Dermalogica Invisible Physical Defense SPF30 for sensitive skin

High
- HighNormal Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- HighSafety
A great choice for sensitive skin; a few sunscreens fit it even better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with sensitive skin: redness, stinging, and reactions to new products. For scores and recommendations based on your full skin profile, including your 12D face scan results and any goals or preferences you have, please use the Lovi app.
Page built Nov 8, 2026How the Fit score works
Lovi Assistant explains
- This product is highly suitable for your normal skin, with Bisabolol and Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract effectively soothing redness and irritation while Glycerin and Sodium Hyaluronate provide essential hydration.
- The inclusion of Zinc Oxide offers excellent broad-spectrum UV protection, further supporting your skin's health and barrier function.
- The formulation is safe for your sensitive skin, as it contains no harsh ingredients and includes soothing agents like Bisabolol and Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract.
How to apply
- Apply this sunscreen during your AM routine every morning. Reapply every two hours if you are staying outdoors under direct sunlight.
- Order in routine: apply the sunscreen as the final step after your moisturizer and before applying makeup.
- Application method: gently press a nickel-sized amount over your face and neck without harsh rubbing.
- Skin condition guidance: apply the sunscreen directly onto dry skin for even coverage and reliable sun protection.
- Safety note: avoid direct contact with your eyes and do a patch test before first use to check for sensitivity.
People Say
★4.5Overall rating based on 1.0k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, this mineral sunscreen is highly recommended for sensitive and acne-prone skin due to its soothing properties that prevent irritation and breakouts. However, users with medium-to-deep skin tones frequently report a noticeable white or blue cast, and those with oily skin often find the finish too greasy or shiny.
Highlights
Good for sensitive skin Mostly Mentioned
- “only SPF that doesn't burn my eyes”
- “didn't cause breakouts”
- “gentle on sensitive skin”
Lightweight texture Often Mentioned
- “glides on like butter”
- “feels like a light moisturizer”
- “doesn't feel thick or cakey”
- “absorbs quickly”
Leaves white cast Often Mentioned
- “leaves a purple cast on dark skin”
- “looked like a ghost”
- “took forever to rub in”
- “definitely not invisible on tan skin”
Good protection Sometimes Noted
- “feel protected all day”
- “blocks blue light from screens”
- “great physical barrier”
- “no sunburns”
Pleasant scent Sometimes Noted
- “smells like a spa”
- “light citrus scent”
- “love the herbal fragrance”
- “no harsh sunscreen smell”
Expensive product Sometimes Noted
- “way too pricey for the size”
- “tube didn't last long”
- “too expensive for daily use”
- “not worth the money”
Greasy finish Sometimes Noted
- “looked like a disco ball”
- “too greasy for oily skin”
- “makeup slid right off”
- “felt heavy and sticky”
Strong fragrance Rarely Noted
- “smell gave me a headache”
- “scent is too strong”
- “smells like essential oils”
- “wish it was fragrance-free”
Sources: lovi.care, dermalogica.com, ulta.com, dermstore.com, sephora.co.uk, lovelyskin.com, and more
Questions and answers
What makes Dermalogica Invisible Physical Defense SPF30 a great fit for sensitive skin?
This product is a great fit because it uses Zinc Oxide for gentle sun protection along with calming ingredients like Bisabolol and green tea leaf extract to soothe redness and irritation. It also includes hydrating ingredients like Glycerin and Sodium Hyaluronate to keep your skin soft and comfortable without any harsh additives.
Which ingredients make this cream a good fit for sensitive skin?
This cream is a great fit for sensitive skin because it uses Zinc Oxide for safe sun protection alongside soothing Bisabolol and green tea extract to calm redness and irritation. It also includes glycerin and sodium hyaluronate to keep your skin hydrated and help maintain its barrier.
What does Zinc Oxide do for sensitive skin?
Zinc oxide helps calm red, irritated skin and protects against irritation while being gentle enough for daily use. It is unlikely to cause trouble for delicate areas, making it a safe choice for soothing sensitive skin.
What does Hyaluronic Acid do for sensitive skin?
Hyaluronic acid helps calm and hydrate sensitive skin while supporting the skin barrier to keep it soft and comfortable. Clinical studies show it improves surface moisture and reduces dryness, roughness, and redness without irritation.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2025Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2018
Where does this cream go in a skincare routine for sensitive skin?
This cream is used in the morning as the last step of your routine, after cleansing, toning, and moisturizing. It protects your skin from the sun while keeping it calm and hydrated.
Can I use this cream with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this sunscreen in the morning as the last step of your routine, after applying your retinol and moisturizer the night before. This mineral formula helps protect delicate skin from UV rays while keeping it calm and hydrated throughout the day.
How often should I use this cream?
This sunscreen is a great fit for your sensitive skin and is designed for daily morning use to protect against UV rays while keeping redness calm. Zinc oxide provides safe sun protection, and soothing ingredients like bisabolol help keep your skin comfortable all day long.
Can this cream clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for sensitive skin?
This sunscreen is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for sensitive skin, as it contains no harsh ingredients and uses soothing zinc oxide and plant extracts to calm irritation. Glycerin and sodium hyaluronate also help keep your skin hydrated without feeling heavy.
Is this cream fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (linalool and limonene).
What the research says
A single application of a moisturizing fluid containing hyaluronic acid 1%, glycerin 5%, and Centella asiatica stem cells extract significantly increased skin hydration by 29% and reduced transepidermal water loss at 24 hours compared to baseline and an untreated control site in twenty healthy women.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017Biomimetic hyaluronic acid-stabilized zinc oxide nanoparticles selectively inhibited C. acnes, outperformed erythromycin in preclinical acne models, and safely reduced acne lesions and redness in a clinical trial.
Journal of Controlled Release, 2025Topical 0.5% hyaluronic-ZnO nanogel applied twice daily reduced inflammatory-lesion counts by 58% at week four in human subjects compared to baseline without causing erythema.
Biomedicines, 2025Nels cream achieved a similar reduction in inflammatory and noninflammatory lesion counts compared to 5% benzoyl peroxide in acne vulgaris patients, but caused significantly fewer side-effects such as peeling and dryness.
Clinical and Experimental Dermatology, 2000Topically applied coated and uncoated zinc oxide nanoparticles under flexing and massage are retained in the stratum corneum with no significant penetration into the viable epidermis and no cellular toxicity in human skin.
Nanomedicine, 2016Topical application of 0.1% hyaluronic acid formulations of different molecular weights led to significant improvements in skin hydration and elasticity, with low-molecular-weight formulations also significantly reducing wrinkle depth in seventy-six female subjects compared to a vehicle control.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2011Topical application of hyaluronic acid in conjunction with free gingival graft significantly reduced donor site postoperative pain until day 7 compared to normal saline, with no significant differences in graft dimensions or patient satisfaction.
Clinical Oral Investigations, 2022Treatment with a hyaluronic acid-containing mouth rinse or topical gel led to significant lesion reduction, pain relief, and normalization of lesion color in adult patients with minor recurrent aphthous stomatitis, with the gel formulation showing an earlier healing onset at 3 days.
BMC Oral Health, 2019Cordyceps sinensis mycelium hydroethanolic extract increased sirtuin expression, NAD+ synthesis, ATP production, collagen synthesis, and reduced ROS and wrinkles in in vitro assays and human subjects compared to controls.
International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2024Topical cream containing 0.2% Cordyceps militaris polysaccharide extract was safe and achieved over 70% overall preference in 20 female volunteers.
Fungal Biology and Biotechnology, 2023A cordycepin/chitosan hydrogel dressing served as a quicker re-epithelization of skin wounds and an apparent increasing collagen deposition compared with chitosan hydrogels in vivo.
International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2019Topical green tea extract significantly improved clinical symptoms, tear breakup times, and meibomian gland health compared to standard treatment in patients with dry eye and Meibomian Gland Dysfunction.
Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research, 2017Topical low-dose green tea extract reduces UVB-induced p53 expression and apoptosis in human skin keratinocytes compared to placebo.
Experimental Dermatology, 2009An anti-acne hydrogel containing Aloe barbadensis, Garcinia mangostana, and Camellia sinensis extracts showed superior antiacne and antiblotch activities compared to 1% clindamycin gel in sixty subjects with mild-moderate acne.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2019A combination cream of stimu-tex AS and saccharide isomerate reduced erythema, increased skin capacitance, and reduced transepidermal water loss compared to placebo in 20 subjects after fractional CO2 laser procedure without causing serious adverse events.
Lasers in Medical Science, 2025Topical application of an argan oil NLC-based hydrogel formulation increased skin hydration in healthy volunteers over a one-month period through a synergistic effect of NLC occlusion and argan oil hydration.
International Journal of Nanomedicine, 2014Incorporating allantoin into argan oil enriched liposomes improved its accumulation in the dermis (~8.7μg/cm(2)) and permeation through the skin (~33μg/cm(2)) compared to conventional liposomes, water dispersion, and a commercial gel.
International Journal of Pharmaceutics, 2016
Ingredients
Water, Zinc Oxide, Caprylic Capric Triglyceride, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Dimethicone, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Silica, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Peg-10 Dimethicone, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Cordyceps Sinensis Extract, Trametes Versicolor Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Eucalyptus Globulus Oil Leaf, Lavandula Spica Oil Flower Lavender Oil Flower, 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, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Hydroxide, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Linalool, Limonene
Behind this fit score
Lovi calculates every fit score from the full ingredient list with brand-independent rules our dermatologists and cosmetic chemists build and review, and personalizes every pick with AI trained on the real results of millions of users. Lovi trains its fit score models on a proprietary dataset built from more than 10,000 expert-labeled products and more than 100,000 simulated examples, following an internally consistent methodology presented at Cosmoprof, AMWC, and Skin of Color Update.
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Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
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Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
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Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
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Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
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Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
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