e.l.f. Cosmetics e.l.f. Beauty Shield SPF 50 Skin Shielding Primer
Works for
2 of 2 advertised claims delivered
Sun protectionSPF 50 · 1 UV filterBroad spectrum
This product offers a good level of protection against both UVB and UVA rays.
It is a mineral sunscreen. In other words, it contains non-organic UV filters. It will probably not sting your eyes but might leave a white cast.
This product can be considered "reef safe" because it does not contain the UV filters (oxybenzone and octinoxate) that can be harmful to coral reefs when present in the water in high concentrations.
Anti-agingAscorbyl palmitateStrong evidence
“Antioxidant enriched primer to prep skin for makeup application Protects skin from sun exposure with SPF 50 Fights pollutants and environmental aggressors Minimizes the appearance of fine lines and winkles Use as primer or alone for a sheer look 100% Vegan and Cruelty-Free”
This product can help prevent early signs of skin aging because it offers a good level of broad spectrum sun protection. Sun damage is the main cause of premature skin aging, and protecting your skin from the sun is the best anti-aging strategy.
Evens skin toneNot advertised by the brand · No ingredient credited for this claimStrong evidence
This product offers broad spectrum sun protection. It means that it can prevent hyperpigmentation and help keep the skin tone even (sun damage is the main factor causing age spots, darkening of post-acne marks and other discolorations).
MoisturizingNot advertised by the brand · Helianthus annuus seed oil, Dimethicone crosspolymer + 5 moreGood evidence
This product can help soften the skin and reduce its moisture loss with emollients and occlusives: helianthus annuus seed oil, cyclopentasiloxane.
Keep in mind that this product does not contain effective ingredients to attract water to the upper layer of the skin. This is why an additional product with humectants like glycerin or hyaluronic acid can be helpful (apply it before this product for the best results).
Can it cause trouble?
Irritancy1 strong irritant: ParfumMedium risk
ComedogenicClean of flagged comedogenic ingredientsNone flagged
User reviews
Be the first — your take helps the next person decide.
Ingredients
Filter by role to see what each ingredient is doing.
Zinc oxide~44–54%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A broad spectrum sunblock (protects from both UVA and UVB rays). Is suitable for most sensitive skins. In small concentrations, can be used as a colorant
More about Zinc oxideTriethoxycaprylylsilane~8.1–9.9%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A type of silicone that helps oil and water mix well together. Helps to disperse other ingredients, e.g. pigments, evenly in a formulation
More about TriethoxycaprylylsilaneCyclohexasiloxane~4.7–5.7%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A silicone that serves as an emollient. Helps create a nice non-greasy feels
More about CyclohexasiloxaneWater~3–3.7%
Dimethicone crosspolymer~2.3–2.8%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Used to create a thicker product texture. Helps soften the upper layer of the skin and might be able to prevent moisture loss from its surface
More about Dimethicone crosspolymerCetyl peg/ppg-10/1 dimethicone~1.9–2.3%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A type of silicone that helps water and oil mix together. Can help to soften upper layer of the skin
More about Cetyl peg/ppg-10/1 dimethiconeSilica~1.8–2.2%
Silica dimethyl silylate~1.5–1.8%
Tocopheryl acetate~1.1–1.3%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
A more stable but less bio-available form of vitamin E compared to Tocopherol. Might help moisturize and protect the skin from free radicals, but mostly used in low concentrations to stabilize other ingredients.
More about Tocopheryl acetateDaucus carota sativa seed oil~0.9–1.1%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A plant oil that might help neutralize free radicals and have an anti-bacterial effect
More about Daucus carota sativa seed oilDaucus carota sativa root extract~0.7–1.05%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Carrot extract. Might have anti-oxidant properties and be used to add orange color
More about Daucus carota sativa root extractBeta-carotene~0.55–0.85%
Helianthus annuus seed oil~0.55–0.85%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A great emollient due to its high linoleic acid content. One of the most effective plant oils in helping skin hydration and repairing skin barrier function
More about Helianthus annuus seed oilAscorbyl palmitate~0.5–0.8%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Being a lipid soluble form of vitamin C, it is more stable and can penetrate the skin better than L-Ascorbic acid. It is effective in protecting the skin from free radicals, as well as evening the skin tone, but is less effective in stimulating collagen production compared to L-Ascorbic acid.
More about Ascorbyl palmitateGlyceryl stearate~0.5–0.8%
- Irritation risk
- Low
An emollient that softens the skin and forms a protective layer on its surface. Helps water and oil mix together
More about Glyceryl stearateStearic acid~0.6–0.9%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Helps oil and water mix together and works as an emollient
More about Stearic acidParfum~0.45–0.65%
- Irritation risk
- High
An aromatic blend of unspecified and possibly irritating ingredients
More about ParfumPhenoxyethanol~0.45–0.7%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A preservative. It helps prevent bacterial growth in cosmetic products
More about PhenoxyethanolEthylhexylglycerin~0.4–0.6%
Sodium chloride~0.45–0.65%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Used to stabilize mixtures of oil and water, and create thicker, gel-like product textures
More about Sodium chlorideZinc oxide25%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A broad spectrum sunblock (protects from both UVA and UVB rays). Is suitable for most sensitive skins. In small concentrations, can be used as a colorant
More about Zinc oxideCyclopentasiloxane25%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A silicone that helps improve the product texture and spreadability. Can absorb oil creating a short-term mattifying effect on the skin
More about CyclopentasiloxaneTriethoxycaprylylsilane~0.3–0.6%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A type of silicone that helps oil and water mix well together. Helps to disperse other ingredients, e.g. pigments, evenly in a formulation
More about TriethoxycaprylylsilaneCyclohexasiloxane~0.4–0.6%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A silicone that serves as an emollient. Helps create a nice non-greasy feels
More about CyclohexasiloxaneWater~0.3–0.6%
Dimethicone crosspolymer~0.35–0.65%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Used to create a thicker product texture. Helps soften the upper layer of the skin and might be able to prevent moisture loss from its surface
More about Dimethicone crosspolymerCetyl peg/ppg-10/1 dimethicone~0.3–0.6%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A type of silicone that helps water and oil mix together. Can help to soften upper layer of the skin
More about Cetyl peg/ppg-10/1 dimethiconeSilica~0.5–0.7%
Silica dimethyl silylate~0.4–0.6%
Tocopheryl acetate~0.3–0.6%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
A more stable but less bio-available form of vitamin E compared to Tocopherol. Might help moisturize and protect the skin from free radicals, but mostly used in low concentrations to stabilize other ingredients.
More about Tocopheryl acetateDaucus carota sativa seed oil~0.3–0.6%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A plant oil that might help neutralize free radicals and have an anti-bacterial effect
More about Daucus carota sativa seed oilDaucus carota sativa root extract~0.3–0.5%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Carrot extract. Might have anti-oxidant properties and be used to add orange color
More about Daucus carota sativa root extractBeta-carotene~0.3–0.55%
Helianthus annuus seed oil~0.3–0.6%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A great emollient due to its high linoleic acid content. One of the most effective plant oils in helping skin hydration and repairing skin barrier function
More about Helianthus annuus seed oilAscorbyl palmitate~0.3–0.5%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Being a lipid soluble form of vitamin C, it is more stable and can penetrate the skin better than L-Ascorbic acid. It is effective in protecting the skin from free radicals, as well as evening the skin tone, but is less effective in stimulating collagen production compared to L-Ascorbic acid.
More about Ascorbyl palmitateGlyceryl stearate~0.3–0.55%
- Irritation risk
- Low
An emollient that softens the skin and forms a protective layer on its surface. Helps water and oil mix together
More about Glyceryl stearateStearic acid~0.3–0.55%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Helps oil and water mix together and works as an emollient
More about Stearic acidParfum~0.1–0.2%
- Irritation risk
- High
An aromatic blend of unspecified and possibly irritating ingredients
More about ParfumPhenoxyethanol~0.1–0.2%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A preservative. It helps prevent bacterial growth in cosmetic products
More about PhenoxyethanolEthylhexylglycerin~0.1–0.15%
Sodium chloride~0.1–0.15%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Used to stabilize mixtures of oil and water, and create thicker, gel-like product textures
More about Sodium chlorideIron oxides~0.1–0.15%
- Irritation risk
- Low
An umbrella term for the following three colorants: CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499. They might be able to offer some protection against visible light, but the degree of the protection is not clear
More about Iron oxidesIngredient list view
Zinc oxide, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Cyclohexasiloxane, Water, Dimethicone crosspolymer, Cetyl peg/ppg-10/1 dimethicone, Silica, Silica dimethyl silylate, Tocopheryl acetate, Daucus carota sativa seed oil, Daucus carota sativa root extract, Beta-carotene, Helianthus annuus seed oil, Ascorbyl palmitate, Glyceryl stearate, Stearic acid, Parfum, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium chloride, Zinc oxide, Cyclopentasiloxane, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Cyclohexasiloxane, Water, Dimethicone crosspolymer, Cetyl peg/ppg-10/1 dimethicone, Silica, Silica dimethyl silylate, Tocopheryl acetate, Daucus carota sativa seed oil, Daucus carota sativa root extract, Beta-carotene, Helianthus annuus seed oil, Ascorbyl palmitate, Glyceryl stearate, Stearic acid, Parfum, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium chloride, Iron oxides
Compare prices
Retailers ranked by price — lowest first.
Affiliate links · prices updated regularly
Product summary
Based on the ingredients included, we believe that "e. L. F. Cosmetics - e. L. F. Beauty Shield SPF 50 Skin Shielding Primer" can offer reliable sun protection. We love that it can protect from both UVA and UVB rays (not all sunscreens with SPF ratings give UVA protection. UVA rays do not cause sunburn, but still damage our skin and lead to early aging).
This sunscreen should also be hydrating enough to use without an additional moisturizer during the day. Like all broad-spectrum sunscreens, this product has an anti-aging benefit.
Sunscreen filters
It is a mineral sunscreen. It uses zinc oxide for sun protection. Zinc oxide almost never irritates the skin or stings eyes, but it can leave a white cast.
Irritation risk
This sunscreen contains some common irritants, including those without a benefit for the skin. We assess the overall irritancy of it to be medium. For a detailed overview of all potential irritants: click here
You can see the detailed formula review with the breakdown of all actives in the product and the full ingredient list with estimated concentrations in the tables below.
Price
The product retails for 15.75$ in the United States.
For a detailed price comparison: click here.
Sources cited in this review
Every concentration estimate and effectiveness label is anchored to one of these 10 studies and safety reviews.
- 1A review of inorganic UV filters zinc oxide and titanium dioxideonlinelibrary.wiley.com
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
Affiliate links · As an Amazon Associate, WIMJ earns from qualifying purchases.