Clinique Even Better Spf 15 Foundation
78/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
Clinique Even Better SPF 15 Foundation is a makeup foundation with SPF from older-generation filters including Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate plus mineral Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide. It has a balanced finish, a lightweight feel and a low risk of white cast, and it performs excellently as a makeup base since it is a foundation. It is gentle and generally low on pore-clogging. With good protection for its SPF 15 and a score of 78.3/100, it adds useful coverage but is not a substitute for a dedicated higher-SPF sunscreen.
Ingredient & SPF scores
βοΈ
UV protection
Good
70
- +17.1 Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate at #4, UV filter
- +26.4 Titanium Dioxide at #8, UV filter (UVA1 +4)
- +32.8 Zinc Oxide at #9, UV filter (UVA1 +14.4)
- β6.7 UVB coverage saturated
β’οΈ
Health safety
High
64
- +100 Starting score
- β36 Octinoxate at #4 (regulatory/evidence concern)
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White cast
Low
92
- +100 Starting score
- β6 Zinc Oxide at #9 (nano)
- β15 Titanium Dioxide at #8
- β10 Zinc Oxide + Titanium Dioxide together
- β2 Titanium Dioxide as pigment (CI 77891) at #40
- +23.1 Tinted formula, pigment masks the cast
- +1.5 Coated minerals (Aluminum Hydroxide, Methicone)
π₯
Eye sting
Low
89
- +100 Starting score
- β11 Octinoxate at #4, migrates into eyes with sweat
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Heavy feel
Low
81
- +100 Starting score
- β8 Zinc Oxide at #9
- β6 Titanium Dioxide at #8
- β3 Trimethylsiloxysilicate at #10, silicone wax film
- β2 Astrocaryum Murumuru Seed Butter at #16, butter/occlusive fat
π
Fungal acne
Medium
62
- +100 Starting score
- β18 2 oils/butters that feed Malassezia (Astrocaryum Murumuru Seed Butter, Lecithin)
- β18 2 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Polyglyceryl-6 Polyricinoleate, Laureth-7)
- β2 1 ubiquitous fatty ingredients (Stearic Acid), weak Malassezia signal
- +0 Saccharomyces Lysate Extract at #15, ferment, disputed Malassezia trigger (not penalized)
π
Fabric stains
Medium
50
- +100 Starting score
- β40 Iron-oxide pigments at #41, makeup-like collar marks (washable)
- β5 Titanium Dioxide at #8, white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
- β5 Both minerals present, heavier deposit
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Moisture
Balanced
LightNourishing
- β 1 Glycerin at #19, the anchor humectant
- β 1 Humectant polyols
- β 1 1 emollient lipids (Astrocaryum Murumuru Seed Butter)
β¨
Finish
Balanced
MatteDewy
- β 2 2 emollient lipids (Astrocaryum Murumuru Seed Butter, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate)
π
Makeup base
Excellent
PillsPrimer
- β 11 Primer-style base, volatile silicones and dimethicone slip
- β 4 Transfer-resistant grip resin, holds makeup
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Water resistance
Not resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
- +4 1 water-locking waxes
Full ingredient list (43)
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
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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Legacy UV filter (Octinoxate)
- β 17.1 UV protection
- β 11 migrates into eyes with sweat
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 1 β nourishing humectant polyol
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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)
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Mineral UV filter (Zinc Oxide), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- β 32.8 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
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Film former, locks the formula onto skin for water resistance
- β 3 silicone wax film
- β 4 wax water lock
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
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Botanical extract
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Botanical extract
-
Botanical extract
-
Botanical extract
- β 2 butter/occlusive fat
- 1 β nourishing emollient lipid
- 1 β dewy emollient lipid
- β 9 feeds malassezia
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- 1 β dewy emollient lipid
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Botanical extract
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19 Glycerin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 1 β nourishing the anchor humectant
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Humectant, pulls water into the skin
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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22 Methicone
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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23 Stearic Acid
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- β 2 minor malassezia feeder
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 9 feeds malassezia
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Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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28 Lecithin
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 9 feeds malassezia
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29 Laureth-7
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 9 feeds malassezia
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Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
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Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
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Humectant, pulls water into the skin
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Supporting ingredient
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Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
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Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
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Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
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Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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Colorant or pigment
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41 Iron Oxides
Colorant or pigment
- β 40 makeup-like collar marks (washable)
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42 Mica
Colorant or pigment
-
Colorant or pigment
Is the Clinique Even Better Spf 15 Foundation a sunscreen or makeup?
It is a foundation with SPF 15 from older-generation chemical filters plus mineral Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide. It adds coverage but is not a replacement for a dedicated higher-SPF sunscreen.
Does the Clinique Even Better Spf 15 Foundation work under makeup?
It is itself a foundation and performs excellently as a makeup base, with a balanced finish, a lightweight feel and a low risk of white cast.
Is this a good sunscreen?
It scores 78.3/100, which is good for its SPF 15 makeup category. For everyday sun exposure, layer it over or alongside a higher-SPF sunscreen.