Clinique Superdefense City Block Broad Spectrum SPF 50 Daily Energy + Face Protector
80/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
Clinique Superdefense City Block Broad Spectrum SPF 50 Daily Energy + Face Protector is a chemical sunscreen using ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate with titanium dioxide and zinc oxide. It wears lightweight with a balanced finish and little white cast, and it sits well under makeup. It does not sting and is low for pore-clogging. With excellent protection and a score of 79.9/100, it is a dependable daily face protector, though its filter mix leans toward older-generation chemistry.
Ingredient & SPF scores
βοΈ
UV protection
Excellent
80
- +18 Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate at #1, UV filter
- +33 Titanium Dioxide at #2, UV filter (UVA1 +5)
- +41 Zinc Oxide at #3, UV filter (UVA1 +18)
- β13 UVB coverage saturated
- β1 UVA2 coverage saturated
- +2 Label claims (SPF 50)
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Health safety
High
64
- +100 Starting score
- β36 Octinoxate at #1 (regulatory/evidence concern)
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White cast
Low
90
- +100 Starting score
- β6 Zinc Oxide, 3.6% declared
- β7 Titanium Dioxide, 3.2% declared
- β10 Zinc Oxide + Titanium Dioxide together
- +11.5 Iron-oxide undertone, partial masking
- +1.1 PHSA dispersant, fights agglomeration
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Eye sting
Low
84
- +100 Starting score
- β16 Octinoxate at #1, migrates into eyes with sweat
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Heavy feel
Low
72
- +100 Starting score
- β8 Zinc Oxide, 3.6% declared
- β10 Titanium Dioxide, 3.2% declared
- β10 Both minerals in the top 3, dual mineral paste
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Fungal acne
Low
91
- +100 Starting score
- β9 1 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (PEG-8 Laurate)
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Fabric stains
Medium
40
- +100 Starting score
- β40 Iron-oxide pigments at #37, makeup-like collar marks (washable)
- β15 Titanium Dioxide at #2, white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
- β5 Both minerals present, heavier deposit
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Moisture
Light
LightNourishing
- β 3 2 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica, Hydrated Silica)
- β 5 Zinc Oxide at #3, mild sebum absorbent
- β 2 Titanium Dioxide at #2, mild sebum absorbent
- β 2 Sodium Hyaluronate at #23, hyaluronic family
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Finish
Balanced
MatteDewy
- β 2 2 sebum-absorbing powders (Hydrated Silica, Silica)
- β 3 2 dry-touch emollients reduce greasy shine (Isononyl Isononanoate, Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate)
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Makeup base
Good
PillsPrimer
- β 3 Primer-style base, volatile silicones and dimethicone slip
- β 12 2 velvet elastomer fillers, blur and grip
- β 3 Dry-touch esters, smooth fast-absorbing base
- β 4 Transfer-resistant grip resin, holds makeup
- β 7.5 High mineral load at #2 greys under foundation (tinted)
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Water resistance
Not resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
- +3 1 film-forming polymers that lock the formula on for water resistance
- +2 1 water-locking waxes
Full ingredient list (38)
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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Legacy UV filter (Octinoxate), high in the list, a primary filter
- β 18 UV protection
- β 16 migrates into eyes with sweat
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Mineral UV filter (Titanium Dioxide), high in the list, a primary filter
- β 33 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- β 7 3.2% declared
- β 10 3.2% declared
- β 15 white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
- light β 2 mild sebum absorbent
- pills β 7.5 High mineral load greys under foundation (tinted)
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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 6 3.6% declared
- β 8 3.6% declared
- light β 5 mild sebum absorbent
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4 Water
Solvent base, the water phase
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- matte β 2 dry-touch emollient, anti-shine
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- matte β 1 dry-touch emollient, anti-shine
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
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Humectant, pulls water into the skin
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11 Polydecene
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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Filter booster, photostabilizes the UV filters or lifts their SPF
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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
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Film former, locks the formula onto skin for water resistance
- β 2 wax water lock
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Protein, peptide or amino acid, conditions and hydrates skin
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Supporting ingredient
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
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21 Sodium Rna
Supporting ingredient
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
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Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 2 β nourishing hyaluronic family
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
- β 3 film former
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Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
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Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 9 feeds malassezia
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Supporting ingredient
-
30 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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31 Tocopherol
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
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pH adjuster
-
Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
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34 BHT
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
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Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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37 Iron Oxides
Colorant or pigment
- β 40 makeup-like collar marks (washable)
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38 Iron Oxides
Colorant or pigment
Does the Clinique Superdefense City Block leave a white cast?
No, it rates low for white cast and wears with a balanced finish and little whiteness.
Does the Clinique Superdefense City Block Broad Spectrum SPF 50 Daily Energy + Face Protector work under makeup?
Yes, it works well as a makeup base. It is lightweight, does not sting, and is low for pore-clogging.
Is it a good sunscreen overall?
It is a dependable daily face protector with excellent SPF 50 protection and a score of 79.9/100, though its filter mix leans toward older-generation chemistry.