Zo skin health Broad-spectrum Sunscreen SPF 50
67/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
Zo Skin Health Broad-spectrum Sunscreen SPF 50 is a chemical formula on an older-style filter set (Octocrylene, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Homosalate, Avobenzone). It has a balanced, lightweight finish and a low white cast, but it rates medium on sweat-sting. The low breakout-trigger profile is a plus for congestion-prone skin. Protection is good, and with a score of 66.6/100 it is a decent mid-tier option in this group.
Ingredient & SPF scores
βοΈ
UV protection
Good
60
- +16 Octocrylene at #1, UV filter
- +8 Ethylhexyl Salicylate at #2, UV filter
- +12 Homosalate at #3, UV filter
- +28.5 Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane at #4, UV filter (UVA1 +15.2)
- Γ0.9 Limited long-UVA1 coverage
- +2 Label claims (SPF 50)
β’οΈ
Health safety
Medium
39
- +100 Starting score
- β40 Homosalate at #3 (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β10.5 Octocrylene at #1, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β3.5 Avobenzone at #4, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β7 Retinyl Palmitate at #43, disputed vitamin-A sunlight signal, under review
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Allergens
Low
97
- +100 Starting score
- β3 Photoallergen-tail UV filters (Octocrylene)
π₯
Eye sting
Medium
44
- +100 Starting score
- β16 Avobenzone at #4, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β22 Octocrylene at #1, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β9 Homosalate at #3, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β9 Octisalate at #2, migrates into eyes with sweat
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Fungal acne
High
29
- +100 Starting score
- β12 1 polysorbate/sorbitan emulsifiers that feed Malassezia (Polysorbate 60)
- β23 2 oils/butters that feed Malassezia (Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil)
- β36 4 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Polyglyceryl-5 Trioleate, PEG-100 Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate)
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Fabric stains
High
0
- +100 Starting score
- β45 Avobenzone at #4, reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
- β15 Octocrylene at #1, co-stains alongside avobenzone
- β10 Avobenzone + Octocrylene, the classic staining pair
- β40 Iron-oxide pigments at #28, makeup-like collar marks (washable)
- +10 Penalties exceed the scale, floored at 0
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Moisture
Balanced
LightNourishing
- β 3 2 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica, Polymethyl Methacrylate)
- β 2 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
- β 1 Glycerin at #22, the anchor humectant
- β 2 1 strong humectants (Beta-Glucan)
- β 4 3 emollient lipids (Squalane, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil)
β¨
Finish
Balanced
MatteDewy
- β 2 2 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica, Polymethyl Methacrylate)
- β 2 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
- β 8 4 emollient lipids (Squalane, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, β¦)
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Makeup base
Okay
PillsPrimer
- β 1 Dry-touch esters, smooth fast-absorbing base
- β 0.5 Gel polymers prone to pilling under friction (Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer)
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Water resistance
Resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
- +16 2 film-forming polymers that lock the formula on for 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.
- β¨ Vitamin C
- β¨ Bisabolol
Full ingredient list (49)
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.
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Legacy UV filter (Octocrylene), high in the list, a primary filter
- β 16 UV protection
- β 10.5 stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β 22 migrates into eyes with sweat
- β 15 co-stains alongside avobenzone
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Legacy UV filter (Octisalate), high in the list, a primary filter
- β 8 UV protection
- β 9 migrates into eyes with sweat
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Legacy UV filter (Homosalate), high in the list, a primary filter
- β 12 UV protection
- β 9 migrates into eyes with sweat
-
Legacy UV filter (Avobenzone)
- β 28.5 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- β 3.5 stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β 16 migrates into eyes with sweat
- β 45 reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
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Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
- β 13 film former
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6 Alumina
Supporting ingredient
-
7 Water
Solvent base, the water phase
-
Plant oil, an emollient
- 2 β nourishing emollient lipid
- 3 β dewy emollient lipid
- β 14 feeds malassezia
-
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
10 Beta-Glucan
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 2 β nourishing humectant
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11 Bisabolol
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- 3 β dewy emollient lipid
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
14 Ceteareth-20
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 9 feeds malassezia
-
Fatty alcohol, an emollient and thickener, not the drying kind
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Volatile silicone, flashes off for a light finish
- light β 1 volatile carrier, flashes off
- matte β 1 volatile carrier, flashes off
-
Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
-
Supporting ingredient
-
20 Erythritol
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
22 Glycerin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 1 β nourishing the anchor humectant
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 9 feeds malassezia
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Botanical extract
-
Botanical extract
- 1 β nourishing emollient lipid
- 1 β dewy emollient lipid
- β 9 feeds malassezia
-
26 Homarine Hcl
Supporting ingredient
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
28 Iron Oxides
Colorant or pigment
- β 40 makeup-like collar marks (washable)
-
Volatile hydrocarbon, flashes off for a light finish
- light β 1 volatile carrier, flashes off
- matte β 1 volatile carrier, flashes off
-
30 Melanin
Supporting ingredient
-
31 Methicone
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Botanical extract
-
Supporting ingredient
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 9 feeds malassezia
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 9 feeds malassezia
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light β 1.5 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte β 1 sebum-absorbing powder
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 12 feeds malassezia
-
Supporting ingredient
-
42 Propanediol
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- β 7 disputed vitamin-A sunlight signal, under review
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Botanical extract
-
45 Silica
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light β 1.5 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte β 1 sebum-absorbing powder
-
46 Squalane
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- 1 β nourishing emollient lipid
- 1 β dewy emollient lipid
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
- β 3 film former
-
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Supporting ingredient
Does Zo Skin Health Broad-spectrum Sunscreen leave a white cast?
No, it is rated low for white cast, so it generally applies without a visible residue. It is a chemical-only formula, which helps it stay sheer.
Is Zo Skin Health Sunscreen mineral or chemical?
It is a chemical sunscreen, using an older-style set of Octocrylene, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Homosalate and Avobenzone. It contains no mineral filters.
Is Zo Skin Health Broad-spectrum Sunscreen any good?
It scores 66.6/100, a decent mid-tier result. Protection is good and it has a lightweight finish with a low white cast, but it rates medium on sweat-sting and relies on older filters.