Coppertone Defend And Care Clear Zinc Spf 50
74/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
Coppertone Defend And Care Clear Zinc SPF 50 blends chemical filters octinoxate and octisalate with mineral zinc oxide, an older-generation combination. It keeps white cast low, has a balanced finish, feels lightweight, and is unlikely to sting. It is not geared toward makeup wear, scoring poorly as a base. Protection is rated good and the overall score of 74.4/100 makes it a reliable everyday body and face sunscreen.
Ingredient & SPF scores
βοΈ
UV protection
Good
64
- +18 Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate at #1, UV filter
- +8 Ethylhexyl Salicylate at #2, UV filter
- +41 Zinc Oxide at #3, UV filter (UVA1 +18)
- β5 UVB coverage saturated
- +2 Label claims (SPF 50)
β’οΈ
Health safety
High
64
- +100 Starting score
- β36 Octinoxate at #1 (regulatory/evidence concern)
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Allergens
Low
99
- +100 Starting score
- β1 1 declared fragrance allergens
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White cast
Low
87
- +100 Starting score
- β14 Zinc Oxide, 9.7% declared
- +1 Coated minerals (Triethoxycaprylylsilane)
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Eye sting
Low
75
- +100 Starting score
- β16 Octinoxate at #1, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β9 Octisalate at #2, migrates into eyes with sweat
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Heavy feel
Low
86
- +100 Starting score
- β8 Zinc Oxide, 9.7% declared
- β6 Cera Alba at #11, wax film
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Fungal acne
Low
91
- +100 Starting score
- β9 1 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Glyceryl Stearate)
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Fabric stains
Low
85
- +100 Starting score
- β15 Zinc Oxide at #3, white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
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Moisture
Balanced
LightNourishing
- β 5 Zinc Oxide at #3, mild sebum absorbent
- β 10 Glycerin at #6, the anchor humectant
- β 0.5 1 fatty-alcohol emollients (Cetearyl Alcohol)
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Finish
Balanced
MatteDewy
- β 2 1 dry-touch emollients reduce greasy shine (Dicaprylyl Ether)
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Makeup base
Poor
PillsPrimer
- β 1 Primer-style base, volatile silicones and dimethicone slip
- β 0.5 Gel polymers prone to pilling under friction (Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP Copolymer)
- β 2 Occlusives/waxes float the foundation
- β 3 Humectant syrup tackiness
- β 15 High mineral load at #3 greys under foundation
π
Water resistance
Resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
- +20 2 film-forming polymers that lock the formula on for water resistance
- +4 1 water-locking waxes
Full ingredient list (18)
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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Legacy UV filter (Octisalate), high in the list, a primary filter
- β 8 UV protection
- β 9 migrates into eyes with sweat
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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 14 9.7% declared
- β 8 9.7% declared
- β 15 white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
- light β 5 mild sebum absorbent
- pills β 15 High mineral load greys under foundation
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4 Water
Solvent base, the water phase
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- matte β 2 dry-touch emollient, anti-shine
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6 Glycerin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 10 β nourishing the anchor humectant
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Film former, locks the formula onto skin for water resistance
- β 13 film former
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Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
- β 7 film former
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
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Fatty alcohol, an emollient and thickener, not the drying kind
- 0.5 β nourishing fatty-alcohol emollient
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11 Cera Alba
Occlusive, seals moisture into the skin
- β 6 wax film
- β 4 wax water lock
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12 Dimethicone
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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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
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Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
Is Coppertone Defend And Care Clear Zinc mineral or chemical?
It is a mix, blending chemical filters octinoxate and octisalate with mineral zinc oxide. This is an older-generation filter combination.
Does the Coppertone Defend And Care Clear Zinc Spf 50 work under makeup?
It is not geared toward makeup wear and scores poorly as a base. It is better worn on its own.
Is it any good?
It is SPF 50 with good protection and scores 74.4/100, a reliable everyday result. It keeps white cast low and is unlikely to sting.