Clinique Almost Powder Makeup SPF 15 Neutral Fair
49/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
Clinique Almost Powder Makeup SPF 15 in Neutral Fair is a tinted makeup powder with light sun protection from Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate and Titanium Dioxide. It sets to a matte finish with a low white cast and is low on the pore-clogging scale, and by design it functions as a makeup base. With a 49.0/100 score and protection rated weak, it is best seen as a finishing powder with mild SPF, not a primary sunscreen.
Ingredient & SPF scores
βοΈ
UV protection
Weak
26
- +17.1 Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate at #7, UV filter
- +26.4 Titanium Dioxide at #10, UV filter (UVA1 +4)
- Γ0.6 Almost no UVA1, poor aging protection
β’οΈ
Health safety
Medium
52
- +100 Starting score
- β36 Octinoxate at #7 (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β12 Talc at #1, inhalation-route contamination concern (powder/spray form)
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White cast
Low
93
- +100 Starting score
- β15 Titanium Dioxide at #10
- β2 Titanium Dioxide as pigment (CI 77891) at #29
- +8.5 Iron-oxide undertone, partial masking
- +1.3 Coated minerals (Alumina, Aluminum Hydroxide, Methicone)
π₯
Eye sting
Low
89
- +100 Starting score
- β11 Octinoxate at #7, migrates into eyes with sweat
π΄
Comedogenic
Low
99
- +100 Starting score
- β1 Palmitic Acid at #21, moderate comedogenic signal
π
Fungal acne
Safe
98
- +100 Starting score
- β2 1 ubiquitous fatty ingredients (Palmitic Acid), weak Malassezia signal
- +0 Dimethicone at #2, a safe base that does not feed Malassezia
π
Fabric stains
Medium
55
- +100 Starting score
- β40 Iron-oxide pigments at #30, makeup-like collar marks (washable)
- β5 Titanium Dioxide at #10, white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
π§
Moisture
Light
LightNourishing
- β 24 6 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica, Hydrated Silica, Nylon-12, β¦)
- β 1 Glycerin at #14, the anchor humectant
- β 2 Sodium Hyaluronate at #15, hyaluronic family
- β 4 1 emollient lipids (Squalane)
β¨
Finish
Matte
MatteDewy
- β 18 6 sebum-absorbing powders (Talc, Nylon-12, Silica, β¦)
- β 6 1 emollient lipids (Squalane)
- β 2 1 slippy emollient esters (Cetyl Ethylhexanoate)
π
Makeup base
Good
PillsPrimer
- β 4 Primer-style base, volatile silicones and dimethicone slip
- β 8 1 velvet elastomer fillers, blur and grip
π
Water resistance
Not resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
Nothing flagged in the ingredient list.
How we rate water resistance βFull ingredient list (30)
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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1 Talc
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- β 12 inhalation-route contamination concern (powder/spray form)
- light β 8 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte β 10 sebum-absorbing powder
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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3 Nylon-12
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light β 8 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte β 10 sebum-absorbing powder
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4 Silica
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light β 5 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte β 6 sebum-absorbing powder
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5 Squalane
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- 4 β nourishing emollient lipid
- 6 β dewy emollient lipid
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Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light β 5 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte β 6 sebum-absorbing powder
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Legacy UV filter (Octinoxate)
- β 17.1 UV protection
- β 11 migrates into eyes with sweat
-
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light β 3 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte β 3 sebum-absorbing powder
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- 2 β dewy slippy emollient ester
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Mineral UV filter (Titanium Dioxide), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- β 26.4 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- β 5 white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
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13 Methicone
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
14 Glycerin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 1 β nourishing the anchor humectant
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 2 β nourishing hyaluronic family
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Supporting ingredient
-
Supporting ingredient
-
Protein, peptide or amino acid, conditions and hydrates skin
-
19 Alumina
Supporting ingredient
-
20 Tocopherol
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- β 1 moderate comedogenic signal
- β 2 minor malassezia feeder
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Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Antioxidant, protects the formula and 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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Supporting ingredient
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26 Tin Oxide
Colorant or pigment
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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28 Mica
Colorant or pigment
-
Colorant or pigment
-
30 Iron Oxides
Colorant or pigment
- β 40 makeup-like collar marks (washable)
Is Clinique Almost Powder Makeup a sunscreen?
It is a tinted makeup powder with light SPF 15 protection from Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate and Titanium Dioxide. It is best seen as a finishing powder with mild sun protection, not a primary sunscreen. For real sun exposure, a dedicated sunscreen is advisable.
Does the Clinique Almost Powder Makeup SPF 15 Neutral Fair work as a makeup base?
Yes. By design it functions as makeup, with a matte finish and a low white cast. It is rated low on the pore-clogging scale, which generally suits makeup wear. It sets the skin to a soft matte.
Is its sun protection enough on its own?
Not really. It scores 49.0 out of 100 with protection rated weak, so it should be layered over a proper sunscreen for meaningful coverage. Treat the SPF as a bonus, not the main defense.