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Walgreens Clear Complexion For Face Sunscreen SPF 50

Walgreens Clear Complexion For Face Sunscreen SPF 50

62/100 overall score

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About this sunscreen

Walgreens Clear Complexion For Face Sunscreen SPF 50 is a chemical sunscreen using an older-school set of Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Homosalate, Ethylhexyl Salicylate and Octocrylene plus the older filter Benzophenone-3. It applies lightweight with a balanced finish and keeps white cast low. At 61.6/100 with good protection, it is an affordable everyday face SPF, though its dated filters hold the score in the middle of the pack.

Ingredient & SPF scores

β˜€οΈ

UV protection

Good 66
  • +30 Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane at #1, UV filter (UVA1 +16)
  • +12 Homosalate at #2, UV filter
  • +8 Ethylhexyl Salicylate at #3, UV filter
  • +15.2 Octocrylene at #4, UV filter
  • +20.9 Benzophenone-3 at #5, UV filter
  • βˆ’8.9 UVB coverage saturated
  • βˆ’6.2 UVA2 coverage saturated
  • Γ—0.9 Limited long-UVA1 coverage
  • +2 Label claims (SPF 50)
How we rate uv protection β†’
☒️

Health safety

Low 2
  • +100 Starting score
  • βˆ’70 Oxybenzone at #5 (regulatory/evidence concern)
  • βˆ’14 Homosalate at #2, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
  • βˆ’10.5 Octocrylene at #4, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
  • βˆ’3.5 Avobenzone at #1, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
  • +0 2 endocrine-scrutinized filters together
How we rate health safety β†’
🀧

Allergens

Low 91
  • +100 Starting score
  • βˆ’9 Photoallergen-tail UV filters (Benzophenone-3, Octocrylene)
How we rate allergens β†’
πŸ‘»

White cast

Low 100
  • +100 Starting score
How we rate white cast β†’
πŸ”₯

Eye sting

Medium 32
  • +100 Starting score
  • βˆ’24 Avobenzone at #1, migrates into eyes with sweat
  • βˆ’15 Octocrylene at #4, migrates into eyes with sweat
  • βˆ’11 Oxybenzone at #5, migrates into eyes with sweat
  • βˆ’9 Homosalate at #2, migrates into eyes with sweat
  • βˆ’9 Octisalate at #3, migrates into eyes with sweat
How we rate eye sting β†’
πŸͺ¨

Heavy feel

Low 100
  • +100 Starting score
How we rate heavy feel β†’
πŸ”΄

Comedogenic

Low 100
  • +100 Starting score
How we rate comedogenic β†’
πŸ„

Fungal acne

Medium 66
  • +100 Starting score
  • βˆ’32 3 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Glyceryl Stearate, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, PEG-100 Stearate)
  • βˆ’2 1 ubiquitous fatty ingredients (Stearic Acid), weak Malassezia signal
How we rate fungal acne β†’
πŸ‘•

Fabric stains

High 5
  • +100 Starting score
  • βˆ’50 Avobenzone at #1, reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
  • βˆ’20 Oxybenzone at #5, yellow stains on white cotton
  • βˆ’15 Octocrylene at #4, co-stains alongside avobenzone
  • βˆ’10 Avobenzone + Octocrylene, the classic staining pair
How we rate fabric stains β†’
πŸ’§

Moisture

Hydrating
LightNourishing
  • ← 3 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Tapioca Starch Polymethylsilsesquioxane)
  • β†’ 10 Glycerin at #7, the anchor humectant
How we rate moisture β†’
✨

Finish

Balanced
MatteDewy
  • ← 3 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Tapioca Starch Polymethylsilsesquioxane)
  • ← 1 1 dry-touch emollients reduce greasy shine (Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate)
How we rate finish β†’
πŸ’„

Makeup base

Okay
PillsPrimer
  • β†’ 3 1 soft-focus powders in moderation
  • β†’ 1 Dry-touch esters, smooth fast-absorbing base
  • ← 1.5 Humectant syrup tackiness (partly offset by the base)
How we rate makeup base β†’
🌊

Water resistance

Not resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant

Nothing flagged in the ingredient list.

How we rate water resistance β†’

Full ingredient list (25)

What each ingredient does and how it moves each rating: green helps, red hurts, ↑ / ↓ give the direction, and ← / β†’ shift a slider toward its ends (finish, moisture, makeup base). Auto-derived from our scoring rules and the ingredient's position.

  1. Legacy UV filter (Avobenzone), high in the list, a primary filter

    • ↑ 30 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
    • ↓ 3.5 stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
    • ↑ 24 migrates into eyes with sweat
    • ↑ 50 reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
  2. 2 Homosalate

    Legacy UV filter (Homosalate), high in the list, a primary filter

    • ↑ 12 UV protection
    • ↓ 14 stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
    • ↑ 9 migrates into eyes with sweat
  3. 3 Ethylhexyl Salicylate

    Legacy UV filter (Octisalate), high in the list, a primary filter

    • ↑ 8 UV protection
    • ↑ 9 migrates into eyes with sweat
  4. 4 Octocrylene

    Legacy UV filter (Octocrylene)

    • ↑ 15.2 UV protection
    • ↓ 10.5 stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
    • ↑ 15 migrates into eyes with sweat
    • ↑ 15 co-stains alongside avobenzone
  5. 5 Benzophenone-3

    Legacy UV filter (Oxybenzone)

    • ↑ 20.9 UV protection
    • ↑ 11 migrates into eyes with sweat
    • ↑ 20 yellow stains on white cotton
  6. 6 Water

    Solvent base, the water phase

  7. 7 Glycerin

    Humectant, pulls water into the skin

    • 10 β†’ nourishing the anchor humectant
  8. Supporting ingredient

  9. Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish

    • light ← 3 sebum-absorbing powder
    • matte ← 3 sebum-absorbing powder
  10. Emollient, softens and smooths skin

    • matte ← 1 dry-touch emollient, anti-shine
  11. 11 Glyceryl Stearate

    Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended

    • ↑ 14 feeds malassezia
  12. Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream

  13. Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended

    • ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
  14. 14 Stearic Acid

    Emollient, softens and smooths skin

    • ↑ 2 minor malassezia feeder
  15. 15 PEG-100 Stearate

    Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended

    • ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
  16. 16 Phenethyl Benzoate

    Emollient, softens and smooths skin

  17. Soothing, skin-conditioning active

  18. 18 Caprylyl Glycol

    Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling

  19. 19 Phenoxyethanol

    Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling

  20. 20 Stearyl Alcohol

    Fatty alcohol, an emollient and thickener, not the drying kind

  21. 21 Disodium EDTA

    Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable

  22. 22 Sodium Hydroxide

    pH adjuster

  23. 23 Cellulose Gum

    Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream

  24. 24 Dimethicone

    Emollient, softens and smooths skin

  25. 25 Tocopheryl Acetate

    Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin

What SPF is Walgreens Clear Complexion For Face Sunscreen?

It is SPF 50, offering high broad-spectrum coverage for daily face use.

Does the Walgreens Clear Complexion For Face Sunscreen SPF 50 leave a white cast?

No, white cast is rated low. It applies lightweight with a balanced finish.

Is it any good?

It scores 61.6/100 with good protection, a middle-of-the-pack result. It is an affordable everyday face SPF, with its older filters holding the score down.

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