Clinique Superdefense Daily Defense Moisturizer Spf 20
49/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
Clinique Superdefense Daily Defense Moisturizer SPF 20 is a chemical sunscreen moisturizer using butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane and ethylhexyl salicylate. It has a dewy finish, stays lightweight, leaves little white cast and is gentle on the skin. With weak protection at SPF 20 and a score of 49.0/100, it is best treated as a daily moisturizer with light sun cover rather than primary protection.
Ingredient & SPF scores
βοΈ
UV protection
Weak
34
- +30 Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane at #1, UV filter (UVA1 +16)
- +8 Ethylhexyl Salicylate at #2, UV filter
- Γ0.9 Limited long-UVA1 coverage
β’οΈ
Health safety
High
90
- +100 Starting score
- β10 Avobenzone at #1 (regulatory/evidence concern)
π₯
Eye sting
Low
67
- +100 Starting score
- β24 Avobenzone at #1, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β9 Octisalate at #2, migrates into eyes with sweat
πͺ¨
Heavy feel
Low
74
- +100 Starting score
- β14 Petrolatum at #7, heaviest occlusive
- β2 Polyethylene at #36, wax film
- β10 Butyrospermum Parkii Fruit at #4, butter/occlusive fat
π
Fungal acne
High
27
- +100 Starting score
- β12 1 polysorbate/sorbitan emulsifiers that feed Malassezia (Polysorbate 80)
- β33 2 oils/butters that feed Malassezia (Butyrospermum Parkii Fruit, Lecithin)
- β28 2 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate)
π
Fabric stains
Medium
50
- +100 Starting score
- β50 Avobenzone at #1, reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
π§
Moisture
Hydrating
LightNourishing
- β 1 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
- β 1 Glycerin at #13, the anchor humectant
- β 2 Sodium Hyaluronate at #27, hyaluronic family
- β 1 1 strong humectants (Trehalose)
- β 5 2 emollient lipids (Squalane, Butyrospermum Parkii Fruit)
- β 0.5 1 fatty-alcohol emollients (Cetearyl Alcohol)
β¨
Finish
Dewy
MatteDewy
- β 1 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
- β 7 2 emollient lipids (Butyrospermum Parkii Fruit, Squalane)
- β 5 Occlusives seal moisture in (Petrolatum)
π
Makeup base
Okay
PillsPrimer
- β 3 Primer-style base, volatile silicones and dimethicone slip
- β 1 Gel polymers prone to pilling under friction (Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Acrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer)
- β 12 Occlusives/waxes float the foundation
π
Water resistance
Not resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
- +7 1 film-forming polymers that lock the formula on for water resistance
- +2 1 water-locking waxes
Full ingredient list (45)
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 (Avobenzone), high in the list, a primary filter
- β 30 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- β 24 migrates into eyes with sweat
- β 50 reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
-
Legacy UV filter (Octisalate), high in the list, a primary filter
- β 8 UV protection
- β 9 migrates into eyes with sweat
-
3 Water
Solvent base, the water phase
-
Botanical extract
- β 10 butter/occlusive fat
- 4 β nourishing emollient lipid
- 6 β dewy emollient lipid
- β 24 feeds malassezia
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Occlusive, seals moisture into the skin
- β 14 heaviest occlusive
- 5 β dewy occlusive
-
Film former, locks the formula onto skin for water resistance
- β 7 film former
-
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 14 feeds malassezia
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
13 Glycerin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 1 β nourishing the anchor humectant
-
14 Trehalose
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 1 β nourishing humectant
-
Botanical extract
-
Botanical extract
-
Botanical extract
-
Botanical extract
-
Botanical extract
-
Botanical extract
-
Botanical extract
-
Supporting ingredient
-
Supporting ingredient
-
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
25 Caffeine
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
26 Lecithin
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 9 feeds malassezia
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 2 β nourishing hyaluronic family
-
Volatile hydrocarbon, flashes off for a light finish
- light β 1 volatile carrier, flashes off
- matte β 1 volatile carrier, flashes off
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
-
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
32 Squalane
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- 1 β nourishing emollient lipid
- 1 β dewy emollient lipid
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
36 Polyethylene
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- β 2 wax film
- β 2 wax water lock
-
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
38 Dimethiconol
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 12 feeds malassezia
-
40 Zeolite
Supporting ingredient
-
41 Xanthan Gum
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
43 Tromethamine
pH adjuster
-
Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
What SPF is the Clinique Superdefense Daily Defense Moisturizer Spf 20?
It is SPF 20, which is on the lower end and rated as weak protection.
Is the Clinique Superdefense Daily Defense Moisturizer Spf 20 any good?
It scores 49.0 out of 100, a low result. It is best treated as a daily moisturizer with light sun cover rather than primary protection.
Does it leave a white cast?
No, white cast is generally low. As a chemical moisturizer with a dewy finish, it tends to leave no visible residue.