Clinique Moisture Surge SPF 25 Sheer Hydrator
65/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
Clinique Moisture Surge SPF 25 Sheer Hydrator is a chemical sunscreen using older-generation filters: Homosalate, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Ethylhexyl Salicylate and Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane. It wears with a balanced, lightweight finish and keeps white cast low, though the lower SPF 25 means moderate rather than high protection. It sits okay under makeup and is low risk for clogging pores. With a score of 64.9/100 it reads more as a hydrating day cream with light sun cover than a dedicated high-SPF sunscreen.
Ingredient & SPF scores
βοΈ
UV protection
Moderate
41
- +12 Homosalate at #2, UV filter
- +18 Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate at #3, UV filter
- +7.6 Ethylhexyl Salicylate at #4, UV filter
- +28.5 Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane at #6, UV filter (UVA1 +15.2)
- β5.6 UVB coverage saturated
- Γ0.9 Limited long-UVA1 coverage
- Γ0.75 Avobenzone + octinoxate degrade each other in sunlight
β’οΈ
Health safety
Medium
44
- +100 Starting score
- β40 Homosalate at #2 (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β12.6 Octinoxate at #3, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β3.5 Avobenzone at #6, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- +0 2 endocrine-scrutinized filters together
π₯
Eye sting
Medium
53
- +100 Starting score
- β16 Avobenzone at #6, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β16 Octinoxate at #3, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β9 Homosalate at #2, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β6 Octisalate at #4, migrates into eyes with sweat
π
Fungal acne
Medium
61
- +100 Starting score
- β12 1 polysorbate/sorbitan emulsifiers that feed Malassezia (Sorbitan Sesquiisostearate)
- β27 3 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Polyglyceryl-2 Stearate, Sorbeth-30 Tetraisostearate, Glyceryl Stearate)
π
Fabric stains
Medium
55
- +100 Starting score
- β45 Avobenzone at #6, reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
π§
Moisture
Hydrating
LightNourishing
- β 3 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Polymethylsilsesquioxane)
- β 4 Glycerin at #11, the anchor humectant
- β 2 Sodium Hyaluronate at #14, hyaluronic family
- β 2 2 strong humectants (Sorbitol, Saccharide Isomerate)
- β 1 Humectant polyols
β¨
Finish
Balanced
MatteDewy
- β 3 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Polymethylsilsesquioxane)
π
Makeup base
Okay
PillsPrimer
- β 3 1 soft-focus powders in moderation
- β 1.5 Gel polymers prone to pilling under friction (Carbomer, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate)
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¨ Aloe vera
Full ingredient list (44)
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 (Homosalate), high in the list, a primary filter
- β 12 UV protection
- β 9 migrates into eyes with sweat
-
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
-
Legacy UV filter (Octisalate)
- β 7.6 UV protection
- β 6 migrates into eyes with sweat
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 1 β nourishing humectant polyol
-
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
-
Filter booster, photostabilizes the UV filters or lifts their SPF
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light β 3 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte β 3 sebum-absorbing powder
-
11 Glycerin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 4 β nourishing the anchor humectant
-
Supporting ingredient
-
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 2 β nourishing hyaluronic family
-
15 Caffeine
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Supporting ingredient
-
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
- β 3 film former
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20 Sorbitol
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 1 β nourishing humectant
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21 Dimethicone
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 9 feeds malassezia
-
23 Sucrose
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 1 β nourishing humectant
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 9 feeds malassezia
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 9 feeds malassezia
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 12 feeds malassezia
-
29 Hydroxide K
pH adjuster
-
30 Carbomer
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Fatty alcohol, an emollient and thickener, not the drying kind
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 3 film former
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
39 BHT
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
-
pH adjuster
-
42 Citric Acid
pH adjuster
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
What SPF is Clinique Moisture Surge Sheer Hydrator?
It is SPF 25, which gives moderate rather than high protection. It works well as a hydrating day product but offers less sun cover than an SPF 50.
Is this a mineral or chemical sunscreen?
It is chemical. It uses older-generation filters: Homosalate, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Ethylhexyl Salicylate and Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane.
Is the Clinique Moisture Surge SPF 25 Sheer Hydrator good for oily or acne-prone skin?
It can work. The finish is balanced and lightweight with low pore-clogging risk, though as a moisture-focused hydrator it may feel richer than a dedicated matte sunscreen.