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Dermalogica Invisible Physical Defense SPF 30
Dermalogica

Invisible Physical Defense SPF 30

SPF 30 Tone-up Brightening veil from mineral & tone-up formulas; evens out your skin tone. United States us-fda Formulation variant: us-fda. Region-specific reformulations are tracked as separate products.

Pure-ZnO mineral with argan, cordyceps; eucalyptus and lavender oils plus linalool/limonene drag sensitivity; SPF 30 only, slightly matte ZnO finish.

△ MIN Mineral filters Mineral filters — Physical filters (ZnO, TiO2) sit on top and reflect UV. Reef-safer and super gentle. ((· BS Broad spectrum Broad spectrum — Blocks UVA + UVB — covers the whole sun-damage spectrum. F F-FREE Fragrance-free Fragrance-free — No added fragrance — lower irritation risk if your skin's reactive. A A-FREE Alcohol-free Alcohol-free — No drying short-chain alcohols (denatured / SD alcohol).
Where to buy it
Ulta US In stock
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68.8
Composite
Composite score · independent
Ranks #926 of 1558 in the current catalogue. Pure-ZnO mineral with argan, cordyceps; eucalyptus and lavender oils plus linalool/limonene drag sensitivity; SPF 30 only, slightly matte ZnO finish.
Composite is a weighted blend: UV 25% · Modernity 10% · Sensitivity 15% · Environment 10% · Elegance 15% · Health 25%. That's the recipe.
01 The score breakdown
UV protection How hard it blocks UVA + UVB across the spectrum at the stated SPF/PA. 58
Filter modernity Dings legacy filters (octinoxate, oxybenzone); rewards photostable next-gen ones. 80
Sensitivity safety Risk for reactive skin — fragrance, alcohol, and known sensitisers. 52
Reef / env. safety Reef toxicity plus how biodegradable the UV filters and surfactants are. 100
Cosmetic elegance Spread, finish, white-cast, and how it actually feels on skin. 70
Health safety Endocrine concerns and systemic absorption signals across the whole formula. 72
02 Composition · key UV filters 1 filters resolved
UVA-I 340–400nm UVA-I (340–400nm) — covered UVA-II 320–340nm UVA-II (320–340nm) — covered UVB 290–320nm UVB (290–320nm) — covered
Zinc Oxide Mineral Physical filter — sits on skin and reflects UV. Reef-safer.
03 The facts, at a glance
Protection
Filter type Mineral filters (zinc oxide, titanium dioxide) sit on skin and reflect UV. Chemical filters absorb UV. Hybrid runs both.
Mineral
Broad spectrum Covers both UVA and UVB. UVA drives aging and deeper damage; UVB gives you burns.
Yes
Formulation & feel
Texture How it feels going on — milk, gel, cream, spray, stick, essence, lotion, powder, or cushion.
Cream
Finish How it looks once dry: matte, natural, dewy, or glowy.
Matte
Tinted Adds sheer pigment (iron oxides) that masks the white cast common to mineral filters and gives a skin-tone finish.
No
Fragrance-free No synthetic perfume added. Not FDA-defined in the US; the EU requires 'Parfum' + the 26 named allergens on the label. 'Unscented' is different — it can hide masking fragrance. Botanical oils still scent.
Yes
Alcohol-free No drying short-chain alcohols (alcohol denat., SD alcohol, ethanol). Doesn't mean fatty alcohols like cetyl or stearyl — those are emollients.
Yes
Verdict Is it worth it?

Single-filter zinc oxide mineral SPF 30 with argan oil, cordyceps, and Trametes mushroom extracts plus bisabolol. Eucalyptus and lavender oils with linalool and limonene leave a mid-tier gentleness profile despite the no-parfum status.

Pros
  • Pure zinc oxide mineral filter
  • Fragrance-free per INCI and alcohol-free
  • Argan oil, cordyceps, and Trametes versicolor extracts
  • Bisabolol and sodium hyaluronate
Cons
  • Eucalyptus and lavender essential oils included
  • Linalool and limonene declared
  • SPF 30 ceiling
  • Visible mineral cast despite the invisible naming

Who it's for: US buyers wanting a daily mineral SPF with botanical actives who do not react to essential oils.

04 Full ingredient list (INCI) 37 ingredients
MODERN FILTER 0 LEGACY FILTER 1 MINERAL FILTER 1 ADDED FRAGRANCE 0 NATURAL FRAGRANCE 5 ALCOHOL 0 WATCH 0 ACTIVE 3
Water· Zinc Oxide Mineral UV filter — physical block; reef-safer. ·Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride·C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate·Dimethicone· Butyloctyl Salicylate Salicylate-class booster; supports avobenzone. ·Butylene Glycol· Glycerin Humectant — the workhorse hydrator. ·Silica·Polyhydroxystearic Acid·PEG-10 Dimethicone·Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil·Cordyceps Sinensis Extract·Trametes Versicolor Extract· Sodium Hyaluronate Hyaluronic acid — humectant. ·Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract· Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil Essential / botanical oil — releases scent compounds (terpenes, aldehydes) naturally. Marketed as "natural" but still a recognised source of contact sensitivity. · Lavandula Spica Flower Oil Essential / botanical oil — releases scent compounds (terpenes, aldehydes) naturally. Marketed as "natural" but still a recognised source of contact sensitivity. ·Tocopheryl Acetate·Sodium Chloride·Stearalkonium Hectorite·Pentylene Glycol·Lauryl Peg-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone·Propanediol·Dimethicone Crosspolymer·Sodium Citrate·Propylene Carbonate·Xanthan Gum·Caprylyl Glycol·Bisabolol· Lavandula Hybrida Oil Essential / botanical oil — releases scent compounds (terpenes, aldehydes) naturally. Marketed as "natural" but still a recognised source of contact sensitivity. · Ethylhexylglycerin Humectant — the workhorse hydrator. ·Sodium Hydroxide·Potassium Sorbate·Sodium Benzoate· Linalool Known fragrance allergen (one of the EU-26). Naturally found in essential oils; required to be listed by name in the EU. Can trigger sensitivity even when no synthetic parfum is added. · Limonene Known fragrance allergen (one of the EU-26). Naturally found in essential oils; required to be listed by name in the EU. Can trigger sensitivity even when no synthetic parfum is added.
Source: brand-published INCI. Last verified 2026. Show in detail
01 Water Water
02 Zinc Oxide MINERAL FILTER Mineral UV filter — physical block; reef-safer.
03 Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
04 C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
05 Dimethicone Dimethicone
06 Butyloctyl Salicylate LEGACY FILTER Salicylate-class booster; supports avobenzone.
07 Butylene Glycol Butylene Glycol
08 Glycerin ACTIVE Humectant — the workhorse hydrator.
09 Silica Silica
10 Polyhydroxystearic Acid Polyhydroxystearic Acid
11 PEG-10 Dimethicone PEG-10 Dimethicone
12 Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil Argan Kernel Oil
13 Cordyceps Sinensis Extract Cordyceps Extract
14 Trametes Versicolor Extract
15 Sodium Hyaluronate ACTIVE Hyaluronic acid — humectant.
16 Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract Green Tea Leaf Extract
17 Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil NATURAL FRAGRANCE Essential / botanical oil — releases scent compounds (terpenes, aldehydes) naturally. Marketed as "natural" but still a recognised source of contact sensitivity.
18 Lavandula Spica Flower Oil NATURAL FRAGRANCE Essential / botanical oil — releases scent compounds (terpenes, aldehydes) naturally. Marketed as "natural" but still a recognised source of contact sensitivity.
19 Tocopheryl Acetate Vitamin E Acetate
20 Sodium Chloride Sodium Chloride
21 Stearalkonium Hectorite Stearalkonium Hectorite
22 Pentylene Glycol Pentylene Glycol
23 Lauryl Peg-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone Lauryl PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone
24 Propanediol Propanediol
25 Dimethicone Crosspolymer Dimethicone Crosspolymer
26 Sodium Citrate Sodium Citrate
27 Propylene Carbonate Propylene Carbonate
28 Xanthan Gum Xanthan Gum
29 Caprylyl Glycol Caprylyl Glycol
30 Bisabolol Bisabolol
31 Lavandula Hybrida Oil NATURAL FRAGRANCE Essential / botanical oil — releases scent compounds (terpenes, aldehydes) naturally. Marketed as "natural" but still a recognised source of contact sensitivity.
32 Ethylhexylglycerin ACTIVE Humectant — the workhorse hydrator.
33 Sodium Hydroxide Sodium Hydroxide
34 Potassium Sorbate Potassium Sorbate
35 Sodium Benzoate Sodium Benzoate
36 Linalool NATURAL FRAGRANCE Known fragrance allergen (one of the EU-26). Naturally found in essential oils; required to be listed by name in the EU. Can trigger sensitivity even when no synthetic parfum is added.
37 Limonene NATURAL FRAGRANCE Known fragrance allergen (one of the EU-26). Naturally found in essential oils; required to be listed by name in the EU. Can trigger sensitivity even when no synthetic parfum is added.