Clinique For Men™ Broad Spectrum Spf 21 Moisturizer
60/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
Clinique For Men™ Broad Spectrum Spf 21 Moisturizer is a chemical sunscreen relying on older-generation filters (octinoxate, octisalate, avobenzone and oxybenzone) for moderate protection at SPF 21. It has a balanced finish with a low white cast and wears lightweight, and it generally works well under or in place of makeup. The blend can feel a little stinging near the eyes for some, though it is commonly low on pore-clogging concerns. With a score of 59.9 out of 100, it is an everyday face moisturizer rather than dedicated high sun protection.
Ingredient & SPF scores
☀️
UV protection
Moderate
48
- +18 Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate at #1, UV filter
- +8 Ethylhexyl Salicylate at #2, UV filter
- +30 Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane at #3, UV filter (UVA1 +16)
- +20.9 Benzophenone-3 at #4, UV filter
- −3.5 UVB coverage saturated
- −2.4 UVA2 coverage saturated
- ×0.9 Limited long-UVA1 coverage
- ×0.75 Avobenzone + octinoxate degrade each other in sunlight
☢️
Health safety
Low
14
- +100 Starting score
- −70 Oxybenzone at #4 (regulatory/evidence concern)
- −12.6 Octinoxate at #1, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- −3.5 Avobenzone at #3, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- +0 2 endocrine-scrutinized filters together
🤧
Allergens
Low
94
- +100 Starting score
- −6 Photoallergen-tail UV filters (Benzophenone-3)
🔥
Eye sting
Medium
40
- +100 Starting score
- −24 Avobenzone at #3, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −11 Oxybenzone at #4, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −16 Octinoxate at #1, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −9 Octisalate at #2, migrates into eyes with sweat
🔴
Comedogenic
Low
98
- +100 Starting score
- −2 Laureth-4 at #26, comedogenic oil/butter
🍄
Fungal acne
Medium
48
- +100 Starting score
- −9 1 oils/butters that feed Malassezia (Hydrogenated Lecithin)
- −41 4 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (PEG-100 Stearate, Oleth-10, Laureth-4)
- −2 1 ubiquitous fatty ingredients (Cetearyl Glucoside), weak Malassezia signal
👕
Fabric stains
High
30
- +100 Starting score
- −50 Avobenzone at #3, reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
- −20 Oxybenzone at #4, yellow stains on white cotton
💧
Moisture
Balanced
LightNourishing
- ← 3 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica)
- ← 2 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
- → 1 Humectant polyols
- → 0.5 1 fatty-alcohol emollients (Cetearyl Alcohol)
✨
Finish
Balanced
MatteDewy
- ← 3 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica)
- ← 2 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
- ← 1 1 dry-touch emollients reduce greasy shine (Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate)
💄
Makeup base
Good
PillsPrimer
- → 3 Primer-style base, volatile silicones and dimethicone slip
- → 1 Quick-setting carrier, fast, even canvas
- → 3 1 soft-focus powders in moderation
- → 1 Dry-touch esters, smooth fast-absorbing base
- ← 0.5 Gel polymers prone to pilling under friction (Carbomer)
🌊
Water resistance
Not resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
- +2 1 water-locking waxes
Full ingredient list (46)
What each ingredient does and how it moves each rating: green helps, red hurts, ↑ / ↓ give the direction, and ← / → shift a slider toward its ends (finish, moisture, makeup base). Auto-derived from our scoring rules and the ingredient's position.
-
Legacy UV filter (Octinoxate), high in the list, a primary filter
- ↑ 18 UV protection
- ↓ 12.6 stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- ↑ 16 migrates into eyes with sweat
-
Legacy UV filter (Octisalate), high in the list, a primary filter
- ↑ 8 UV protection
- ↑ 9 migrates into eyes with sweat
-
Legacy UV filter (Avobenzone), high in the list, a primary filter
- ↑ 30 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- ↓ 3.5 stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- ↑ 24 migrates into eyes with sweat
- ↑ 50 reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
-
Legacy UV filter (Oxybenzone)
- ↑ 20.9 UV protection
- ↑ 11 migrates into eyes with sweat
- ↑ 20 yellow stains on white cotton
-
5 Water
Solvent base, the water phase
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 1 → nourishing humectant polyol
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- matte ← 1 dry-touch emollient, anti-shine
-
Fatty alcohol, an emollient and thickener, not the drying kind
- 0.5 → nourishing fatty-alcohol emollient
-
10 Silica
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light ← 3 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte ← 3 sebum-absorbing powder
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 14 feeds malassezia
-
12 Isododecane
Volatile hydrocarbon, flashes off for a light finish
- light ← 2 volatile carrier, flashes off
- matte ← 2 volatile carrier, flashes off
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
-
14 Polyethylene
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- ↑ 2 wax film
- ↑ 2 wax water lock
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
16 Cholesterol
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 2 minor malassezia feeder
-
19 Carbomer
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
20 Tromethamine
pH adjuster
-
21 Oleth-10
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Fatty alcohol, an emollient and thickener, not the drying kind
-
24 Zeolite
Supporting ingredient
-
Botanical extract
-
26 Laureth-4
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 2 comedogenic oil/butter
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
-
27 Laureth-23
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
-
Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
31 PVP
Film former, locks the formula onto skin for water resistance
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Supporting ingredient
-
Supporting ingredient
-
pH adjuster
-
Supporting ingredient
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Botanical extract
-
Supporting ingredient
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Botanical extract
-
42 Ci 19140
Colorant or pigment
-
Botanical extract
-
44 Yellow 6
Colorant or pigment
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
46 Red 33
Colorant or pigment
Does Clinique For Men SPF 21 Moisturizer leave a white cast?
No, it is rated low on white cast. The balanced moisturizer finish wears clear and lightweight, so it should not leave a visible residue.
Is the Clinique For Men™ Broad Spectrum Spf 21 Moisturizer mineral or chemical?
It is a chemical sunscreen. It relies on older-generation filters octinoxate, octisalate, avobenzone and oxybenzone, without mineral filters.
Is it any good?
It scores 59.9 out of 100, which positions it as an everyday face moisturizer with light sun protection rather than dedicated high SPF. Protection is moderate at SPF 21, held back by the dated filter set.