Clinique Even Better Clinical Serum Foundation SPF 20
80/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
Clinique Even Better Clinical Serum Foundation SPF 20 is a tinted mineral base using zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, with a matte finish and a low white-cast reading thanks to the tint. It feels a touch heavier than a plain fluid, and it works well as a makeup base since it is a foundation itself. Sting and pore-clogging are both low. With good protection and a score of 80.2/100 it is a strong pick for light daily coverage, though SPF 20 is modest for primary sun defense.
Ingredient & SPF scores
βοΈ
UV protection
Good
67
- +41 Zinc Oxide at #3, UV filter (UVA1 +18)
- +26.4 Titanium Dioxide at #10, UV filter (UVA1 +4)
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White cast
Low
75
- +100 Starting score
- β55 Zinc Oxide at #3
- β15 Titanium Dioxide at #10
- β10 Zinc Oxide + Titanium Dioxide together
- β2 Titanium Dioxide as pigment (CI 77891) at #64
- β15 Pure mineral formula
- +67.9 Tinted formula, pigment masks the cast
- +4.4 Coated minerals (Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Alumina)
π₯
Eye sting
Low
100
- +100 Starting score
- β1 Volatile alcohol at #13
- +0.8 Mineral filter system, low-sting filters
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Heavy feel
Medium
54
- +100 Starting score
- β40 Zinc Oxide at #3
- β6 Titanium Dioxide at #10
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Fungal acne
Medium
58
- +100 Starting score
- β12 1 free fatty acids that feed Malassezia (Linoleic Acid)
- β12 1 polysorbate/sorbitan emulsifiers that feed Malassezia (Sorbitan Sesquioleate)
- β9 1 oils/butters that feed Malassezia (Lecithin)
- β9 1 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Laureth-7)
- +0 Dimethicone at #1, a safe base that does not feed Malassezia
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Fabric stains
Medium
40
- +100 Starting score
- β40 Iron-oxide pigments at #65, makeup-like collar marks (washable)
- β15 Zinc Oxide at #3, white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
- β5 Both minerals present, heavier deposit
π§
Moisture
Light
LightNourishing
- β 2 Volatile alcohol at #13
- β 8 3 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica, Hydrated Silica, Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer)
- β 2 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
- β 5 Zinc Oxide at #3, mild sebum absorbent
- β 2 Sodium Hyaluronate at #19, hyaluronic family
- β 1 Humectant polyols
β¨
Finish
Matte
MatteDewy
- β 8 3 sebum-absorbing powders (Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer, Hydrated Silica, Silica)
- β 2 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
- β 0.5 Volatile alcohol at #13
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Makeup base
Good
PillsPrimer
- β 4 Primer-style base, volatile silicones and dimethicone slip
- β 12 2 velvet elastomer fillers, blur and grip
- β 1 Quick-setting carrier (alcohol at #13), fast, even canvas
- β 7.5 High mineral load at #3 greys under foundation (tinted)
π
Water resistance
Not resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
- +2 1 water-locking waxes
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¨ Vitamin C
Full ingredient list (67)
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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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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2 Water
Solvent base, the water phase
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Mineral UV filter (Zinc Oxide), high in the list, a primary filter
- β 41 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- β 15 white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
- light β 5 mild sebum absorbent
- pills β 7.5 High mineral load greys under foundation (tinted)
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
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Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 1 β nourishing humectant polyol
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Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light β 5 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte β 6 sebum-absorbing powder
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Volatile hydrocarbon, flashes off for a light finish
- light β 2 volatile carrier, flashes off
- matte β 2 volatile carrier, flashes off
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Mineral UV filter (Titanium Dioxide), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- β 26.4 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
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Volatile alcohol, a drying solvent that can sting eyes
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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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Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
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Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
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Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 2 β nourishing hyaluronic family
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Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
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Botanical extract
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Botanical extract
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Botanical extract
-
Botanical extract
-
Botanical extract
-
Botanical extract
-
Botanical extract
-
Supporting ingredient
-
29 Caffeine
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
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30 Niacinamide
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
Supporting ingredient
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- β 12 feeds malassezia
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33 Tocopherol
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
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Supporting ingredient
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Supporting ingredient
-
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
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38 Cholesterol
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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40 Glucose
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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42 Laureth-7
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 9 feeds malassezia
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Film former, locks the formula onto skin for water resistance
- β 2 wax water lock
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 12 feeds malassezia
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45 Lecithin
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 9 feeds malassezia
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46 Xanthan Gum
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
47 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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Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
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Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Supporting ingredient
-
52 Alumina
Supporting ingredient
-
Supporting ingredient
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
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Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
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pH adjuster
-
57 Citric Acid
pH adjuster
-
pH adjuster
-
Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
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pH adjuster
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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63 Mica
Colorant or pigment
-
Colorant or pigment
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65 Iron Oxides
Colorant or pigment
- β 40 makeup-like collar marks (washable)
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66 Iron Oxides
Colorant or pigment
-
67 Iron Oxides
Colorant or pigment
Does the Clinique Even Better Clinical Serum Foundation SPF 20 work under or as makeup?
It is itself a serum foundation and rates well as a makeup base, with a matte finish and light coverage built in.
What SPF is the Clinique Even Better Clinical Serum Foundation SPF 20?
It is SPF 20, which the data rates as good for its filters but is modest for primary sun defense. It works best as light daily coverage rather than your only protection outdoors.
Mineral or chemical?
It is a mineral formula, using zinc oxide and titanium dioxide as its UV filters, with no chemical filters.