MERIT The Uniform Tinted Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50 - very fair neutral
Works for
Sun protectionSPF 50 · 3 UV filtersBroad spectrum
This product offers a good level of protection against both UVB and UVA rays.
This sunscreen uses organic (so-called "chemical") sunscreen filters. Organic, or "chemical" filters usually provide reliable sun protection and rarely leave a white cast. Sunscreens with organic filters can sting eyes.
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-agingTocopherolWorks well
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 toneNo ingredient credited for this claimWorks well
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).
MoisturizingCoco-caprylate, Diglycerin + 5 moreWorks
This product contains good ingredients to attract water to the upper layer of the skin. These ingredients are called "humectants": diglycerin, caprylyl glycol.
When humectants are on the surface of the skin, they “pull in” the moisture from the outside environment, or from within deeper layers of the skin. If the air is dry, humectants can speed up the moisture loss from the skin. This is why it is a good idea to use another product on top of this one to help "seal in" the moisture (look for ingredients like dimethicone, squalane, oils and butters).
Can it cause trouble?
Irritancy12 flagged ingredientsLow risk
Comedogenic1 ingredient rated 2 or more on the 0–5 pore-clogging scale1 flagged
User reviews
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Ingredients
Filter by role to see what each ingredient is doing.
Water~45–55%
Ci 77947~11–13%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Zinc oxide~5.9–7.3%
- 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 oxideC13-15 alkane~4–4.9%
Propanediol~3.3–4%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Acts as a solvent for other ingredients. Speeds up the absorption of other ingredients into the skin
More about PropanediolIsoamyl laurate~2.8–3.4%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Helps stabilize emulsions and create a nice product texture
More about Isoamyl laurateButyloctyl salicylate~2.4–3%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
A synthetic ester of salicylic acid that is used to help disperse pigments and boost effectiveness of sunscreen ingredients. It is able to absorb UV light (working as an organic, or chemical filter), but is not approved as a sunscreen ingredient on its own
More about Butyloctyl salicylateZea mays starch~2–2.4%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
- Comedogenicity
- 3/5
Used to thicken the product's consistency
More about Zea mays starchPolyglyceryl-4 diisostearate/polyhydroxystearate/sebacate~1.6–1.9%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Helps water and oil mix together
More about Polyglyceryl-4 diisostearate/polyhydroxystearate/sebacateC15-19 alkane~1.3–1.6%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Helps soften the upper layer of the skin and create a nice product texture
More about C15-19 alkanePolyhydroxystearic acid~1.1–1.4%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Used to create a thicker product consistency and stabilize the formulation
More about Polyhydroxystearic acidCoco-caprylate~1–1.3%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
An emollient that softens skin and creates a nice product texture
More about Coco-caprylateDiglycerin~0.9–1.1%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin
More about DiglycerinMagnesium sulfate~0.8–1.2%
Quaternium-90 bentonite~0.8–1.2%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Caprylic/capric triglyceride~0.9–1.1%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
A good mix of fatty acids that forms a protective layer on the skin. Improves the shelf life of products. Derived from coconut and glycerin
More about Caprylic/capric triglycerideDisteardimonium hectorite~0.7–1.05%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A type of clay that is used to thicken the product consistency
More about Disteardimonium hectoriteHydroxyacetophenone~0.6–0.9%
Lauroyl lysine~0.55–0.8%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Helps soften the upper layer of the skin and creates a nice product texture
More about Lauroyl lysineTriethyl citrate~0.5–0.75%
Caprylyl glycol~0.5–0.8%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Helps preserve products and creates a nice product texture
More about Caprylyl glycolCellulose~0.45–0.7%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Can be used to help absorb oil as well as add volume and imporve texture of products.
More about CelluloseTocopheryl acetate~0.45–0.7%
- 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 acetateSorbitan isostearate~0.4–0.65%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Helps oil and water mix together
More about Sorbitan isostearateEthylhexylglycerin~0.3–0.6%
Tocopherol~0.3–0.6%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Pure form of vitamin E. Can help moisturise and protect the skin from free radicals. Often used to help stabilise other ingredients or the formula itself
More about TocopherolAlumina~0.4–0.6%
- Irritation risk
- Low
The same compound that is used safely in dental implants and bone cements. In cosmetics, it is used to improve the consistency of products
More about AluminaCi 77891~0.2–0.4%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Titanium dioxide~0.3–0.55%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Works as a UV filter when used in high concentrations. It is photostable and is effective mostly against the UVB light, with some protection in the UVA range. In small concentrations, used for its ability to improve the color of cosmetic products. Is usually well tolerated by the skin
More about Titanium dioxideCi 77491~0.15–0.25%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A red colorant made of iron oxide. Typically is not irritating
More about Ci 77491Ci 77492~0.1–0.2%
Ci 77499~0.05–0.15%
Iron oxides~0.05–0.1%
- 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
Water, Ci 77947, Zinc oxide, C13-15 alkane, Propanediol, Isoamyl laurate, Butyloctyl salicylate, Zea mays starch, Polyglyceryl-4 diisostearate/polyhydroxystearate/sebacate, C15-19 alkane, Polyhydroxystearic acid, Coco-caprylate, Diglycerin, Magnesium sulfate, Quaternium-90 bentonite, Caprylic/capric triglyceride, Disteardimonium hectorite, Hydroxyacetophenone, Lauroyl lysine, Triethyl citrate, Caprylyl glycol, Cellulose, Tocopheryl acetate, Sorbitan isostearate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tocopherol, Alumina, Ci 77891, Titanium dioxide, Ci 77491, Ci 77492, Ci 77499, Iron oxides
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Worth comparing, line by line.
Match % combines shared ingredients, the first five ingredients, shared actives and hero ingredients, irritancy (lower counts in the alternative's favour), texture and body area. Only products in the same routine step are compared.
| MERITThe Uniform Tinted Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50 - very fair neutralYOUR PRODUCT | Hero CosmeticsForce Shield Superbeam Sunscreen Apricot SPF 30 | NourishMaxTINTED MINERAL DEFENSE SUNSCREEN SPF 30 | iS ClinicalExtreme Protect SPF 40 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Match | — | 33% | 32% | 31% |
| Price | — | — | — | $92.00 |
| Shared key ingredients | — | 4 of 6 | 4 of 6 | 4 of 6 |
| Key difference | — | Niacinamide | Knotgrass Extract | Madecassic Acid |
| Irritancy | Low | Low | Low | Low |
| SPF | SPF 50 | SPF 30 | SPF 30 | SPF 40 |
| Drying alcohol | — | — | — | — |
| View product | Shop | Shop | Shop |
More alternatives: Obagi Sun Shield Matte SPF50 CreamEltaMD UV Replenish Broad-Spectrum SPF 44
Product summary
We believe that "MERIT - The Uniform Tinted Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50 - very fair neutral" can provide reliable sun protection based on the ingredients listed. It can protect from both UVA and UVB rays. This is great news because 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).
Because it includes good moisturizing ingredients, it can also work as a hydrating day cream. Like all broad-spectrum sunscreens, this product has an anti-aging benefit.
Sunscreen filters
This is a "mixed" sunscreen in the sense that it uses both mineral and organic (so-called "chemical") sun filters. Here are the organic filters this product uses: butyloctyl salicylate. As for the mineral filters, this sunscreen uses zinc oxide.
Irritation risk
This product does not contain known common irritants and is suitable for sensitive skin. We assess the overall irritancy of it to be low. 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.
Sources cited in this review
Every concentration estimate and effectiveness label is anchored to one of these 11 studies and safety reviews.
- 1A review of inorganic UV filters zinc oxide and titanium dioxideonlinelibrary.wiley.com
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
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