SkinCeuticals Clear Daily Soothing UV Defense SPF 50
68/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
SkinCeuticals Clear Daily Soothing UV Defense is an SPF 50 face sunscreen using an older-generation mix of Homosalate, Zinc Oxide, Octocrylene and Ethylhexyl Salicylate. It finishes balanced and does not commonly sting the eyes, but it carries a medium white cast and a somewhat heavier feel on the skin. It is generally low for pore-clogging, yet it tends to work poorly as a makeup base. With good protection and a score of 68.0/100, it is a middle-of-the-pack daily option.
Ingredient & SPF scores
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UV protection
Good
68
- +12 Homosalate at #2, UV filter
- +41 Zinc Oxide at #3, UV filter (UVA1 +18)
- +15.2 Octocrylene at #6, UV filter
- +7.6 Ethylhexyl Salicylate at #7, UV filter
- β10 UVB coverage saturated
- +2 Label claims (SPF 50)
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Health safety
Medium
50
- +100 Starting score
- β40 Homosalate at #2 (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β10.5 Octocrylene at #6, 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
Medium
54
- +100 Starting score
- β55 Zinc Oxide at #3
- +5.5 PHSA dispersant, fights agglomeration
- +3.5 Coated minerals (Triethoxycaprylylsilane)
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Eye sting
Low
70
- +100 Starting score
- β15 Octocrylene at #6, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β9 Homosalate at #2, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β6 Octisalate at #7, migrates into eyes with sweat
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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
70
- +100 Starting score
- β15 Octocrylene at #6, co-stains alongside avobenzone
- 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 #4, the anchor humectant
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Finish
Balanced
MatteDewy
- β 2 1 dry-touch emollients reduce greasy shine (Coco-Caprylate/Caprate)
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Makeup base
Poor
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 15 High mineral load at #3 greys under foundation
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Water resistance
Not resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
Nothing flagged in the ingredient list.
How we rate water resistance βFull ingredient list (32)
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 (Homosalate), high in the list, a primary filter
- β 12 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 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 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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Legacy UV filter (Octocrylene)
- β 15.2 UV protection
- β 10.5 stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β 15 migrates into eyes with sweat
- β 15 co-stains alongside avobenzone
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Legacy UV filter (Octisalate)
- β 7.6 UV protection
- β 6 migrates into eyes with sweat
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Humectant, pulls water into the skin
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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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
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Filter booster, photostabilizes the UV filters or lifts their SPF
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Supporting ingredient
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Occlusive, seals moisture into the skin
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Humectant, pulls water into the skin
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16 Steareth-2
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 9 feeds malassezia
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17 Bisabolol
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
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Antioxidant, protects the formula and 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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Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
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24 Citric Acid
pH adjuster
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25 Xanthan Gum
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Supporting ingredient
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Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 12 feeds malassezia
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 12 feeds malassezia
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Protein, peptide or amino acid, conditions and hydrates skin
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32 Dextran
Supporting ingredient
Does SkinCeuticals Clear UV Defense leave a white cast?
It has a medium white cast. With Zinc Oxide in the formula it can leave some residue, and it finishes balanced rather than fully matte.
Does the SkinCeuticals Clear Daily Soothing UV Defense SPF 50 work under makeup?
Not especially well. It rates poorly as a makeup base and feels somewhat heavier on the skin, so it may not be the best primer for foundation.
Is it good overall?
It is a middle-of-the-pack option, scoring 68.0/100 with good protection. It does not commonly sting the eyes and rates low for pore-clogging, but the medium cast and weaker makeup compatibility hold it back.