Rodan and fields Radiant Defense Perfecting Liquid Spf 30
80/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
Rodan and Fields Radiant Defense Perfecting Liquid SPF 30 pairs the chemical filter Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate with titanium dioxide and zinc oxide in an older-style blend. It is a tinted liquid that wears with a balanced finish, low white cast, and a lightweight feel, is non-stinging, and is low on breakout risk, so it commonly works well under or in place of makeup. Scoring 79.7/100 with good protection, it is a capable everyday tinted option.
Ingredient & SPF scores
☀️
UV protection
Good
79
- +18 Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate at #1, UV filter
- +33 Titanium Dioxide at #2, UV filter (UVA1 +5)
- +41 Zinc Oxide at #3, UV filter (UVA1 +18)
- −13 UVB coverage saturated
- −1 UVA2 coverage saturated
- +1 Label claims (SPF 30)
☢️
Health safety
High
64
- +100 Starting score
- −36 Octinoxate at #1 (regulatory/evidence concern)
👻
White cast
Low
90
- +100 Starting score
- −6 Zinc Oxide, 3.7% declared
- −7 Titanium Dioxide, 3.2% declared
- −10 Zinc Oxide + Titanium Dioxide together
- −2 Titanium Dioxide as pigment (CI 77891) at #54
- +12.5 Iron-oxide undertone, partial masking
- +1.2 PHSA dispersant, fights agglomeration
- +0.8 Coated minerals (Alumina)
🔥
Eye sting
Low
84
- +100 Starting score
- −16 Octinoxate at #1, migrates into eyes with sweat
🪨
Heavy feel
Low
78
- +100 Starting score
- −8 Zinc Oxide, 3.7% declared
- −10 Titanium Dioxide, 3.2% declared
- −2 Butyrospermum Parkii Fruit at #27, butter/occlusive fat
- −10 Both minerals in the top 3, dual mineral paste
- +7.5 Volatile silicone at #6, flashes off
🍄
Fungal acne
Medium
59
- +100 Starting score
- −12 1 polysorbate/sorbitan emulsifiers that feed Malassezia (Polysorbate 20)
- −18 2 oils/butters that feed Malassezia (Butyrospermum Parkii Fruit, Lecithin)
- −9 1 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate)
- −2 1 ubiquitous fatty ingredients (Stearic Acid), weak Malassezia signal
👕
Fabric stains
Medium
40
- +100 Starting score
- −40 Iron-oxide pigments at #55, makeup-like collar marks (washable)
- −15 Titanium Dioxide at #2, white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
- −5 Both minerals present, heavier deposit
💧
Moisture
Light
LightNourishing
- ← 3 2 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica, Polymethylsilsesquioxane)
- ← 6 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
- ← 5 Zinc Oxide at #3, mild sebum absorbent
- ← 2 Titanium Dioxide at #2, mild sebum absorbent
- → 1 1 strong humectants (Ectoin)
- → 1 1 emollient lipids (Butyrospermum Parkii Fruit)
- → 1 Light emollient/solvent (Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride)
✨
Finish
Balanced
MatteDewy
- ← 2 2 sebum-absorbing powders (Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Silica)
- ← 5 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
- ← 1 1 dry-touch emollients reduce greasy shine (Coco-Caprylate/Caprate)
- → 4 2 emollient lipids (Butyrospermum Parkii Fruit, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate)
💄
Makeup base
Good
PillsPrimer
- → 8 Primer-style base, volatile silicones and dimethicone slip
- → 8 1 velvet elastomer fillers, blur and grip
- → 2 Dry-touch esters, smooth fast-absorbing base
- ← 7.5 High mineral load at #2 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 (55)
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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Legacy UV filter (Octinoxate), high in the list, a primary filter
- ↑ 18 UV protection
- ↑ 16 migrates into eyes with sweat
-
Mineral UV filter (Titanium Dioxide), high in the list, a primary filter
- ↑ 33 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- ↑ 7 3.2% declared
- ↑ 10 3.2% 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)
- ↑ 6 3.7% declared
- ↑ 8 3.7% declared
- light ← 5 mild sebum absorbent
-
4 Water
Solvent base, the water phase
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Volatile silicone, flashes off for a light finish
- light ← 5 volatile carrier, flashes off
- matte ← 4 volatile carrier, flashes off
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- matte ← 1 dry-touch emollient, anti-shine
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- 3 → dewy emollient lipid
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- 1 → nourishing light emollient
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light ← 1.5 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte ← 1 sebum-absorbing powder
-
Film former, locks the formula onto skin for water resistance
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Protein, peptide or amino acid, conditions and hydrates skin
-
Protein, peptide or amino acid, conditions and hydrates skin
-
Solvent base, the water phase
-
Botanical extract
-
Botanical extract
-
Botanical extract
-
24 Ectoin
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
- 1 → nourishing humectant
-
25 Carnosine
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Botanical extract
- ↑ 2 butter/occlusive fat
- 1 → nourishing emollient lipid
- 1 → dewy emollient lipid
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
29 Alumina
Supporting ingredient
-
Filter booster, photostabilizes the UV filters or lifts their SPF
-
Volatile silicone, flashes off for a light finish
- light ← 1 volatile carrier, flashes off
- matte ← 1 volatile carrier, flashes off
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
35 Lecithin
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
-
Supporting ingredient
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 12 feeds malassezia
-
40 Propanediol
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
41 Silica
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light ← 1.5 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte ← 1 sebum-absorbing powder
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
43 Stearic Acid
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- ↑ 2 minor malassezia feeder
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
-
45 Propanediol
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
46 Silica
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
48 Stearic Acid
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
49 BHT
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Colorant or pigment
-
55 Iron Oxides
Colorant or pigment
- ↑ 40 makeup-like collar marks (washable)
Does Rodan and Fields Radiant Defense leave a white cast?
No, white cast is rated low, helped by the tinted liquid format. It wears with a balanced, lightweight finish.
Is the Rodan and fields Radiant Defense Perfecting Liquid Spf 30 mineral or chemical?
It is a hybrid sunscreen. It pairs the chemical filter Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate with mineral titanium dioxide and zinc oxide.
Is it good under or instead of makeup?
Yes, it commonly works well. It is a tinted liquid with low pore-clogging risk and is rated a good makeup base, scoring 79.7/100 with good protection.