velvet elastomer fillers, blur and grip
- → 4 Transfer-resistant grip resin, holds makeup
- ← 1.5 Humectant syrup tackiness (partly offset by the base)
- ← 7.5 High mineral load at #1 greys under foundation (tinted)
🌊
Water resistance
Not resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
- +7 1 water-locking waxes
Full ingredient list (31)
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.
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Mineral UV filter (Titanium Dioxide), high in the list, a primary filter
- ↑ 33 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- ↑ 7 3.6% declared
- ↑ 10 3.6% declared
- ↑ 15 white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
- light ← 2 mild sebum absorbent
- pills ← 7.5 High mineral load greys under foundation (tinted)
-
Mineral UV filter (Zinc Oxide), high in the list, a primary filter
- ↑ 41 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- ↑ 14 9% declared
- ↑ 8 9% declared
- light ← 5 mild sebum absorbent
-
Legacy UV filter (Octinoxate), high in the list, a primary filter
- ↑ 18 UV protection
- ↑ 16 migrates into eyes with sweat
-
Volatile silicone, flashes off for a light finish
- light ← 5 volatile carrier, flashes off
- matte ← 4 volatile carrier, flashes off
-
5 Water
Solvent base, the water phase
-
Film former, locks the formula onto skin for water resistance
- ↑ 8 silicone wax film
- ↑ 7 wax water lock
-
7 Glycerin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 10 → nourishing the anchor humectant
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
-
10 Dimethicone
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light ← 3 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte ← 3 sebum-absorbing powder
-
Film former, locks the formula onto skin for water resistance
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
14 Alumina
Supporting ingredient
-
Botanical extract
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
17 Perlite
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light ← 1.5 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte ← 1 sebum-absorbing powder
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Botanical extract
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 1 → nourishing humectant
-
22 Sodium PCA
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 1 → nourishing humectant
-
23 Stearic Acid
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- ↑ 2 minor malassezia feeder
-
Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
-
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Supporting ingredient
-
27 Xanthan Gum
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
31 Iron Oxides
Colorant or pigment
- ↑ 40 makeup-like collar marks (washable)
Does the Revlon Colorstay Prep & Protect leave a white cast?
No, it has a low white cast and a matte finish, so it tends to disappear on most skin tones. It uses mineral titanium dioxide and zinc oxide alongside a chemical filter, and it is designed to work as a smooth makeup base.
Is the Revlon Colorstay Prep & Protect Primer/base Broad Spectrum SPF 34 Sunscreen good for oily or acne-prone skin?
It has a low pore-clogging profile and a matte finish, which generally suits oily and combination skin. It also performs well under makeup. Patch test first if your skin is reactive.
What SPF is it and is it any good?
It is a broad-spectrum SPF 34 primer-sunscreen with good protection and a score of 78 out of 100. The main drawback is its older filter mix, but it is a reliable everyday makeup base.