🇬🇧United Kingdom

Kate Somerville Daily Deflector Mineral Sunscreen for oily skin

Kate Somerville Daily Deflector Mineral Sunscreen

High

  • SuperiorOily Skin Fit
  • HighEffectiveness
  • ExcellentSafety

One of the best sunscreens for oily skin.

This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with oily skin: shine, enlarged pores, blackheads, and blemishes. 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

  • Excellent suitability for your oily skin is provided by zinc oxide and polymethylsilsesquioxane silica crosspolymer, which control sebum and offer a mattifying effect to address oily shine. Ectoin and Tasmannia Lanceolata Leaf Extract Fruit further support your skin by providing soothing benefits and calming inflammation.
  • The robust sunscreen effect from a high concentration of zinc oxide offers excellent protection against UV rays, complementing the mattifying properties.
  • The formulation is safe for your skin, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the inclusion of soothing components.

How to apply

  • Apply this sunscreen during your AM routine every single day. Reapply every two hours if you are staying outdoors.
  • Apply the sunscreen as the final step of your morning skincare routine after your moisturizer. Allow your moisturizer to absorb fully before putting it on.
  • Squeeze a generous amount and pat it gently all over your face and neck. Avoid rubbing the product harshly into your skin.
  • Apply the sunscreen directly onto dry skin to ensure it forms an even and protective layer against the sun.
  • Avoid getting the product directly into your eyes and stop using it if any irritation occurs.

People Say

★3.6Overall rating based on 100+ reviews

Based on limited data, users appreciate the high-level protection and restorative ingredients, which appeal to those with sensitive or aging skin. However, the product is frequently criticized for leaving a significant white cast that is difficult to blend, particularly on darker skin tones, and for a texture that some find chalky or drying.

Highlights

  • Visible white cast Mostly Mentioned
    • “look like a ghost”
    • “white film on eyebrows”
    • “bad for my skin tone”
    • “leaves too much whitecast”
  • Effective sun protection Often Mentioned
    • “protects against blue light”
    • “reliable sun protection”
    • “deflects UV rays”
    • “prevent early signs of aging”
  • Difficult to blend Often Mentioned
    • “needed to massage a lot”
    • “hard to blend”
    • “sits on hairline”
    • “chalky texture”
  • Good for sensitive skin Sometimes Noted
    • “suitable for sensitive skinned”
    • “mild reaction”
    • “did not sting”
    • “great for acne-prone”
  • Lightweight texture Sometimes Noted
    • “lightweight and fluid”
    • “feels like a lotion”
    • “satin finish”
    • “absorbs easily”
  • Quality ingredients Sometimes Noted
    • “restores skin barrier”
    • “hydrating ingredients”
    • “contains vitamin E”
    • “anti-aging benefit”
  • Drying finish Sometimes Noted
    • “not very hydrating”
    • “too chalky”
    • “felt dry”
    • “emphasized dry spots”
  • High price point Rarely Noted
    • “expensive for the amount”
    • “would not repurchase”
    • “pricey sunscreen”

Sources: lovi.care, cultbeauty.co.uk, influenster.com, lookfantastic.com, skintskincare.com, wimj.com, and more

Questions and answers

What makes Kate Somerville Daily Deflector Mineral Sunscreen a great fit for oily skin?

Zinc oxide and silica crosspolymer control sebum and provide a mattifying effect to stop oily shine, while ectoin and tasmannia lanceolata leaf extract soothe your skin and calm inflammation. This sunscreen also gives you strong UV protection, and it is safe and unlikely to cause irritation.

Which ingredients make this sunscreen a good fit for oily skin?

Zinc oxide and polymethylsilsesquioxane silica crosspolymer make this sunscreen a great fit for oily skin because they control excess oil and give a matte finish. Ectoin and Tasmannia lanceolata leaf extract further help by calming inflammation and soothing the skin.

What does Zinc Oxide do for oily skin?

Zinc oxide helps calm oily and breakout-prone skin by reducing redness and targeting bacteria that cause blemishes. It is unlikely to cause irritation and may help balance skin oil production.

Journal of Controlled Release, 2025Biomedicines, 2025

What does Ectoin do for oily skin?

Ectoin helps protect oily skin from irritation and environmental stress while keeping it calm and balanced. It acts as a cell protector that strengthens the skin barrier and keeps moisture locked in without feeling heavy. Oily skin of this type needs lightweight hydrators and antioxidants like ectoine to stay smooth and calm.

Clinics in Dermatology, 2008Arhiv Za Higijenu Rada I Toksikologiju, 2016

Where does this sunscreen go in a skincare routine for oily skin?

This sunscreen goes as the last step of your morning skincare routine, right after your moisturizer. It is a great fit for oily skin because zinc oxide and silica help control excess shine, while ingredients like ectoin help calm the skin.

Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2023

Can I use it with retinol, and in what order?

You can use this sunscreen in the morning as the last step after your moisturizer, while applying your retinol in the evening. This sunscreen is very safe for your skin and is unlikely to cause irritation when paired with your routine.

How often should I use this sunscreen?

This sunscreen is a great fit for your oily skin and is meant to be used every morning as the final step in your daytime routine. Zinc oxide and polymethylsilsesquioxane silica crosspolymer help control sebum and keep your face from looking shiny, while soothing ingredients make irritation unlikely.

Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2023Journal of Controlled Release, 2025

Can it clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?

This sunscreen is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for oily skin because it uses zinc oxide and silica to control shine without heavy oils. Its gentle formula also helps calm inflammation safely without harsh ingredients.

Journal of Controlled Release, 2025Biomedicines, 2025

Is this sunscreen fragrance-free and alcohol-free?

Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.

What the research says

  • Biomimetic 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, 2025
  • Topical 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, 2025
  • Nels 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, 2000
  • Topically 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, 2016
  • Combining ectoine and mannitol with UV filters significantly improved protection of squalene oxidation, catalase activity, and trans-UCA compared to UV filters alone in 10 subjects on irradiated areas.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
  • Topical 7% ectoine during serial 1064-nm Nd:YAG laser therapy produced a greater reduction in skin erythema, improved stratum corneum hydration, reduced transepidermal water loss, and decreased low-echogenic pixels in thirty participants compared to a vehicle control.

    Biomedicines, 2026
  • Regular application of a novel anti-ageing cream containing hyaluronic acid, ectoin, and botanical actives significantly reduced wrinkle depth and length in the periorbital area while demonstrating very good skin tolerance.

    Polymers, 2023
  • Topical Tasmannia lanceolata extract reduced skin roughness, increased firmness, dermal density, and thickness of stabilized stretch marks compared to placebo in 29 women over 8 weeks, alongside increased pro-collagen I, elastin, and TGF-beta concentrations in ex vivo human skin explants.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021
  • Topical application of an antioxidant serum containing 15% ascorbic acid, 0.5% ferulic acid, and 1% tocopherol prevented particulate matter-induced degradation of extracellular matrix components, inflammation, and oxidative stress in the skin of 15 female volunteers compared to untreated controls.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025
  • Dermatological products containing d-alpha tocopheryl acetate showed non-comedogenic potential with less than a 50% increase in microcomedones in 12 healthy male subjects compared to octyl palmitate.

    Contemporary Clinical Trials Communications, 2021
  • Topical application of an antioxidant mix containing 15% ascorbic acid, 0.5% ferulic acid, and 1% tocopherol prevented PM and UV-induced skin barrier perturbation, lipid peroxidation, inflammatory markers, MMP9 activation, and Type I collagen loss in 15 healthy females compared to untreated exposed skin.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024

Ingredients

Zinc Oxide, Water, Isoamyl Laurate, Polymethylsilsesquioxane Silica Crosspolymer, Glycerin, Undecane, Isododecane, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Cetearyl Dimethicone, Tridecane, Peg Ppg-18 18 Dimethicone, Cocoglycerides, Lauryl Peg-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Dimethicone, Propanediol, Sodium Chloride, Ethylhexyl Methoxycrylene, Ectoin, Tasmannia Lanceolata Leaf Extract Fruit, Hydroxyectoin, Ceramide Np, Phytosphingosine, Ceramide Ap, Tocopherol, Ceramide Eop, Tocopheryl Acetate, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Coconut Alkanes, 1,2-Hexanediol, Propylene Carbonate, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Coco-Caprylate Caprate, Cholesterol, Xanthan Gum, Carbomer, Sodium Citrate

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.

How does it fit your skin?

Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.