Zealios Reef Safe Sun Barrier SPF 50 Sunscreen
72/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
Zealios Reef Safe Sun Barrier SPF 50 Sunscreen is a sport-oriented formula that blends the chemical filters Homosalate and Ethylhexyl Salicylate with Zinc Oxide. It has a balanced finish, feels lightweight and leaves no notable white cast, with low pore-clogging risk and no expected sting. The filter set is old-school rather than modern. Good protection and a 72.0/100 score make it a dependable choice for active, outdoor use.
Ingredient & SPF scores
☀️
UV protection
Good
63
- +12 Homosalate at #1, UV filter
- +8 Ethylhexyl Salicylate at #2, UV filter
- +41 Zinc Oxide at #3, UV filter (UVA1 +18)
- +2 Label claims (SPF 50)
☢️
Health safety
Medium
60
- +100 Starting score
- −40 Homosalate at #1 (regulatory/evidence concern)
👻
White cast
Low
65
- +100 Starting score
- −42 Zinc Oxide, 16.5% declared
- +4.2 PHSA dispersant, fights agglomeration
- +2.6 Coated minerals (Triethoxycaprylylsilane)
🔥
Eye sting
Low
82
- +100 Starting score
- −9 Homosalate at #1, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −9 Octisalate at #2, migrates into eyes with sweat
🪨
Heavy feel
Low
67
- +100 Starting score
- −30 Zinc Oxide, 16.5% declared
- −3 Hydrogenated Polyisobutene at #9, heavy oil
🍄
Fungal acne
High
24
- +100 Starting score
- −30 1 polysorbate/sorbitan emulsifiers that feed Malassezia (Sorbitan Olivate)
- −9 1 oils/butters that feed Malassezia (Lecithin)
- −37 3 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Polyglyceryl-6 Polyricinoleate, Glyceryl Behenate, Polyglyceryl-2 Isostearate)
👕
Fabric stains
Low
85
- +100 Starting score
- −15 Zinc Oxide at #3, white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
💧
Moisture
Balanced
LightNourishing
- ← 5 Zinc Oxide at #3, mild sebum absorbent
- → 4 Glycerin at #8, the anchor humectant
- → 1 1 strong humectants (Saccharide Isomerate)
✨
Finish
Balanced
MatteDewy
- ← 2 1 dry-touch emollients reduce greasy shine (Octyldodecyl Neopentanoate)
💄
Makeup base
Okay
PillsPrimer
- → 1 Primer-style base, volatile silicones and dimethicone slip
- → 8 1 velvet elastomer fillers, blur and grip
- ← 2 Occlusives/waxes float the foundation
- ← 15 High mineral load at #3 greys under foundation
🌊
Water resistance
Not resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
Nothing flagged in the ingredient list.
How we rate water resistance →Full ingredient list (29)
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
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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), high in the list, a primary filter
- ↑ 41 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- ↑ 42 16.5% declared
- ↑ 30 16.5% declared
- ↑ 15 white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
- light ← 5 mild sebum absorbent
- pills ← 15 High mineral load greys under foundation
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4 Water
Solvent base, the water phase
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- matte ← 2 dry-touch emollient, anti-shine
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 30 feeds malassezia
-
8 Glycerin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 4 → nourishing the anchor humectant
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- ↑ 3 heavy oil
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10 Dimethicone
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 14 feeds malassezia
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 14 feeds malassezia
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Supporting ingredient
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 1 → nourishing humectant
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
21 Xanthan Gum
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
25 Lecithin
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
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Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
-
27 Pullulan
Supporting ingredient
-
Botanical extract
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pH adjuster
Does Zealios Reef Safe Sun Barrier leave a white cast?
No, it shows no notable white cast. White cast is rated low despite the Zinc Oxide in the blend.
Is the Zealios Reef Safe Sun Barrier SPF 50 Sunscreen good for active, outdoor use?
It is generally well suited to sport. It has good protection, a lightweight feel and is not expected to sting if you sweat.
Is this sunscreen mineral or chemical?
It is a hybrid leaning chemical. It blends Homosalate and Ethylhexyl Salicylate with Zinc Oxide, using an old-school filter set.