Dermalogica Invisible Physical Defense SPF30 for dry sensitive skin
Zinc Oxide
Sodium Hyaluronate
Cordyceps Sinensis Extract
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Argania Spinosa Kernel OilHigh
- HighDry Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- HighSafety
A great choice for dry sensitive skin; a few sunscreens fit it even better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with dry sensitive skin: flakiness, tightness, redness, fine lines, and wrinkles. 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 formulation offers excellent UV protection for your dry and sensitive skin due to the presence of zinc oxide, while Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil and Glycerin provide emollient and humectant actions to address dryness.
- The inclusion of Sodium Hyaluronate offers moderate hydration benefits, complementing the overall moisturizing effect for your dry or flaky skin.
- The product is safe for your skin, as it contains no harsh ingredients and poses no risk of irritation.
How to apply
- Use your sunscreen as part of your AM routine every morning. Reapply every two hours when exposed to the sun.
- Apply the sunscreen after your moisturizer as the final step of your morning skincare routine.
- Gently press a coin-sized amount of sunscreen evenly into your skin, and avoid rubbing it harshly. Let it set for a minute before going outdoors.
- Since your skin is sensitive , apply the sunscreen over your dry moisturizer to ensure better comfort and protection.
- Always do a patch test before your first use and avoid direct contact with the eyes.
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 a great fit for dry sensitive skin?
Dermalogica Invisible Physical Defense SPF30 is a great fit because zinc oxide offers reliable sun protection while argan oil and glycerin help keep dry skin soft and comfortable. Sodium hyaluronate adds extra moisture, and the formula is designed to be gentle without causing irritation.
Which ingredients make this cream a good fit for dry sensitive skin?
Zinc oxide provides strong UV protection, while argan oil and glycerin help lock in moisture to soothe dry, flaky areas. Sodium hyaluronate also adds gentle hydration without causing any irritation to sensitive skin.
What does Zinc Oxide do for dry sensitive skin?
Zinc oxide helps calm dry, sensitive skin by reducing redness and soothing irritation while protecting a delicate skin barrier. It is unlikely to cause irritation and is commonly used to keep skin comfortable.
What does Hyaluronic Acid do for dry sensitive skin?
Hyaluronic acid is a great fit for dry, sensitive skin because it brings a large boost in hydration, making the skin feel soft and smooth while improving barrier function. It helps calm tightness and dryness, and is unlikely to cause irritation.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2011Dermatology and Therapy, 2021
Where does it go in a skincare routine for dry sensitive skin?
This product goes in the morning routine as your moisturizing sunscreen after cleansing and toning. It is well-suited for your dry and sensitive skin because it provides reliable UV protection while using ingredients like argan oil and glycerin to relieve dryness and keep your skin soft.
Can I use this cream with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this sunscreen every morning as the final step of your daytime routine, applied after your retinol treatment has absorbed. This cream is unlikely to irritate dry, sensitive skin and helps keep your face feeling soft and comfortable all day.
How often should I use it?
You can use this sunscreen every morning as the final step of your daytime routine to protect against UV rays while keeping your dry skin soft and comfortable. It contains zinc oxide, argan oil, and glycerin, which help defend against the sun while locking in moisture without causing irritation.
Can this cream clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for dry sensitive skin?
This sunscreen is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts on dry sensitive skin, as it contains no harsh ingredients and poses no risk of irritation. It also does not cause purging because it lacks active exfoliants that push trapped debris to the surface.
Is it fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (linalool and limonene).
What the research says
Topical 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, 2014Hyaluronic acid extracts are safe and efficacious products for skin repair when used in tissue regeneration alone or in combination with herbal or Western medicine.
Journal of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2015Biomimetic 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, 2025Incorporating 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
How does it fit your skin?
Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.