Sunscreen Ranker Independent ranker
Dr. Brandt Liquid Sun Shield SPF 50
Dr. Brandt

Liquid Sun Shield SPF 50

SPF 50+ 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.

ZnO-led mineral with ectoin; lavender, orange peel and linalool/linalyl acetate/limonene knock sensitivity; otherwise modern clean mineral.

△ 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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75.4
Composite
Composite score · independent
Ranks #560 of 1558 in the current catalogue. ZnO-led mineral with ectoin; lavender, orange peel and linalool/linalyl acetate/limonene knock sensitivity; otherwise modern clean mineral.
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. 82
Filter modernity Dings legacy filters (octinoxate, oxybenzone); rewards photostable next-gen ones. 80
Sensitivity safety Risk for reactive skin — fragrance, alcohol, and known sensitisers. 54
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. 72
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.
Natural
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?

A zinc oxide mineral SPF 50 with ectoin and a tone-up finish, but the ingredient list includes lavender oil, orange peel oil, and the fragrance allergens linalool, linalyl acetate, and limonene. Modern mineral structure undercut by botanical sensitizers.

Pros
  • Zinc oxide single-filter mineral at SPF 50
  • Includes ectoin, a cellular-stress humectant
  • Tone-up finish brightens visible skin
  • Shea butter and tocopherol for emollient feel
  • No denatured alcohol
Cons
  • Lavender and citrus peel oils are common sensitizers
  • Contains linalool, linalyl acetate, limonene allergens
  • Not suitable for fragrance-sensitive or reactive skin
  • Tone-up may leave cast on deeper skin tones

Who it's for: Buyers who tolerate essential oils and want a high-SPF tone-up mineral with ectoin; reactive skin should avoid due to lavender and citrus oils.

04 Full ingredient list (INCI) 42 ingredients
MODERN FILTER 0 LEGACY FILTER 1 MINERAL FILTER 1 ADDED FRAGRANCE 0 NATURAL FRAGRANCE 5 ALCOHOL 0 WATCH 0 ACTIVE 3
Zinc Oxide Mineral UV filter — physical block; reef-safer. ·Water·Isododecane·Polyglyceryl-6 Polyricinoleate·Propanediol·Dimethicone·Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride·Trimethylsiloxysilicate· Butyloctyl Salicylate Salicylate-class booster; supports avobenzone. ·Coco-caprylate/Caprate·Isoamyl Laurate·Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate·Polyglyceryl-10 Dioleate·Lecithin·Polyhydroxystearic Acid·Ectoin·Polymethylsilsesquioxane·Butyrospermum Parkii Butter· Glycerin Humectant — the workhorse hydrator. · Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil Essential / botanical oil — releases scent compounds (terpenes, aldehydes) naturally. Marketed as "natural" but still a recognised source of contact sensitivity. ·Plankton Extract· Lavandula Angustifolia Oil Essential / botanical oil — releases scent compounds (terpenes, aldehydes) naturally. Marketed as "natural" but still a recognised source of contact sensitivity. · Lavandula Hybrida Oil Essential / botanical oil — releases scent compounds (terpenes, aldehydes) naturally. Marketed as "natural" but still a recognised source of contact sensitivity. ·Decyl Glucoside·Sodium Ascorbate·Caprylyl Glycol·Dimethiconol·Propylene Carbonate·Aminomethyl Propanol·Polysilicone-11·Disteardimonium Hectorite· Ethylhexylglycerin Humectant — the workhorse hydrator. ·Polysorbate 20·Sclareolide·Tocopheryl Acetate·Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer· Tocopherol Vitamin E — antioxidant. · 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. ·Linalyl Acetate·Hexylene Glycol·Phenoxyethanol· 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 Zinc Oxide MINERAL FILTER Mineral UV filter — physical block; reef-safer.
02 Water Water
03 Isododecane Isododecane
04 Polyglyceryl-6 Polyricinoleate Polyglyceryl-6 Polyricinoleate
05 Propanediol Propanediol
06 Dimethicone Dimethicone
07 Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
08 Trimethylsiloxysilicate Trimethylsiloxysilicate
09 Butyloctyl Salicylate LEGACY FILTER Salicylate-class booster; supports avobenzone.
10 Coco-caprylate/Caprate Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
11 Isoamyl Laurate Isoamyl Laurate
12 Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate
13 Polyglyceryl-10 Dioleate Polyglyceryl-10 Dioleate
14 Lecithin Lecithin
15 Polyhydroxystearic Acid Polyhydroxystearic Acid
16 Ectoin Ectoin
17 Polymethylsilsesquioxane Polymethylsilsesquioxane
18 Butyrospermum Parkii Butter Shea Butter
19 Glycerin ACTIVE Humectant — the workhorse hydrator.
20 Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil NATURAL FRAGRANCE Essential / botanical oil — releases scent compounds (terpenes, aldehydes) naturally. Marketed as "natural" but still a recognised source of contact sensitivity.
21 Plankton Extract
22 Lavandula Angustifolia Oil NATURAL FRAGRANCE Essential / botanical oil — releases scent compounds (terpenes, aldehydes) naturally. Marketed as "natural" but still a recognised source of contact sensitivity.
23 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.
24 Decyl Glucoside Decyl Glucoside
25 Sodium Ascorbate Sodium Ascorbate
26 Caprylyl Glycol Caprylyl Glycol
27 Dimethiconol Dimethiconol
28 Propylene Carbonate Propylene Carbonate
29 Aminomethyl Propanol Aminomethyl Propanol
30 Polysilicone-11 Polysilicone-11
31 Disteardimonium Hectorite Disteardimonium Hectorite
32 Ethylhexylglycerin ACTIVE Humectant — the workhorse hydrator.
33 Polysorbate 20 Polysorbate 20
34 Sclareolide Sclareolide
35 Tocopheryl Acetate Vitamin E Acetate
36 Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
37 Tocopherol ACTIVE Vitamin E — antioxidant.
38 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.
39 Linalyl Acetate Linalyl Acetate
40 Hexylene Glycol Hexylene Glycol
41 Phenoxyethanol Phenoxyethanol
42 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.