Zo Skin Health Zein Obagi Sunscreem + Primer Broad - Spectrum Spf 30
79/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
Zo Skin Health Sunscreen + Primer Broad-Spectrum SPF 30 is a mineral sunscreen using Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide, designed to double as a makeup primer. It wears lightweight with a balanced finish and is unlikely to sting or clog pores, with a medium chance of some white cast typical of mineral formulas. Because it is built as a primer, it is excellent under makeup. With a score of 79.3/100 and good protection, it is a solid mineral pick for anyone who wants sun care and a smoothing base in one step.
Ingredient & SPF scores
☀️
UV protection
Good
68
- +41 Zinc Oxide at #2, UV filter (UVA1 +18)
- +26.4 Titanium Dioxide at #8, UV filter (UVA1 +4)
- +1 Label claims (SPF 30)
☢️
Health safety
High
93
- +100 Starting score
- −7 Retinyl Palmitate at #36, disputed vitamin-A sunlight signal, under review
👻
White cast
Medium
60
- +100 Starting score
- −55 Zinc Oxide at #2
- −15 Titanium Dioxide at #8
- −10 Zinc Oxide + Titanium Dioxide together
- −15 Pure mineral formula
- +47.5 Iron-oxide undertone, partial masking
- +7.1 Coated minerals (Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Alumina)
🪨
Heavy feel
Low
64
- +100 Starting score
- −40 Zinc Oxide at #2
- −6 Titanium Dioxide at #8
- −2 Tribehenin at #17, wax film
- +12 Volatile silicone at #1, flashes off
🍄
Fungal acne
Medium
66
- +100 Starting score
- −14 1 oils/butters that feed Malassezia (Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil)
- −18 2 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate, Polyglyceryl-5 Trioleate)
- −2 1 ubiquitous fatty ingredients (Stearic Acid), weak Malassezia signal
- +0 Dimethicone at #3, a safe base that does not feed Malassezia
👕
Fabric stains
Medium
40
- +100 Starting score
- −40 Iron-oxide pigments at #44, makeup-like collar marks (washable)
- −15 Zinc Oxide at #2, white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
- −5 Both minerals present, heavier deposit
💧
Moisture
Light
LightNourishing
- ← 1.5 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Polymethyl Methacrylate)
- ← 8 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
- ← 5 Zinc Oxide at #2, mild sebum absorbent
- → 1 Glycerin at #21, the anchor humectant
- → 3 2 emollient lipids (Squalane, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil)
✨
Finish
Balanced
MatteDewy
- ← 1 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Polymethyl Methacrylate)
- ← 7 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
- → 4 2 emollient lipids (Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Squalane)
💄
Makeup base
Excellent
PillsPrimer
- → 12 Primer-style base, volatile silicones and dimethicone slip
- → 12 2 velvet elastomer fillers, blur and grip
- ← 7.5 High mineral load at #2 greys under foundation (tinted)
🌊
Water resistance
Not resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
- +2 1 water-locking waxes
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.
- ✨ Centella asiatica
Full ingredient list (46)
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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Volatile silicone, flashes off for a light finish
- light ← 8 volatile carrier, flashes off
- matte ← 7 volatile carrier, flashes off
-
Mineral UV filter (Zinc Oxide), high in the list, a primary filter
- ↑ 41 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- ↑ 15 white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
- light ← 5 mild sebum absorbent
- pills ← 7.5 High mineral load greys under foundation (tinted)
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Mineral UV filter (Titanium Dioxide), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- ↑ 26.4 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
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Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
Botanical extract
- 2 → nourishing emollient lipid
- 3 → dewy emollient lipid
- ↑ 14 feeds malassezia
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Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
Botanical extract
-
Botanical extract
-
Botanical extract
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
-
17 Tribehenin
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- ↑ 2 wax film
- ↑ 2 wax water lock
-
18 Bisabolol
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
20 Water
Solvent base, the water phase
-
21 Glycerin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 1 → nourishing the anchor humectant
-
22 Squalane
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- 1 → nourishing emollient lipid
- 1 → dewy emollient lipid
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Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light ← 1.5 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte ← 1 sebum-absorbing powder
-
24 Dimethiconol
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
26 Stearic Acid
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- ↑ 2 minor malassezia feeder
-
27 Alumina
Supporting ingredient
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Supporting ingredient
-
30 Melanin
Supporting ingredient
-
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
-
Supporting ingredient
-
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- ↓ 7 disputed vitamin-A sunlight signal, under review
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Supporting ingredient
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
39 Tocopherol
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Protein, peptide or amino acid, conditions and hydrates skin
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
44 Ci 77492
Colorant or pigment
- ↑ 40 makeup-like collar marks (washable)
-
45 Ci 77491
Colorant or pigment
-
46 Ci 77499
Colorant or pigment
Is the Zo Skin Health Sunscreen + Primer mineral or chemical?
It is a mineral sunscreen, using Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide. It is rated Broad-Spectrum SPF 30.
Does the Zo Skin Health Zein Obagi Sunscreem + Primer Broad - Spectrum Spf 30 work under makeup?
Yes, it is designed as a primer and works excellently as a makeup base. It wears lightweight with a balanced finish.
Does the Zo Skin Health Zein Obagi Sunscreem + Primer Broad - Spectrum Spf 30 leave a white cast?
There is a medium chance of some white cast, which is common for mineral formulas. It is unlikely to sting or clog pores.