SkinCeuticals Sheer Mineral Uv Defense Spf 50+
49/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
SkinCeuticals Sheer Mineral UV Defense SPF 50+ is a pure mineral sunscreen built on Titanium Dioxide. It wears matte and lightweight with low white cast and is generally gentle, with a low tendency to sting or clog pores. However its protection is rated weak, which holds the formula back despite the high SPF label. With a score of 49.0/100 it is the lowest scorer in this group and is best considered with that protection caveat in mind.
Ingredient & SPF scores
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UV protection
Weak
22
- +33 Titanium Dioxide at #2, UV filter (UVA1 +5)
- Γ0.6 Almost no UVA1, poor aging protection
- +2 Label claims (SPF 50)
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White cast
Low
69
- +100 Starting score
- β25 Titanium Dioxide at #2 (nano)
- β15 Pure mineral formula
- +4 PHSA dispersant, fights agglomeration
- +5.4 Coated minerals (Alumina, Aluminum Hydroxide)
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Heavy feel
Low
75
- +100 Starting score
- β30 Titanium Dioxide at #2
- +4.5 Volatile hydrocarbon at #3, flashes off
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Fungal acne
Low
89
- +100 Starting score
- β9 1 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (PEG-8 Laurate)
- β2 1 ubiquitous fatty ingredients (Stearic Acid), weak Malassezia signal
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Fabric stains
Low
85
- +100 Starting score
- β15 Titanium Dioxide at #2, white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
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Moisture
Light
LightNourishing
- β 6 3 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica, Nylon-12, Talc)
- β 8 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
- β 2 Titanium Dioxide at #2, mild sebum absorbent
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Finish
Matte
MatteDewy
- β 5 3 sebum-absorbing powders (Nylon-12, Silica, Talc)
- β 8 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
- β 1 1 dry-touch emollients reduce greasy shine (Caprylyl Methicone)
- β 6 1 emollient lipids (C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate)
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Makeup base
Okay
PillsPrimer
- β 3 Primer-style base, volatile silicones and dimethicone slip
- β 8 1 velvet elastomer fillers, blur and grip
- β 4 Quick-setting carrier, fast, even canvas
- β 3 Dry-touch esters, smooth fast-absorbing base
- β 8 Powder overload over a film former, some pilling risk
- β 7.5 High mineral load at #2 greys under foundation (nano)
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Water resistance
Resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
- +13 1 film-forming polymers that lock the formula on for water resistance
Full ingredient list (37)
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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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 (nano)
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Volatile hydrocarbon, flashes off for a light finish
- light β 7 volatile carrier, flashes off
- matte β 7 volatile carrier, flashes off
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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5 Undecane
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- 6 β dewy emollient lipid
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Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
- β 13 film former
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- matte β 1 dry-touch emollient, anti-shine
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9 Nylon-12
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light β 3 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte β 3 sebum-absorbing powder
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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12 Tridecane
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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14 Silica
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light β 1.5 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte β 1 sebum-absorbing powder
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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Volatile hydrocarbon, flashes off for a light finish
- light β 1 volatile carrier, flashes off
- matte β 1 volatile carrier, flashes off
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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18 Talc
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light β 1.5 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte β 1 sebum-absorbing powder
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
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Supporting ingredient
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21 Stearic Acid
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- β 2 minor malassezia feeder
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Humectant, pulls water into the skin
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 9 feeds malassezia
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Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
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Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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29 Alumina
Supporting ingredient
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
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Filter booster, photostabilizes the UV filters or lifts their SPF
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33 Tocopherol
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
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Supporting ingredient
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Botanical extract
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36 Benzoic Acid
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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37 PEG-9
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
Is SkinCeuticals Sheer Mineral UV Defense a good sunscreen?
It scores 49.0/100, the lowest in its group, mainly because its protection is rated weak despite the high SPF label. Wear feels light, but consider that protection caveat.
Is the SkinCeuticals Sheer Mineral Uv Defense Spf 50+ mineral or chemical?
It is a pure mineral sunscreen built on Titanium Dioxide, with no chemical filters. That makes it an option for those wanting a mineral formula.
Does it leave a white cast?
White cast is rated low and it wears matte and lightweight, which is notable for a mineral formula. It is also generally gentle and low on pore-clogging.