TRUE BOTANICALS Skin Barrier Sun Shield SPF 30
72/100 overall score
Sign in to see this product's score for your skin.
About this sunscreen
TRUE BOTANICALS Skin Barrier Sun Shield is an SPF 30 pure mineral sunscreen relying on Zinc Oxide alone. It gives a balanced finish but, being mineral, can leave a moderate white cast on some skin tones. It is generally gentle and non-stinging with low pore-clogging risk, though it performs poorly as a makeup base. With moderate protection and a score of 71.5/100, it suits sensitive skin that does not need to layer under makeup.
Ingredient & SPF scores
☀️
UV protection
Moderate
42
- +41 Zinc Oxide at #1, UV filter (UVA1 +18)
- +1 Label claims (SPF 30)
👻
White cast
Medium
49
- +100 Starting score
- −42 Zinc Oxide, 19% declared
- −15 Pure mineral formula (19% total declared)
- +5.7 PHSA dispersant, fights agglomeration
🍄
Fungal acne
Medium
67
- +100 Starting score
- −33 2 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Polyglyceryl-6 Stearate, Polyglyceryl-6 Behenate)
- +0 Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil at #17, jojoba wax ester, fungal-acne exception (not penalized)
- +0 Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride at #3, a safe base that does not feed Malassezia
👕
Fabric stains
Low
85
- +100 Starting score
- −15 Zinc Oxide at #1, white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
💧
Moisture
Hydrating
LightNourishing
- ← 5 Zinc Oxide at #1, mild sebum absorbent
- → 10 Glycerin at #5, the anchor humectant
- → 3 2 emollient lipids (Squalane, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil)
- → 4 Light emollient/solvent (Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride)
✨
Finish
Balanced
MatteDewy
- ← 2 1 dry-touch emollients reduce greasy shine (Coco-Caprylate)
- → 4 2 emollient lipids (Squalane, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil)
💄
Makeup base
Poor
PillsPrimer
- → 2 Dry-touch esters, smooth fast-absorbing base
- ← 3 Humectant syrup tackiness
- ← 15 High mineral load at #1 greys under foundation
🌊
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.
- ✨ Green tea
Full ingredient list (35)
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.
-
Mineral UV filter (Zinc Oxide), high in the list, a primary filter
- ↑ 41 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- ↑ 42 19% declared
- ↑ 30 19% declared
- ↑ 15 white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
- light ← 5 mild sebum absorbent
- pills ← 15 High mineral load greys under foundation
-
Botanical extract
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- 4 → nourishing light emollient
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- matte ← 2 dry-touch emollient, anti-shine
-
5 Glycerin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 10 → nourishing the anchor humectant
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 24 feeds malassezia
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
8 Water
Solvent base, the water phase
-
Botanical extract
-
10 Squalane
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- 2 → nourishing emollient lipid
- 3 → dewy emollient lipid
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Botanical extract
-
Supporting ingredient
-
Protein, peptide or amino acid, conditions and hydrates skin
-
Botanical extract
-
Supporting ingredient
-
Botanical extract
- 1 → nourishing emollient lipid
- 1 → dewy emollient lipid
-
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
Botanical extract
-
Botanical extract
-
Supporting ingredient
-
Supporting ingredient
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
24 Xanthan Gum
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
-
26 Lactic Acid
pH adjuster
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
29 Allantoin
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
-
33 Glycerin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Botanical extract
-
35 Tocopherol
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
Does TRUE BOTANICALS Sun Shield leave a white cast?
It can. White cast is moderate because this is a pure mineral Zinc Oxide formula, which may show on some skin tones, especially deeper ones.
Is the TRUE BOTANICALS Skin Barrier Sun Shield SPF 30 mineral or chemical?
It is a pure mineral sunscreen, relying on Zinc Oxide alone, which commonly suits sensitive skin.
Does it work under makeup?
Not well. It rates poorly as a makeup base, so it is better worn on its own than layered under foundation.