Zo skin health Daily Sheer Broad-spectrum SPF 50
57/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
Zo Skin Health Daily Sheer Broad-Spectrum SPF 50 is a chemical sunscreen using a classic filter blend of avobenzone, octocrylene, octinoxate, homosalate and ethylhexyl salicylate. It feels lightweight with a balanced finish and very low white cast, and works as an okay base under makeup. It commonly stings more, so it is better kept clear of the eyes. Protection is moderate and the overall score is 56.5/100, placing it in the middle of the pack.
Ingredient & SPF scores
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UV protection
Moderate
47
- +30 Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane at #1, UV filter (UVA1 +16)
- +16 Octocrylene at #2, UV filter
- +18 Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate at #3, UV filter
- +11.4 Homosalate at #4, UV filter
- +7.6 Ethylhexyl Salicylate at #5, UV filter
- β17 UVB coverage saturated
- Γ0.9 Limited long-UVA1 coverage
- Γ0.75 Avobenzone + octinoxate degrade each other in sunlight
- +2 Label claims (SPF 50)
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Health safety
Low
26
- +100 Starting score
- β40 Homosalate at #4 (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β12.6 Octinoxate at #3, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β10.5 Octocrylene at #2, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β3.5 Avobenzone at #1, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- +0 2 endocrine-scrutinized filters together
- β7 Retinyl Palmitate at #23, disputed vitamin-A sunlight signal, under review
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Allergens
Low
67
- +100 Starting score
- β18 Fragrance
- β12 Opaque "Fragrance", hidden allergens that can't be checked from the label
- β3 Photoallergen-tail UV filters (Octocrylene)
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Eye sting
High
18
- +100 Starting score
- β24 Avobenzone at #1, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β22 Octocrylene at #2, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β16 Octinoxate at #3, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β6 Homosalate at #4, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β6 Octisalate at #5, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β8 Fragrance
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Fungal acne
Medium
50
- +100 Starting score
- β12 1 polysorbate/sorbitan emulsifiers that feed Malassezia (Polysorbate 60)
- β9 1 oils/butters that feed Malassezia (Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil)
- β27 3 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Polyglyceryl-5 Trioleate)
- β2 1 ubiquitous fatty ingredients (Cetearyl Glucoside), weak Malassezia signal
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Fabric stains
High
25
- +100 Starting score
- β50 Avobenzone at #1, reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
- β15 Octocrylene at #2, co-stains alongside avobenzone
- β10 Avobenzone + Octocrylene, the classic staining pair
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Moisture
Balanced
LightNourishing
- β 3 2 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica, Polymethyl Methacrylate)
- β 1 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
- β 4 Glycerin at #8, the anchor humectant
- β 1 1 strong humectants (Beta-Glucan)
- β 2 2 emollient lipids (Squalane, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil)
β¨
Finish
Balanced
MatteDewy
- β 2 2 sebum-absorbing powders (Polymethyl Methacrylate, Silica)
- β 1 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
- β 2 2 emollient lipids (Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Squalane)
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Makeup base
Okay
PillsPrimer
- β 0.5 Gel polymers prone to pilling under friction (Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer)
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Water resistance
Not resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
- +9 3 film-forming polymers that lock the formula on for water resistance
Full ingredient list (43)
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 (Avobenzone), high in the list, a primary filter
- β 30 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- β 3.5 stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β 24 migrates into eyes with sweat
- β 50 reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
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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 (Octinoxate), high in the list, a primary filter
- β 18 UV protection
- β 12.6 stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β 16 migrates into eyes with sweat
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Legacy UV filter (Homosalate)
- β 11.4 UV protection
- β 6 migrates into eyes with sweat
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Legacy UV filter (Octisalate)
- β 7.6 UV protection
- β 6 migrates into eyes with sweat
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6 Water
Solvent base, the water phase
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Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
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8 Glycerin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 4 β nourishing the anchor humectant
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Humectant, pulls water into the skin
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Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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Humectant, pulls water into the skin
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
13 Isododecane
Volatile hydrocarbon, flashes off for a light finish
- light β 1 volatile carrier, flashes off
- matte β 1 volatile carrier, flashes off
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Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
- β 3 film former
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Soothing, skin-conditioning active
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Fatty alcohol, an emollient and thickener, not the drying kind
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 2 minor malassezia feeder
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 9 feeds malassezia
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 9 feeds malassezia
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light β 1.5 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte β 1 sebum-absorbing powder
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Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- β 7 disputed vitamin-A sunlight signal, under review
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Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
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Botanical extract
- 1 β nourishing emollient lipid
- 1 β dewy emollient lipid
- β 9 feeds malassezia
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Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 9 feeds malassezia
-
Botanical extract
-
Supporting ingredient
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30 Tocopherol
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
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31 Silica
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light β 1.5 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte β 1 sebum-absorbing powder
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
- β 3 film former
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
34 Squalane
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- 1 β nourishing emollient lipid
- 1 β dewy emollient lipid
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 12 feeds malassezia
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36 Fragrance
Fragrance
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37 Maltodextrin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Botanical extract
-
39 Beta-Glucan
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 1 β nourishing humectant
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40 Melanin
Supporting ingredient
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
- β 3 film former
-
pH adjuster
-
43 Citric Acid
pH adjuster
Is Zo Skin Health Daily Sheer SPF 50 mineral or chemical?
It is a chemical sunscreen. The formula uses avobenzone, octocrylene, octinoxate, homosalate and ethylhexyl salicylate, with no mineral filters.
Does Zo Daily Sheer SPF 50 work for oily or acne-prone skin?
It has a balanced finish and a low pore-clogging rating, so it is generally friendly to oily and breakout-prone skin. It is also an okay base under makeup.
Is Zo Skin Health Daily Sheer SPF 50 a good sunscreen?
It scores 56.5/100, which places it in the middle of the pack. Protection is moderate, and it commonly stings more, so keep it clear of the eyes.