Murad City Skin Age Defense Broad Spectrum SPF 50 PA++++ for oily acne-prone skin
Zinc Oxide
Titanium Dioxide
Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Ascorbic Acid
Retinyl PalmitateHigh
- HighOily Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
A great choice for oily acne-prone skin; a few sunscreens fit it even better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with oily acne-prone skin: shine, breakouts, blemishes, and enlarged pores. 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 offers excellent sun protection for your oily skin, with zinc oxide and titanium dioxide providing broad-spectrum UV filtering without exacerbating oiliness. Glycerin and dimethicone balance the skin by offering humectant and emollient actions respectively.
- While it provides general hydration and soothing benefits with ingredients like oat kernel extract and bisabolol, it lacks targeted ingredients for significant acne and breakout improvement.
- The safety profile is excellent, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the presence of soothing components.
How to apply
- Apply this sunscreen AM as the final step of your morning skincare routine. Reapply every two hours when exposed to the sun for continuous protection.
- Apply after your moisturizer as the last step before makeup. Do not apply anything on top of your sunscreen.
- Gently spread a coin-sized amount evenly across your face and neck. Avoid harsh rubbing to prevent disturbing the protective layer.
- Apply on completely dry skin after your moisturizer has fully absorbed. This ensures the sunscreen forms an even, protective barrier.
- Avoid direct contact with your eyes during application. Do a patch test before first use to ensure no irritation occurs.
People Say
★4.8Overall rating based on 200+ reviewsThis mineral sunscreen is highly rated for its ultra-light, serum-like texture and peach tint that color-corrects and provides a radiant finish. It is frequently praised by users with sensitive skin and those seeking protection from blue light and pollution. Users with darker skin tones often report a noticeable white or ashy cast despite claims of no white cast.
Highlights
Lightweight texture Mostly Mentioned
- “cushy gel-lotion”
- “serum-like feel”
- “absorbs quickly”
- “cosmetically elegant”
Expensive price point Mostly Mentioned
- “very pricey”
- “steep cost”
- “expensive per ounce”
Glowy finish Often Mentioned
- “luminous pearlized finish”
- “dewy glow”
- “radiant look”
- “skin looks bright”
No white cast (light/medium skin) Often Mentioned
- “disappeared completely”
- “no ashy residue”
- “invisible on fair skin”
- “blends seamlessly”
Blue light & pollution defense Sometimes Noted
- “shields against screens”
- “environmental protection”
- “blocks blue light”
- “prevent premature aging”
Great for sensitive skin Sometimes Noted
- “no stinging”
- “soothes redness”
- “non-irritating”
- “best for sensitive eyes”
White cast on dark skin Sometimes Noted
- “straight-up ashy”
- “grayish cast”
- “lightened skin tone”
- “not for dark complexions”
Greasy or shiny finish Rarely Noted
- “too shiny”
- “oily residue”
- “sits on top”
- “too dewy for oily skin”
Packaging issues Rarely Noted
- “hard to squeeze”
- “rigid bottle”
- “heavy ceramic bottle”
- “difficult dispenser”
Pilling under makeup Rarely Noted
- “starts peeling”
- “rubs off in clumps”
- “pills with foundation”
- “flakes off”
Sources: lovi.care, sephora.com, ulta.com, dermstore.com, lovelyskin.com, cultbeauty.co.uk, and more
Questions and answers
What makes Murad City Skin Age Defense SPF 50 a great fit for oily acne-prone skin?
This product is a great fit because its zinc oxide and titanium dioxide offer sun protection without adding extra oil. Glycerin and dimethicone help balance the skin by keeping it hydrated and smooth while remaining gentle.
Which ingredients make this cream a good fit for oily acne-prone skin?
Zinc oxide and titanium dioxide make this sunscreen a great fit by providing UV protection without making oily skin greasy. Glycerin and dimethicone help balance the skin by keeping it soft and smooth without adding extra shine.
What does Zinc Oxide do for oily acne-prone skin?
Zinc oxide helps calm oily, acne-prone skin by reducing redness and targeting blemish-causing bacteria. It is unlikely to cause irritation and may help decrease excess oil while supporting clearer skin.
What does Titanium Dioxide do for oily acne-prone skin?
Titanium dioxide acts as a physical mineral sunscreen to shield oily, acne-prone skin from UV rays without clogging pores or triggering breakouts. It sits safely on the outer surface of the skin and is unlikely to penetrate or cause irritation.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2000Skin Pharmacology and Applied Skin Physiology, 2001
Where does this cream go in a skincare routine for oily acne-prone skin?
This sunscreen goes last in your morning routine, right after your moisturizer. It provides broad-spectrum UV protection without adding extra oiliness to the skin.
Can I use this cream with niacinamide, and in what order?
You can use this sunscreen after applying your niacinamide serum, as applying sunscreen is always the final step of your morning routine before makeup. This product is unlikely to cause irritation on oily acne-prone skin.
How often should I use this cream?
Apply this sunscreen every morning as the final step in your daytime skincare routine. Mineral UV filters and balancing agents help protect and hydrate oily skin throughout the day without clogging pores.
Can this cream clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily acne-prone skin?
This cream is unlikely to clog pores or cause purging on oily acne-prone skin because it uses mineral filters like zinc oxide and titanium dioxide that do not make oiliness worse. It has a great safety profile with soothing ingredients that help keep irritation low, though it does not contain targeted ingredients to actively improve breakouts.
Is this cream fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
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, 2025Retinyl palmitate ethosomal hydrogel reduced non-inflammatory and total acne lesion counts significantly better than marketed tretinoin while improving tolerability with minimal skin irritation in patients with acne vulgaris.
International Journal of Nanomedicine, 2021Topical 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, 2016Microfine titanium dioxide does not penetrate human skin when formulated in an oil-in-water emulsion with the pigment dispersed in the aqueous phase, compared to oily dispersions and liposomal encapsulation which allow deeper skin penetration.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2000Replacing microsized titanium dioxide and zinc oxide with nanoparticles in sunscreens eliminates opaqueness and alters UV protection balance while inducing (photo)cyto- and genotoxicity and penetrating viable skin layers during long-term exposures.
Nanotechnology, Science and Applications, 2011Microfine zinc oxide and titanium dioxide do not penetrate the stratum corneum of porcine skin in vitro, indicating that their use in sunscreens does not pose a health risk from internal exposure.
Toxicology in Vitro, 2006A 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, 2016Topical application of 5% vitamin C cream significantly improved global clinical scores, increased skin microrelief density, and induced elastic tissue repair in photoaged skin compared to excipient control in healthy female volunteers.
Experimental Dermatology, 2003Ascorbic acid 2-glucoside gel significantly reduced gingival melanin pigmentation after 4 weeks compared to placebo in 73 subjects with symmetric pigmentation.
Journal of Periodontology, 2009Topical application of VC-IP cream twice daily for 8 weeks reduces periorbital wrinkles in female subjects compared to a placebo cream.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022Over-the-counter retinol products provided only weak evidence for a mild ameliorating effect on fine facial skin wrinkle lines in randomized, double-blind, vehicle-controlled trials, and major methodological flaws call the validity of positive results into question.
The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, 2021A cosmetic niacinamide/peptide/retinyl propionate regimen significantly improved periorbital wrinkle appearance relative to a 0.02% tretinoin regimen at 8 weeks with comparable benefits at 24 weeks, while demonstrating significantly better tolerability in 196 women.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2010A novel triple-active cosmetic formulation containing 4-hexylresorcinol, retinyl propionate, and niacinamide improved the visual appearance of photoageing similarly to 0.02% tretinoin and reversed a consensus gene signature associated with ageing in female adults while causing less skin irritation.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2024
Ingredients
Water, Dimethicone, Zinc Oxide, Titanium Dioxide, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Glycerin, Triheptanoin, Caprylic Capric Triglyceride, C13-16 Isoparaffin, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Polyurethane-35, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Dimethicone Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract Oat Kernel Extract, Xanthophyll, Retinyl Palmitate, Ascorbic Acid, Bisabolol, Hydrolyzed Jojoba Esters, Urea, Yeast Amino Acids, Trehalose, Inositol, Taurine, Betaine, Biosaccharide Gum-4, Hydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid, Silica, Tapioca Starch, Sucrose, Pentylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Dimethicone Peg-10 15 Crosspolymer, Lauryl Peg-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Peg-8 Dimethicone, Octyldodecanol, Sodium Propoxyhydroxypropyl Thiosulfate Silica, Peg Ppg-18 18 Dimethicone, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Aluminum Stearate, Alumina, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Iron Oxides Ci 77491
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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