Clinique Spf 50 Sunscreen Face Cream
63/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
Clinique SPF 50 Sunscreen Face Cream is a chemical formula built on older-generation filters including benzophenone-3, homosalate, octocrylene and avobenzone. The cream wears lightweight with a balanced finish, little to no white cast and a low pore-clogging profile, and sits okay under makeup, though it may cause mild stinging for some during sweat. Protection rates as good. With a score of 63 out of 100, it is a serviceable daily face sunscreen that trails newer filter technology.
Ingredient & SPF scores
βοΈ
UV protection
Good
63
- +22 Benzophenone-3 at #2, UV filter
- +8 Ethylhexyl Salicylate at #3, UV filter
- +11.4 Homosalate at #5, UV filter
- +24 Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane at #9, UV filter (UVA1 +12.8)
- +12.8 Octocrylene at #11, UV filter
- β7 UVB coverage saturated
- β3.4 UVA2 coverage saturated
- Γ0.9 Limited long-UVA1 coverage
- +2 Label claims (SPF 50)
β’οΈ
Health safety
Low
2
- +100 Starting score
- β70 Oxybenzone at #2 (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β14 Homosalate at #5, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β10.5 Octocrylene at #11, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β3.5 Avobenzone at #9, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- +0 2 endocrine-scrutinized filters together
π€§
Allergens
Low
91
- +100 Starting score
- β9 Photoallergen-tail UV filters (Benzophenone-3, Octocrylene)
π₯
Eye sting
Medium
54
- +100 Starting score
- β8 Avobenzone at #9, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β7 Octocrylene at #11, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β16 Oxybenzone at #2, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β6 Homosalate at #5, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β9 Octisalate at #3, migrates into eyes with sweat
πͺ¨
Heavy feel
Low
95
- +100 Starting score
- β5 Butyrospermum Parkii Fruit at #10, butter/occlusive fat
π
Fungal acne
Medium
43
- +100 Starting score
- β23 2 oils/butters that feed Malassezia (Butyrospermum Parkii Fruit, Lecithin)
- β32 3 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (PEG-100 Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-8 Laurate)
- β2 1 ubiquitous fatty ingredients (Stearic Acid), weak Malassezia signal
π
Fabric stains
High
17
- +100 Starting score
- β38 Avobenzone at #9, reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
- β20 Oxybenzone at #2, yellow stains on white cotton
- β15 Octocrylene at #11, co-stains alongside avobenzone
- β10 Avobenzone + Octocrylene, the classic staining pair
π§
Moisture
Balanced
LightNourishing
- β 1.5 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica)
- β 1 Humectant polyols
- β 2 1 emollient lipids (Butyrospermum Parkii Fruit)
β¨
Finish
Balanced
MatteDewy
- β 1 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica)
- β 1 1 dry-touch emollients reduce greasy shine (Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate)
- β 3 1 emollient lipids (Butyrospermum Parkii Fruit)
π
Makeup base
Okay
PillsPrimer
- β 5 Primer-style base, volatile silicones and dimethicone slip
- β 1 Dry-touch esters, smooth fast-absorbing base
- β 0.5 Gel polymers prone to pilling under friction (Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP Copolymer)
- β 2 Occlusives/waxes float the foundation
π
Water resistance
Not resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
- +6 2 film-forming polymers that lock the formula on for water resistance
Full ingredient list (46)
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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Legacy UV filter (Oxybenzone), high in the list, a primary filter
- β 22 UV protection
- β 16 migrates into eyes with sweat
- β 20 yellow stains on white cotton
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Legacy UV filter (Octisalate), high in the list, a primary filter
- β 8 UV protection
- β 9 migrates into eyes with sweat
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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Legacy UV filter (Homosalate)
- β 11.4 UV protection
- β 14 stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β 6 migrates into eyes with sweat
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 1 β nourishing humectant polyol
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- matte β 1 dry-touch emollient, anti-shine
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Legacy UV filter (Avobenzone), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- β 24 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- β 3.5 stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β 8 migrates into eyes with sweat
- β 38 reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
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Botanical extract
- β 5 butter/occlusive fat
- 2 β nourishing emollient lipid
- 3 β dewy emollient lipid
- β 14 feeds malassezia
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11 Octocrylene
Legacy UV filter (Octocrylene), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- β 12.8 UV protection
- β 10.5 stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β 7 migrates into eyes with sweat
- β 15 co-stains alongside avobenzone
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 14 feeds malassezia
-
13 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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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
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16 Dimethicone
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 9 feeds malassezia
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Protein, peptide or amino acid, conditions and hydrates skin
-
Botanical extract
-
Botanical extract
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21 Caffeine
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
-
23 Sucrose
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
- β 3 film former
-
Supporting ingredient
-
Fatty alcohol, an emollient and thickener, not the drying kind
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Film former, locks the formula onto skin for water resistance
- β 3 film former
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 9 feeds malassezia
-
31 Sodium Rna
Supporting ingredient
-
32 Lecithin
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 9 feeds malassezia
-
Supporting ingredient
-
pH adjuster
-
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
38 Stearic Acid
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- β 2 minor malassezia feeder
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39 Xanthan Gum
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Supporting ingredient
-
Botanical extract
-
Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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45 Mica
Colorant or pigment
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
Is Clinique SPF 50 Sunscreen Face Cream mineral or chemical?
It is a chemical sunscreen at SPF 50, built on older-generation filters including benzophenone-3, homosalate, octocrylene and avobenzone.
Does the Clinique Spf 50 Sunscreen Face Cream leave a white cast?
No, it tends to stay clear. It carries a low ghost-mode rating, so it leaves little to no white cast with a balanced finish.
Is it a good sunscreen?
It is a serviceable daily option. It scores 63 out of 100 with good measured protection, though it leans on older filters and may sting for some during sweat.