Paula's Choice Barrier Protect Mineral Sunscreen.

Sunscreen

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About this product

A mineral sunscreen with SPF 30 containing soothing actives (allantoin and centella asiatica) for daily UV protection.

Full ingredients

Aqua, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Titanium Dioxide, Zinc Oxide, Ethylhexyl Methoxycrylene, Glycerin, Polyester-8, Aluminum Stearate, C15-19 Alkane, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Silica, Trehalose, Inulin, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Tocopherol, Echium Plantagineum Seed Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Centella Asiatica Extract, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Alumina, Glyceryl Caprylate, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP Copolymer, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Diheptyl Succinate, Xanthan Gum, Allantoin, Sodium Polyacrylate, Sodium Hydroxide, Acacia Senegal Gum, Sodium Citrate, Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer, Polysorbate 60

Guru Score

83%

Yay

Early verdict · Few reviews so far

2Gurus

2Yay

0Mixed

0Nay

What they liked

Nearly invisible mineral finish
Comfortable on skin, no eye stinging
Gentle formula without common irritants

What they flagged

May trigger allergic reaction in some people

What the gurus are saying

This mineral sunscreen sits so light that reviewers forget they're wearing it, with none of the white cast typical of minerals, and earns praise for gentleness. Those with sensitive skin or rosacea find it soothing thanks to ingredients like allantoin and centella asiatica. A minor rosacea flare was noted on a warm day, though attributed to general sunscreen sensitivity rather than the product.

Synthesized from 2 expert reviews · most recent take December 2024

Best for

Sensitive skin

Type

SunscreenLotion

Key actives

Vitamin CVitamin ESPF

Formula notes

Fragrance-freeNo drying alcohol

Where to buy

Sephora → Amazon → Google →

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What the gurus are saying.

Every take we've logged from this product's reviews across YouTube. Click any row to watch the moment they said it.

All takes Yay takes Nay takes Mixed takes Hide sponsored

Doctorly

3.59M subs

✓Yay

"Mineral-wise, pretty close to invisible outside of your beard, that's as good as you can hope for with a pure mineral sunscreen. [...] It'll set in like any sunscreen will set in a little bit more, [...] but that's a good blend. Squalane has become the foil for mineral sunscreens and the white cast, it's like the vehicle, but when I was applying it, it didn't seem to have that squalane feel. For a mineral sunscreen though, this is great, this is gentle."

James Welsh

1.58M subs

✓Yay

"After a wear test, [...] I completely forgot I even had this sunscreen on, it's so comfortable on the skin, my eyes aren't stinging whatsoever, [...] my skin feels very comfortable, [...] honestly I think this is going to be one of my new favorite sunscreens. There was a bit of [...] my rosacea flaring up on a really warm day, but [...] not too dissimilar to what sunscreens always do to my skin."

What the evidence says.

Independent of what the gurus think, this is what the published research supports about the main active ingredients here.

Vitamin C

Topical vitamin C is an antioxidant with reasonable evidence for dullness and uneven tone. It breaks down in light and air, so how a product is formulated and packaged matters as much as the percentage on the front.

Source: DermNet

Sunscreen filters

Sun protection is the best evidenced way to slow visible ageing, and the filters are what does the work. Mineral and chemical filters both protect when a product is applied thickly enough and often enough, which is where most people fall short rather than on the choice of filter.

Source: DermNet

Humectants and emollients

Ingredients like these draw water into the surface layers and slow how fast it leaves. The evidence is for comfort, softness and hydration rather than for changing the structure of the skin.

Source: DermNet

Frequently asked.

What is Paula's Choice Barrier Protect Mineral Sunscreen?

A mineral sunscreen with SPF 30 containing soothing actives (allantoin and centella asiatica) for daily UV protection.

Is Paula's Choice Barrier Protect Mineral Sunscreen worth it?

Yes. All 2 gurus who reviewed it give it their stamp of approval, for a Guru Score of 83%.

What is Paula's Choice Barrier Protect Mineral Sunscreen's Guru Score?

Paula's Choice Barrier Protect Mineral Sunscreen holds a Guru Score of 83%. That is our read on how warmly the experts talk about it, based on the verdicts of 2 expert reviewers we have collected.