Tropic Great Barrier Sun Lotion Spf 50
93/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
Tropic Great Barrier Sun Lotion SPF 50 is a hybrid sunscreen combining modern chemical filters (Tinosorb S, Uvinul A Plus, Uvinul T 150) with mineral zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. It wears with a balanced finish, low white cast, and a lightweight feel, and it does not commonly sting. Its low pore-clogging profile makes it generally friendly to most skin. Scoring 93.2 out of 100 with excellent protection, it is an outstanding all-rounder.
Ingredient & SPF scores
☀️
UV protection
Excellent
100
- +36 Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate at #3, UV filter (UVA1 +22)
- +20.9 Ethylhexyl Triazone at #4, UV filter
- +45.6 Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine at #5, UV filter (UVA1 +15.2)
- +32.8 Zinc Oxide at #12, UV filter (UVA1 +14.4)
- +19.8 Titanium Dioxide at #13, UV filter (UVA1 +3)
- −24.4 UVB coverage saturated
- −21.1 UVA2 coverage saturated
- −9.6 UVA1 coverage saturated
- +2 Label claims (SPF 50)
👻
White cast
Low
77
- +100 Starting score
- −12 Zinc Oxide at #12
- −6 Titanium Dioxide at #13
- −10 Zinc Oxide + Titanium Dioxide together
- +2.8 PHSA dispersant, fights agglomeration
- +1.8 Coated minerals (Alumina)
🪨
Heavy feel
Low
90
- +100 Starting score
- −8 Zinc Oxide at #12
- −2 Titanium Dioxide at #13
🍄
Fungal acne
Medium
46
- +100 Starting score
- −9 1 oils/butters that feed Malassezia (Lecithin)
- −41 4 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Isoamyl Laurate, Glyceryl Stearate, Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate)
- −4 2 ubiquitous fatty ingredients (Stearic Acid, Cetearyl Glucoside), weak Malassezia signal
👕
Fabric stains
Low
75
- +100 Starting score
- −15 Uvinul A Plus (DHHB) at #3, oil-soluble UVA filter, fabric stains
- −5 Zinc Oxide at #12, white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
- −5 Both minerals present, heavier deposit
💧
Moisture
Hydrating
LightNourishing
- → 10 Glycerin at #6, the anchor humectant
- → 2 Sodium Hyaluronate at #27, hyaluronic family
- → 0.5 1 fatty-alcohol emollients (Cetearyl Alcohol)
✨
Finish
Balanced
MatteDewy
- ← 6 3 dry-touch emollients reduce greasy shine (Dibutyl Adipate, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Isoamyl Laurate)
💄
Makeup base
Okay
PillsPrimer
- → 6 Dry-touch esters, smooth fast-absorbing base
- ← 3 Humectant syrup tackiness
🌊
Water resistance
Not resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
Nothing flagged in the ingredient list.
How we rate water resistance →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.
- ✨ Aloe vera
Full ingredient list (36)
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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Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- matte ← 3 dry-touch emollient, anti-shine
-
Modern UV filter, broad-spectrum and photostable (Uvinul A Plus), high in the list, a primary filter
- ↑ 36 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- ↑ 15 oil-soluble UVA filter, fabric stains
-
Modern UV filter, broad-spectrum and photostable (Uvinul T 150)
- ↑ 20.9 UV protection
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Modern UV filter, broad-spectrum and photostable (Tinosorb S)
- ↑ 45.6 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
-
6 Glycerin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 10 → nourishing the anchor humectant
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- matte ← 2 dry-touch emollient, anti-shine
-
Fatty alcohol, an emollient and thickener, not the drying kind
- 0.5 → nourishing fatty-alcohol emollient
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- matte ← 1 dry-touch emollient, anti-shine
- ↑ 14 feeds malassezia
-
Supporting ingredient
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
12 Zinc Oxide
Mineral UV filter (Zinc Oxide), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- ↑ 32.8 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- ↑ 5 white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
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Mineral UV filter (Titanium Dioxide), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- ↑ 19.8 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
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Botanical extract
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 2 minor malassezia feeder
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
21 Stearic Acid
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- ↑ 2 minor malassezia feeder
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Botanical extract
-
26 Tocopherol
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 2 → nourishing hyaluronic family
-
Botanical extract
-
29 Xanthan Gum
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
32 Propanediol
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
34 Alumina
Supporting ingredient
-
Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
-
36 Lecithin
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
Is Tropic Great Barrier Sun Lotion mineral or chemical?
It is a hybrid. It combines modern chemical filters like Tinosorb S and Uvinul A Plus with mineral zinc oxide and titanium dioxide.
Does the Tropic Great Barrier Sun Lotion Spf 50 leave a white cast?
White cast is generally low despite the mineral filters. The lotion wears with a balanced, lightweight finish.
Is Tropic Great Barrier Sun Lotion good?
Yes, it scores 93.2 out of 100 with excellent UV protection. It is an outstanding all-round SPF 50 option for most skin types.