Clinique Even Better City Block Brightening Aqua Gel + Anti-Pollution Primer Spf 45
71/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
Clinique Even Better City Block SPF 45 is a chemical (hybrid) aqua-gel primer using filters such as Homosalate, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, and Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine. It is lightweight with a balanced finish, low white cast, and a good makeup base rating, though it may sting sensitive eyes to a moderate degree. With a score of 71.1/100 and good protection, it is a capable daily sunscreen-primer hybrid.
Ingredient & SPF scores
βοΈ
UV protection
Good
65
- +18 Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate at #2, UV filter
- +11.4 Homosalate at #4, UV filter
- +7.6 Ethylhexyl Salicylate at #5, UV filter
- +28.5 Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane at #6, UV filter (UVA1 +15.2)
- +45.6 Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine at #7, UV filter (UVA1 +15.2)
- β22.1 UVB coverage saturated
- β3.6 UVA2 coverage saturated
- Γ0.75 Avobenzone + octinoxate degrade each other in sunlight
- +1 Label claims (SPF 45)
β’οΈ
Health safety
Medium
44
- +100 Starting score
- β40 Homosalate at #4 (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β12.6 Octinoxate at #2, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β3.5 Avobenzone at #6, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- +0 2 endocrine-scrutinized filters together
π₯
Eye sting
Medium
33
- +100 Starting score
- β16 Avobenzone at #6, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β16 Octinoxate at #2, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β6 Homosalate at #4, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β6 Octisalate at #5, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β18 Volatile alcohol at #3
- β5 Alcohol high up speeds filter migration
π
Fungal acne
Medium
70
- +100 Starting score
- β12 1 polysorbate/sorbitan emulsifiers that feed Malassezia (Sorbitan Sesquiisostearate)
- β18 2 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Glyceryl Stearate, Sorbeth-30 Tetraisostearate)
π
Fabric stains
Medium
55
- +100 Starting score
- β45 Avobenzone at #6, reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
π§
Moisture
Light
LightNourishing
- β 22 Volatile alcohol at #3
- β 1.5 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Polymethylsilsesquioxane)
- β 2 Sodium Hyaluronate at #18, hyaluronic family
β¨
Finish
Balanced
MatteDewy
- β 1 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Polymethylsilsesquioxane)
- β 5 Volatile alcohol at #3
π
Makeup base
Good
PillsPrimer
- β 1 Primer-style base, volatile silicones and dimethicone slip
- β 10 Quick-setting carrier (alcohol at #3), fast, even canvas
- β 1.5 Gel polymers prone to pilling under friction (Carbomer, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP Copolymer)
π
Water resistance
Not resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
- +6 2 film-forming polymers that lock the formula on for water resistance
Skincare extras
Beneficial actives this formula contains. Informational only, not part of the rating: their effect depends on a concentration the label does not disclose.
- β¨ Green tea
Full ingredient list (40)
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 Water
Solvent base, the water phase
-
Legacy UV filter (Octinoxate), high in the list, a primary filter
- β 18 UV protection
- β 12.6 stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β 16 migrates into eyes with sweat
-
Volatile alcohol, a drying solvent that can sting eyes
- β 5 Alcohol high up speeds filter migration
-
Legacy UV filter (Homosalate)
- β 11.4 UV protection
- β 6 migrates into eyes with sweat
-
Legacy UV filter (Octisalate)
- β 7.6 UV protection
- β 6 migrates into eyes with sweat
-
Legacy UV filter (Avobenzone)
- β 28.5 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- β 3.5 stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β 16 migrates into eyes with sweat
- β 45 reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
-
Modern UV filter, broad-spectrum and photostable (Tinosorb S)
- β 45.6 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
9 Sucrose
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Botanical extract
-
11 Dimethicone
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Botanical extract
-
Humectant, pulls water into the 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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15 Caffeine
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Botanical extract
-
Botanical extract
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 2 β nourishing hyaluronic family
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 9 feeds malassezia
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
- β 3 film former
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 9 feeds malassezia
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
28 Carbomer
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 3 film former
-
pH adjuster
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 12 feeds malassezia
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
-
37 BHT
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
39 Ci 19140
Colorant or pigment
-
40 Ci 14700
Colorant or pigment
Does Clinique Even Better City Block SPF 45 work under makeup?
Yes, it is rated a good makeup base and is lightweight with a balanced finish, which generally layers well as a primer. White cast is rated low.
Is the Clinique Even Better City Block Brightening Aqua Gel + Anti-Pollution Primer Spf 45 mineral or chemical?
It is a chemical (hybrid) sunscreen using filters such as Homosalate, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, and Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine.
Is this sunscreen any good?
It scores 71.1/100 with good protection, making it a capable daily sunscreen-primer hybrid. It may sting sensitive eyes to a moderate degree.