Skin Medica Skinmedica Total Defense + Repair Spf 50 Water-Resistant
69/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
SkinMedica Total Defense + Repair SPF 50 is a water-resistant sunscreen combining chemical filters homosalate, octinoxate and ethylhexyl salicylate with zinc oxide. The finish is balanced, the texture is lightweight and white cast is low, with low sweat-sting and low pore-clogging risk. With good protection and a score of 69/100, it is a solid everyday option with added water resistance.
Ingredient & SPF scores
☀️
UV protection
Good
57
- +12 Homosalate at #1, UV filter
- +18 Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate at #2, UV filter
- +8 Ethylhexyl Salicylate at #3, UV filter
- +38.9 Zinc Oxide at #4, UV filter (UVA1 +17.1)
- −16.5 UVB coverage saturated
- ×0.9 Limited long-UVA1 coverage
- +2 Label claims (SPF 50)
☢️
Health safety
Medium
47
- +100 Starting score
- −40 Homosalate at #1 (regulatory/evidence concern)
- −12.6 Octinoxate at #2, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- +0 2 endocrine-scrutinized filters together
👻
White cast
Low
75
- +100 Starting score
- −28 Zinc Oxide, 10% declared
- +2.8 PHSA dispersant, fights agglomeration
🔥
Eye sting
Low
66
- +100 Starting score
- −16 Octinoxate at #2, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −9 Homosalate at #1, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −9 Octisalate at #3, migrates into eyes with sweat
🍄
Fungal acne
Medium
63
- +100 Starting score
- −37 3 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Ceteareth-20)
👕
Fabric stains
Low
90
- +100 Starting score
- −10 Zinc Oxide at #4, white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
💧
Moisture
Balanced
LightNourishing
- ← 3 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica)
- ← 2 Zinc Oxide at #4, mild sebum absorbent
- → 1 Glycerin at #19, the anchor humectant
- → 1 1 emollient lipids (Squalane)
- → 2 Light emollient/solvent (Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride)
✨
Finish
Balanced
MatteDewy
- ← 3 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica)
- → 2 2 emollient lipids (Squalane, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate)
💄
Makeup base
Okay
PillsPrimer
- → 3 1 soft-focus powders in moderation
- ← 6 High mineral load at #4 greys under foundation
🌊
Water resistance
Resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
- +10 2 film-forming polymers that lock the formula on for water resistance
- +12 Label claims water resistance (sport / 40-80 min)
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.
- ✨ Niacinamide
Full ingredient list (37)
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 (Homosalate), high in the list, a primary filter
- ↑ 12 UV protection
- ↑ 9 migrates into eyes with sweat
-
Legacy UV filter (Octinoxate), high in the list, a primary filter
- ↑ 18 UV protection
- ↓ 12.6 stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- ↑ 16 migrates into eyes with sweat
-
Legacy UV filter (Octisalate), high in the list, a primary filter
- ↑ 8 UV protection
- ↑ 9 migrates into eyes with sweat
-
Mineral UV filter (Zinc Oxide)
- ↑ 38.9 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- ↑ 28 10% declared
- ↑ 18 10% declared
- ↑ 10 white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
- light ← 2 mild sebum absorbent
- pills ← 6 High mineral load greys under foundation
-
5 Water
Solvent base, the water phase
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- 2 → nourishing light emollient
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
- ↑ 7 film former
-
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
10 Silica
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light ← 3 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte ← 3 sebum-absorbing powder
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 14 feeds malassezia
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 14 feeds malassezia
-
Fatty alcohol, an emollient and thickener, not the drying kind
-
14 Squalane
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- 1 → nourishing emollient lipid
- 1 → dewy emollient lipid
-
Botanical extract
-
Botanical extract
-
Botanical extract
-
18 Ubiquinone
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
19 Glycerin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 1 → nourishing the anchor humectant
-
Botanical extract
-
21 Melanin
Supporting ingredient
-
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
23 Tocopherol
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Supporting ingredient
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- 1 → dewy emollient lipid
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
28 Ceteareth-20
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
- ↑ 3 film former
-
32 Xanthan Gum
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
36 Sorbic Acid
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
Does SkinMedica Total Defense + Repair leave a white cast?
No, white cast is low. It combines chemical filters with zinc oxide and still applies fairly clear.
Is the Skin Medica Skinmedica Total Defense + Repair Spf 50 Water-Resistant water-resistant?
Yes, it is labeled water-resistant, with low sweat-sting, so it holds up reasonably during sweat and activity.
Is the SkinMedica Total Defense + Repair good?
It scores 69/100 with good protection, a solid everyday option. The balanced finish and low pore-clogging rating suit most skin types.