Klairs Illuminating Supple Blemish Cream SPF 40 PA++
49/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
Klairs Illuminating Supple Blemish Cream is an SPF 40 PA++ tinted cream that uses Titanium Dioxide alongside the older filters Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate and Benzophenone-4. It feels lightweight with a dewy, illuminating finish and keeps white cast low while being gentle on the eyes. At 49.0/100 with protection rated weak, it reads more as a light makeup base or glow cream than a primary sun protector, so it is best paired with stronger SPF on high-sun days.
Ingredient & SPF scores
βοΈ
UV protection
Weak
33
- +33 Titanium Dioxide at #3, UV filter (UVA1 +5)
- +17.1 Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate at #5, UV filter
- +8.4 Benzophenone-4 at #18, UV filter
- β5.9 UVB coverage saturated
- Γ0.6 Almost no UVA1, poor aging protection
- +1 Label claims (SPF 40)
β’οΈ
Health safety
Medium
57
- +100 Starting score
- β36 Octinoxate at #5 (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β7 Sulisobenzone at #18, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
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Allergens
Low
96
- +100 Starting score
- β4 Photoallergen-tail UV filters (Benzophenone-4)
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White cast
Low
75
- +100 Starting score
- β50 Titanium Dioxide at #3
- +25 Iron-oxide undertone, partial masking
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Eye sting
Low
88
- +100 Starting score
- β11 Octinoxate at #5, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β1 Benzophenone-4 at #18, migrates into eyes with sweat
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Fungal acne
Medium
73
- +100 Starting score
- β18 1 polysorbate/sorbitan emulsifiers that feed Malassezia (Polysorbate 80)
- β9 1 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (PEG-30 Dipolyhydroxystearate)
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Fabric stains
Medium
45
- +100 Starting score
- β40 Iron-oxide pigments at #22, makeup-like collar marks (washable)
- β15 Titanium Dioxide at #3, white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
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Moisture
Hydrating
LightNourishing
- β 2 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
- β 2 Titanium Dioxide at #3, mild sebum absorbent
- β 16 Glycerin at #2, the anchor humectant
- β 2 Sodium Hyaluronate at #19, hyaluronic family
β¨
Finish
Dewy
MatteDewy
- β 2 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
- β 6 1 emollient lipids (C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate)
- β 4 1 slippy emollient esters (Ethylhexyl Stearate)
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Makeup base
Okay
PillsPrimer
- β 1 Quick-setting carrier, fast, even canvas
- β 2 Dry-touch esters, smooth fast-absorbing base
- β 4.5 Gel polymers prone to pilling under friction (Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer)
- β 3.5 Humectant syrup tackiness (partly offset by the base)
- β 7.5 High mineral load at #3 greys under foundation (tinted)
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Water resistance
Not resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
Nothing flagged in the ingredient list.
How we rate water resistance βSkincare 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¨ Niacinamide
Full ingredient list (26)
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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2 Glycerin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 16 β nourishing the anchor humectant
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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 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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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- 6 β dewy emollient lipid
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Legacy UV filter (Octinoxate)
- β 17.1 UV protection
- β 11 migrates into eyes with sweat
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- 4 β dewy slippy emollient ester
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Volatile hydrocarbon, flashes off for a light finish
- light β 2 volatile carrier, flashes off
- matte β 2 volatile carrier, flashes off
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 18 feeds malassezia
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10 Niacinamide
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
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Fatty alcohol, an emollient and thickener, not the drying kind
-
Supporting ingredient
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 9 feeds malassezia
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Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
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17 Xylitol
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
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Legacy UV filter (Benzophenone-4), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- β 8.4 UV protection
- β 7 Sulisobenzone, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β 1 migrates into eyes with sweat
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Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 2 β nourishing hyaluronic family
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Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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Humectant, pulls water into the skin
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22 Ci 77492
Colorant or pigment
- β 40 makeup-like collar marks (washable)
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23 Dimethicone
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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24 Ci 77491
Colorant or pigment
-
25 Ci 77499
Colorant or pigment
-
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
Is Klairs Illuminating Supple Blemish Cream good sun protection?
Its protection is rated weak, so it reads more as a light tinted glow cream or makeup base than a primary sunscreen. On high-sun days, pair it with a stronger SPF.
Does the Klairs Illuminating Supple Blemish Cream SPF 40 PA++ leave a white cast?
No, white cast is rated low. It has a dewy, illuminating finish and wears lightweight.
Is it mineral or chemical?
It is a mixed formula, using mineral Titanium Dioxide alongside the older chemical filters Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate and Benzophenone-4.