SkinCeuticals Clear Daily Soothing UV Defense Cream SPF 50
70/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
SkinCeuticals Clear Daily Soothing UV Defense Cream SPF 50 is a chemical-led sunscreen using homosalate, ethylhexyl salicylate and octocrylene alongside a small amount of zinc oxide. It wears with a balanced finish, low white cast and a lightweight feel, and its low breakout-trigger rating makes it commonly friendly to acne-prone skin. Protection is rated good at SPF 50. With a score of 70.4/100 it is a solid everyday sunscreen.
Ingredient & SPF scores
βοΈ
UV protection
Good
60
- +12 Homosalate at #1, UV filter
- +8 Ethylhexyl Salicylate at #2, UV filter
- +16 Octocrylene at #3, UV filter
- +38.9 Zinc Oxide at #4, UV filter (UVA1 +17.1)
- β10.5 UVB coverage saturated
- Γ0.9 Limited long-UVA1 coverage
- +2 Label claims (SPF 50)
β’οΈ
Health safety
Medium
50
- +100 Starting score
- β40 Homosalate at #1 (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β10.5 Octocrylene at #3, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
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Allergens
Low
97
- +100 Starting score
- β3 Photoallergen-tail UV filters (Octocrylene)
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White cast
Low
88
- +100 Starting score
- β14 Zinc Oxide, 7% declared
- +1.4 PHSA dispersant, fights agglomeration
- +0.9 Coated minerals (Triethoxycaprylylsilane)
π₯
Eye sting
Medium
60
- +100 Starting score
- β22 Octocrylene at #3, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β9 Homosalate at #1, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β9 Octisalate at #2, migrates into eyes with sweat
π
Fungal acne
Medium
53
- +100 Starting score
- β24 2 polysorbate/sorbitan emulsifiers that feed Malassezia (Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan Isostearate)
- β23 2 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Steareth-20, Steareth-2)
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Fabric stains
Low
75
- +100 Starting score
- β15 Octocrylene at #3, co-stains alongside avobenzone
- β10 Zinc Oxide at #4, white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
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Moisture
Hydrating
LightNourishing
- β 2 Zinc Oxide at #4, mild sebum absorbent
- β 10 Glycerin at #6, the anchor humectant
β¨
Finish
Balanced
MatteDewy
- β 2 1 dry-touch emollients reduce greasy shine (Coco-Caprylate/Caprate)
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Makeup base
Okay
PillsPrimer
- β 2 Dry-touch esters, smooth fast-absorbing base
- β 2.5 Gel polymers prone to pilling under friction (Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, C12-22 Alkyl Acrylate/Hydroxyethylacrylate Copolymer)
- β 3 Humectant syrup tackiness
- β 6 High mineral load at #4 greys under foundation
π
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¨ Bisabolol
Full ingredient list (31)
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 (Homosalate), high in the list, a primary filter
- β 12 UV protection
- β 9 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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Legacy UV filter (Octocrylene), high in the list, a primary filter
- β 16 UV protection
- β 10.5 stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β 22 migrates into eyes with sweat
- β 15 co-stains alongside avobenzone
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Mineral UV filter (Zinc Oxide)
- β 38.9 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- β 14 7% declared
- β 8 7% declared
- β 10 white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
- light β 2 mild sebum absorbent
- pills β 6 High mineral load greys under foundation
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5 Water
Solvent base, the water phase
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6 Glycerin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 10 β nourishing the anchor humectant
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- matte β 2 dry-touch emollient, anti-shine
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Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
10 Steareth-20
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 14 feeds malassezia
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Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Filter booster, photostabilizes the UV filters or lifts their SPF
-
Occlusive, seals moisture into the skin
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
15 Steareth-2
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 9 feeds malassezia
-
16 Bisabolol
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Filter booster, photostabilizes the UV filters or lifts their SPF
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
23 Citric Acid
pH adjuster
-
24 Xanthan Gum
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Supporting ingredient
-
Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 12 feeds malassezia
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 12 feeds malassezia
-
Protein, peptide or amino acid, conditions and hydrates skin
-
31 Dextran
Supporting ingredient
Is SkinCeuticals Clear UV Defense good for acne-prone skin?
It is generally suitable. The breakout-trigger rating is low, and the product is positioned for blemish-prone skin, so it is commonly well tolerated.
Does the SkinCeuticals Clear Daily Soothing UV Defense Cream SPF 50 leave a white cast?
No, it is rated low for white cast. It wears with a balanced finish and a lightweight feel.
Is it mineral or chemical?
It is mainly chemical, using homosalate, ethylhexyl salicylate and octocrylene, with a small amount of zinc oxide added.