Clinique Age Defense Bb Cream Broad Spectrum Spf 30
78/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
Clinique Age Defense BB Cream Broad Spectrum SPF 30 pairs older chemical filters (octinoxate, ethylhexyl salicylate) with mineral titanium dioxide and zinc oxide for a hybrid leaning blend. It wears as a balanced, lightweight tinted base with low white cast and does not commonly sting, and its low pore-clogging risk makes it forgiving for most skin. With a score of 78.0 and good protection, it is a solid pick for those who want light coverage plus daily sun defense.
Ingredient & SPF scores
βοΈ
UV protection
Good
78
- +18 Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate at #1, UV filter
- +8 Ethylhexyl Salicylate at #2, UV filter
- +33 Titanium Dioxide at #3, UV filter (UVA1 +5)
- +38.9 Zinc Oxide at #4, UV filter (UVA1 +17.1)
- β20.5 UVB coverage saturated
- β0.4 UVA2 coverage saturated
- +1 Label claims (SPF 30)
β’οΈ
Health safety
High
64
- +100 Starting score
- β36 Octinoxate at #1 (regulatory/evidence concern)
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White cast
Low
93
- +100 Starting score
- β6 Zinc Oxide, 2.2% declared
- β7 Titanium Dioxide, 3.5% declared
- β10 Zinc Oxide + Titanium Dioxide together
- β2 Titanium Dioxide as pigment (CI 77891) at #47
- +17.5 Tinted formula, pigment masks the cast
- +0.5 Coated minerals (Alumina)
π₯
Eye sting
Low
75
- +100 Starting score
- β16 Octinoxate at #1, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β9 Octisalate at #2, migrates into eyes with sweat
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Heavy feel
Low
82
- +100 Starting score
- β8 Zinc Oxide, 2.2% declared
- β10 Titanium Dioxide, 3.5% declared
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Fungal acne
High
18
- +100 Starting score
- β12 1 free fatty acids that feed Malassezia (Linoleic Acid)
- β18 2 oils/butters that feed Malassezia (Lecithin, Hydrogenated Lecithin)
- β50 5 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-40 Stearate, Polyglyceryl-10 Pentastearate)
- β2 1 ubiquitous fatty ingredients (Stearic Acid), weak Malassezia signal
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Fabric stains
Medium
40
- +100 Starting score
- β40 Iron-oxide pigments at #48, makeup-like collar marks (washable)
- β15 Titanium Dioxide at #3, white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
- β5 Both minerals present, heavier deposit
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Moisture
Balanced
LightNourishing
- β 3 2 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica, Polymethylsilsesquioxane)
- β 2 Zinc Oxide at #4, mild sebum absorbent
- β 2 Titanium Dioxide at #3, mild sebum absorbent
- β 1 Glycerin at #25, the anchor humectant
- β 2 Sodium Hyaluronate at #35, hyaluronic family
- β 3 3 strong humectants (Sodium PCA, Urea, Trehalose)
- β 1 Humectant polyols
- β 1 1 emollient lipids (Squalane)
- β 0.5 1 fatty-alcohol emollients (Behenyl Alcohol)
β¨
Finish
Balanced
MatteDewy
- β 2 2 sebum-absorbing powders (Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Silica)
- β 2 1 dry-touch emollients reduce greasy shine (Octyldodecyl Neopentanoate)
- β 1 1 emollient lipids (Squalane)
π
Makeup base
Okay
PillsPrimer
- β 1 Primer-style base, volatile silicones and dimethicone slip
- β 0.5 Gel polymers prone to pilling under friction (Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP Copolymer)
- β 7.5 High mineral load at #3 greys under foundation (tinted)
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Water resistance
Not resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
Nothing flagged in the ingredient list.
How we rate water resistance βFull ingredient list (49)
What each ingredient does and how it moves each rating: green helps, red hurts, β / β give the direction, and β / β shift a slider toward its ends (finish, moisture, makeup base). Auto-derived from our scoring rules and the ingredient's position.
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Legacy UV filter (Octinoxate), high in the list, a primary filter
- β 18 UV protection
- β 16 migrates into eyes with sweat
-
Legacy UV filter (Octisalate), high in the list, a primary filter
- β 8 UV protection
- β 9 migrates into eyes with sweat
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Mineral UV filter (Titanium Dioxide), high in the list, a primary filter
- β 33 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- β 7 3.5% declared
- β 10 3.5% declared
- β 15 white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
- light β 2 mild sebum absorbent
- pills β 7.5 High mineral load greys under foundation (tinted)
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Mineral UV filter (Zinc Oxide)
- β 38.9 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- β 6 2.2% declared
- β 8 2.2% declared
- light β 2 mild sebum absorbent
-
5 Water
Solvent base, the water phase
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- matte β 2 dry-touch emollient, anti-shine
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 1 β nourishing humectant polyol
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 14 feeds malassezia
-
Fatty alcohol, an emollient and thickener, not the drying kind
- 0.5 β nourishing fatty-alcohol emollient
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 14 feeds malassezia
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 9 feeds malassezia
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light β 1.5 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte β 1 sebum-absorbing powder
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Botanical extract
-
Botanical extract
-
Botanical extract
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- β 12 feeds malassezia
-
20 Oryzanol
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
21 Squalane
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- 1 β nourishing emollient lipid
- 1 β dewy emollient lipid
-
22 Caffeine
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 9 feeds malassezia
-
24 Sucrose
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
25 Glycerin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 1 β nourishing the anchor humectant
-
Supporting ingredient
-
27 Lecithin
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 9 feeds malassezia
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 9 feeds malassezia
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 9 feeds malassezia
-
30 Sodium PCA
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 1 β nourishing humectant
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
32 Trehalose
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 1 β nourishing humectant
-
33 Urea
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 1 β nourishing humectant
-
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 2 β nourishing hyaluronic family
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
37 Xanthan Gum
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
39 Stearic Acid
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- β 2 minor malassezia feeder
-
40 Alumina
Supporting ingredient
-
41 Silica
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light β 1.5 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte β 1 sebum-absorbing powder
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Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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Colorant or pigment
-
48 Iron Oxides
Colorant or pigment
- β 40 makeup-like collar marks (washable)
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49 Mica
Colorant or pigment
Does this Clinique BB cream work for oily or acne-prone skin?
It has a balanced finish and low pore-clogging risk, so it is generally forgiving for most skin types. Those who want a strictly matte result may prefer a different formula.
Is the Clinique Age Defense Bb Cream Broad Spectrum Spf 30 mineral or chemical?
It is a hybrid, mixing older chemical filters (octinoxate, ethylhexyl salicylate) with mineral titanium dioxide and zinc oxide.
What SPF is it and is it good?
It is SPF 30 with good rated protection and scores 78.0 out of 100. That makes it a solid pick for light tinted coverage plus daily sun defense.