The Colorescience sunscreens we carry come in several formats: tinted face sunscreens, a brush-on powder, a tinted eye cream and an untinted cream. The two Face Shields are easy to confuse, and the right pick depends on how much coverage you want, the finish you like and how you plan to reapply. This guide compares the six Colorescience sunscreens we carry, using the SPF, actives, shades and finish listed for each product.
The short answer
- Coverage that adapts to your skin tone: Colorescience Face Shield Flex SPF 50.
- A weightless finish, or a pearlescent glow: Colorescience Total Protection Face Shield SPF 50 in Classic, Glow or Bronze.
- Reapplying over makeup: Colorescience Brush-On Shield SPF 50.
- SPF for the eye area: Colorescience Total Eye 3-in-1 Renewal Care, SPF 35.
- No tint at all: Colorescience No-Show Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50.
- A tint plus ingredients for the look of dark spots: Colorescience Even Up 3-in-1 Skin Perfector SPF 50.
The six sunscreens side by side
| Sunscreen | SPF | Mineral active (as listed) | Tint and shades | Finish and format |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Face Shield Flex | 50 | Zinc oxide 12%, non-nano | Tone-adapting encapsulated iron oxides; Fair, Medium, Tan | Medium, buildable coverage with a natural finish |
| Total Protection Face Shield | 50 | 100% mineral; check the label for the actives | Iron oxide pigments; Classic, Glow, Bronze | Weightless finish with no white cast; Glow adds a pearlescent finish |
| Brush-On Shield | 50 | Zinc oxide | Tone-adapting iron oxides; Fair, Medium, Tan | Talc-free powder in a brush; water- and sweat-resistant (80 minutes) |
| Total Eye 3-in-1 Renewal Care | 35 | Zinc oxide 12% | Sheer pigment; Fair, Medium, Tan | Eye cream with a cooling metal applicator |
| No-Show Mineral Sunscreen | 50 | Zinc oxide 12% | Untinted | Lightweight cream designed to avoid a white cast |
| Even Up 3-in-1 Skin Perfector | 50 | Zinc oxide 11.5%, titanium dioxide 5.8% | Tinted; blends across most skin tones | Creamy texture; one pump covers the face and neck |
All six are mineral sunscreens made to protect against both UVA and UVB rays.
Face Shield Flex vs Total Protection Face Shield
Both are all-mineral SPF 50 sunscreens built on Colorescience's EnviroScreen Technology, and they share a base of niacinamide, bisabolol, Vital ET (a form of vitamin E) and the antioxidants Lipochroman and Infraguard. The differences come down to coverage, finish and shades.
- Face Shield Flex lists 12% non-nano zinc oxide and uses encapsulated iron oxides designed to adjust to your natural skin tone. It gives medium, buildable coverage with a natural finish, and adds silver ear mushroom extract for hydration. Its Fair, Medium and Tan shades are designed to suit a broad range of skin tones and undertones.
- Total Protection Face Shield has a lightweight, silky texture and a weightless finish that blends in without leaving a white cast, with Phytomoist to help skin feel more supple. It comes in Classic, Glow and Bronze; Glow adds a pearlescent, illuminating finish for a radiant look.
In short: choose Flex if you want buildable coverage that adapts to your tone, and Face Shield if you prefer a weightless finish or the Glow shade.
Choosing a shade
- Face Shield Flex and Brush-On Shield come in Fair, Medium and Tan, with tone-adapting pigments.
- Total Protection Face Shield comes in Classic, Glow and Bronze. Glow is the one for a pearlescent, radiant-looking finish.
- Total Eye 3-in-1 comes in Fair, Medium and Tan.
- No-Show is untinted, so there is no shade to match. It is made to work across most skin tones, including deeper skin tones.
If you are between two shades, compare both along the jawline in daylight. Whichever you choose, apply the amount the label directs.
Reapplying over makeup: Brush-On Shield
Sunscreen needs reapplying every two hours in the sun, and straight after swimming or sweating. Over makeup, a powder makes that easier. Brush-On Shield SPF 50 is an all-mineral, talc-free powder built on EnviroScreen Technology, with zinc oxide, iron oxides, the antioxidant blend Vitachelox and hyaluronic acid powder. It sweeps over bare skin or makeup without disturbing your base, and it is water- and sweat-resistant for 80 minutes.
- Twist the base to dispense powder into the brush.
- Tap off the excess.
- Sweep over the face, neck and any exposed areas.
- Reapply every two hours during direct sun exposure.
It is designed to complement a morning cream or liquid SPF, so you might wear Face Shield Flex or Face Shield in the morning and keep Brush-On Shield in your bag, car or desk for reapplying through the day.
The eye area: Total Eye 3-in-1 Renewal Care
Total Eye combines broad-spectrum mineral SPF 35 (12% zinc oxide) with caffeine for the look of puffiness, peptides for the look of fine lines and a sheer pigment that helps conceal the look of dark circles. In the morning, roll a small amount under the eye, then pat it in with your ring finger. Wear it alone or under concealer. The metal tip dispenses it cool; for a cooler feel, keep it in the refrigerator.
Untinted and tone-evening options
- No-Show Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50: 12% zinc oxide, made with a particle-size and dispersion technology designed to avoid a white cast. The lightweight cream absorbs cleanly and layers under makeup without pilling.
- Even Up 3-in-1 Skin Perfector SPF 50: 11.5% zinc oxide and 5.8% titanium dioxide, with niacinamide, alpha arbutin and a botanical brightening complex that help improve the look of dark spots and uneven-looking tone. The tint helps blur the look of dark spots.
For both, one pump covers the full face and neck. Apply it as the final morning step, before makeup, and reapply every two hours during direct sun exposure or after sweating.
How to wear them
- Last step in the morning: sunscreen goes on after moisturizer and before makeup.
- Follow the label: for Face Shield Flex and Face Shield, the directions on the product label, including how often to reapply, are the ones to follow.
- Reapply: at least every two hours in the sun, and after swimming or sweating.
- Water resistance is labelled in minutes: Brush-On Shield is water- and sweat-resistant for 80 minutes, after which it needs reapplying.
How to choose
- A tinted sunscreen with buildable coverage: Face Shield Flex in Fair, Medium or Tan.
- A lighter, weightless finish, or a glow: Total Protection Face Shield in Classic, Glow or Bronze.
- Easy reapplication over makeup: add Brush-On Shield.
- SPF and a tint around the eyes: Total Eye 3-in-1 Renewal Care.
- No tint: No-Show Mineral Sunscreen. Tint plus tone-evening ingredients: Even Up.
See every sunscreen we carry, every tinted sunscreen or the full Colorescience range. For how to read SPF, broad spectrum and water resistance on any label, read how to choose a daily sunscreen.
Related guides: the ZO Skin Health routine and the Skinbetter Science routine.