Zelens Daily Defence Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 50
93/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
Zelens Daily Defence Sunscreen SPF 50 is a chemical sunscreen built on a modern filter set, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Ethylhexyl Salicylate and Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid, all known for strong, photostable coverage. It has a dewy finish, low white cast and a lightweight, generally non-stinging feel, and works okay under makeup. Breakout potential is rated low. With excellent protection and a score of 93.4/100, this is one of the strongest options in this group.
Ingredient & SPF scores
☀️
UV protection
Excellent
94
- +36 Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate at #3, UV filter (UVA1 +22)
- +7.6 Ethylhexyl Salicylate at #5, UV filter
- +45.6 Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine at #6, UV filter (UVA1 +15.2)
- +20.9 Ethylhexyl Triazone at #7, UV filter
- +11.2 Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid at #9, UV filter
- −24.8 UVB coverage saturated
- −4.3 UVA2 coverage saturated
- +2 Label claims (SPF 50)
🔥
Eye sting
Low
92
- +100 Starting score
- −6 Octisalate at #5, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −2 Ensulizole at #9, migrates into eyes with sweat
🔴
Comedogenic
Low
98
- +100 Starting score
- −2 Isopropyl Palmitate at #39, heavy comedogenic ester
🍄
Fungal acne
Medium
50
- +100 Starting score
- −9 1 oils/butters that feed Malassezia (Lecithin)
- −41 4 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Isopropyl Palmitate, Polyglyceryl-6 Stearate, Polyglyceryl-6 Behenate)
👕
Fabric stains
Low
85
- +100 Starting score
- −15 Uvinul A Plus (DHHB) at #3, oil-soluble UVA filter, fabric stains
💧
Moisture
Hydrating
LightNourishing
- → 4 Glycerin at #12, the anchor humectant
- → 2 2 strong humectants (Sorbitol, Diglycerin)
✨
Finish
Dewy
MatteDewy
- → 9 1 emollient lipids (C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate)
- → 1 1 slippy emollient esters (Isopropyl Palmitate)
💄
Makeup base
Okay
PillsPrimer
- → 3 Dry-touch esters, smooth fast-absorbing base
- ← 2 Gel polymers prone to pilling under friction (Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP Copolymer)
🌊
Water resistance
Not resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
- +3 1 film-forming polymers that lock the formula on for water resistance
Full ingredient list (45)
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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1 Water
Solvent base, the water phase
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- 9 → dewy emollient lipid
-
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
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Legacy UV filter (Octisalate)
- ↑ 7.6 UV protection
- ↑ 6 migrates into eyes with sweat
-
Modern UV filter, broad-spectrum and photostable (Tinosorb S)
- ↑ 45.6 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
-
Modern UV filter, broad-spectrum and photostable (Uvinul T 150)
- ↑ 20.9 UV protection
-
Supporting ingredient
-
Legacy UV filter (Ensulizole), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- ↑ 11.2 UV protection
- ↑ 2 migrates into eyes with sweat
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 14 feeds malassezia
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
12 Glycerin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 4 → nourishing the anchor humectant
-
Protein, peptide or amino acid, conditions and hydrates skin
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14 Proline
Protein, peptide or amino acid, conditions and hydrates skin
-
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
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Protein, peptide or amino acid, conditions and hydrates skin
-
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Protein, peptide or amino acid, conditions and hydrates skin
-
Botanical extract
-
Botanical extract
-
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
Supporting ingredient
-
Botanical extract
-
Botanical extract
-
Botanical extract
-
Supporting ingredient
-
27 Lecithin
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
-
Film former, locks the formula onto skin for water resistance
- ↑ 3 film former
-
32 Diglycerin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 1 → nourishing humectant
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Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
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Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
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37 O-Cymen-5-Ol
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
pH adjuster
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- ↑ 2 heavy comedogenic ester
- 1 → dewy slippy emollient ester
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
-
40 Sorbitol
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 1 → nourishing humectant
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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42 Citric Acid
pH adjuster
-
43 Xanthan Gum
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
Does Zelens Daily Defence leave a white cast?
No, its white cast is rated low. The chemical formula has a dewy finish that blends cleanly into skin.
Is the Zelens Daily Defence Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 50 mineral or chemical?
It is chemical. It uses a modern filter set including Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine and Ethylhexyl Triazone.
Is Zelens Daily Defence a good sunscreen?
Yes, it scores 93.4/100 with excellent protection, one of the strongest options in this group. It is lightweight with a dewy finish and low white cast.