SkinMedica SKINMEDICA TOTAL DEFENSE AND REPAIR SPF 34
75/100 overall score
Sign in to see this product's score for your skin.
About this sunscreen
SkinMedica Total Defense and Repair SPF 34 is a chemical sunscreen using ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate and ethylhexyl salicylate alongside some zinc oxide. It wears with a balanced, lightweight finish, low white cast, and is generally non-stinging. Pore-clogging risk is commonly low. With good protection and a score of 74.8/100, it is a solid daily face option.
Ingredient & SPF scores
βοΈ
UV protection
Good
63
- +18 Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate at #1, UV filter
- +8 Ethylhexyl Salicylate at #2, UV filter
- +41 Zinc Oxide at #3, UV filter (UVA1 +18)
- β5 UVB coverage saturated
- +1 Label claims (SPF 34)
β’οΈ
Health safety
High
64
- +100 Starting score
- β36 Octinoxate at #1 (regulatory/evidence concern)
π»
White cast
Low
87
- +100 Starting score
- β14 Zinc Oxide, 8% declared
- +1.4 PHSA dispersant, fights agglomeration
π₯
Eye sting
Low
75
- +100 Starting score
- β16 Octinoxate at #1, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β9 Octisalate at #2, migrates into eyes with sweat
πͺ¨
Heavy feel
Low
90
- +100 Starting score
- β8 Zinc Oxide, 8% declared
- β2 Butyrospermum Parkii Fruit at #14, butter/occlusive fat
π
Fungal acne
Medium
54
- +100 Starting score
- β9 1 oils/butters that feed Malassezia (Butyrospermum Parkii Fruit)
- β37 3 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Ceteareth-20)
π
Fabric stains
Low
85
- +100 Starting score
- β15 Zinc Oxide at #3, white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
π§
Moisture
Balanced
LightNourishing
- β 5 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica)
- β 5 Zinc Oxide at #3, mild sebum absorbent
- β 4 Glycerin at #8, the anchor humectant
- β 2 2 strong humectants (Panthenol, Betaine)
- β 5 2 emollient lipids (Squalane, Butyrospermum Parkii Fruit)
- β 2 Light emollient/solvent (Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride)
β¨
Finish
Balanced
MatteDewy
- β 6 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica)
- β 8 3 emollient lipids (Squalane, Butyrospermum Parkii Fruit, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate)
π
Makeup base
Okay
PillsPrimer
- β 1 Primer-style base, volatile silicones and dimethicone slip
- β 15 High mineral load at #3 greys under foundation
π
Water resistance
Not resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
Nothing flagged in the ingredient list.
How we rate water resistance βSkincare extras
Beneficial actives this formula contains. Informational only, not part of the rating: their effect depends on a concentration the label does not disclose.
- β¨ Niacinamide
Full ingredient list (40)
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.
-
Legacy UV filter (Octinoxate), high in the list, a primary filter
- β 18 UV protection
- β 16 migrates into eyes with sweat
-
Legacy UV filter (Octisalate), high in the list, a primary filter
- β 8 UV protection
- β 9 migrates into eyes with sweat
-
Mineral UV filter (Zinc Oxide), high in the list, a primary filter
- β 41 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- β 14 8% declared
- β 8 8% declared
- β 15 white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
- light β 5 mild sebum absorbent
- pills β 15 High mineral load greys under foundation
-
4 Water
Solvent base, the water phase
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- 2 β nourishing light emollient
-
6 Silica
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light β 5 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte β 6 sebum-absorbing powder
-
7 Squalane
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- 4 β nourishing emollient lipid
- 6 β dewy emollient lipid
-
8 Glycerin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 4 β nourishing the anchor humectant
-
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
10 Dimethicone
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 14 feeds malassezia
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 14 feeds malassezia
-
Fatty alcohol, an emollient and thickener, not the drying kind
-
Botanical extract
- β 2 butter/occlusive fat
- 1 β nourishing emollient lipid
- 1 β dewy emollient lipid
- β 9 feeds malassezia
-
Botanical extract
-
Botanical extract
-
Botanical extract
-
18 Ubiquinone
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Botanical extract
-
Botanical extract
-
21 Betaine
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 1 β nourishing humectant
-
22 Melanin
Supporting ingredient
-
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
24 Tocopherol
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Supporting ingredient
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- 1 β dewy emollient lipid
-
28 Panthenol
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
- 1 β nourishing humectant
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
30 Ceteareth-20
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 9 feeds malassezia
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
33 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
-
pH adjuster
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
39 Sorbic Acid
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
Is SkinMedica Total Defense and Repair mineral or chemical?
It is mainly chemical, using Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate and Ethylhexyl Salicylate, with some Zinc Oxide added.
Does the SkinMedica SKINMEDICA TOTAL DEFENSE AND REPAIR SPF 34 leave a white cast?
No, white cast is low. The balanced, lightweight finish blends in well for daily face use.
Is it good for sensitive skin?
It generally does not sting and breakout-trigger is low, so it works for most skin types. The overall score is 74.8/100.