Clinique Broad Spectrum SPF 50 Sunscreen Face Cream
Works for
2 of 2 advertised claims delivered
Sun protectionSPF 50 · 6 UV filtersBroad spectrum
This product offers a good level of protection against both UVB and UVA rays.
This sunscreen uses organic (so-called "chemical") sunscreen filters. Organic, or "chemical" filters usually provide reliable sun protection and rarely leave a white cast. Sunscreens with organic filters can sting eyes.
Anti-aging2 ingredients credited for this claimStrong support
“Clinique's innovative SolarSmartTM complex triggers an antiaging repair process while at once providing skin with a high level of defense from the aging and burning effects of UVA and UVB rays.”
This product can help prevent early signs of skin aging because it offers a good level of broad spectrum sun protection. Sun damage is the main cause of premature skin aging, and protecting your skin from the sun is the best anti-aging strategy.
Evens skin toneNot advertised by the brand · No ingredient credited for this claimStrong support
This product offers broad spectrum sun protection. It means that it can prevent hyperpigmentation and help keep the skin tone even (sun damage is the main factor causing age spots, darkening of post-acne marks and other discolorations).
MoisturizingNot advertised by the brand · 12 ingredients credited for this claimGood support
This product can help improve hydration of the skin with the two types of ingredients.
The first type is called “humectants”:
these ingredients help attract water.
When humectants are on the surface of the skin, they “pull in” the moisture from the outside environment, or from
within deeper layers of the skin. The following ingredients in this product do the job:
sucrose, butylene glycol.
This product also contains ingredients called “occlusives”. They help reduce the speed with which our skin loses moisture to the outside environment. These ingredients also help soften the upper layer of the skin, so it feels less tight and nicer to the touch. The following ingredients in this product do the job: butyrospermum parkii butter, dimethicone.
Can it cause trouble?
Irritancy3 strong irritants: Benzophenone-3, Rosmarinus officinalis extract + 1 more — patch-test recommendedHigh risk
Comedogenic2 ingredients rated 2 or more on the 0–5 pore-clogging scale2 flagged
User reviews
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Ingredients
Filter by role to see what each ingredient is doing.
Benzophenone-35%
- Irritation risk
- High
Same as oxybenzone. Protects in the UVB and short UVA range. In small concentrations, used to stabilize product formulation. Can be irritating. Is shown to be harmful to coral reefs - consider avoiding bathing in coral reef areas when wearing a product with this ingredient. It can penetrate the skin and get absorbed into bloodstream faster than other popular filters available in the US. The study that produced this finding did not address any potential health effects of the absorption
More about Benzophenone-3Ethylhexyl salicylate5%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Octisalate. A UV filter. It offers some protection against the sun rays that cause sunburn (UVB), but does not protect against the most aging sun rays (UVA). It loses its effectiveness quickly when exposed to sunlight. It is an organic, or so called "chemical" sunscreen
More about Ethylhexyl salicylateHomosalate5%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
A weak sunscreen that offers some protection against the sun rays that cause sunburn (UVB), but does not offer meaningful protection against protect against the most aging sun rays (UVA). It loses its effectiveness quickly when exposed to sunlight. It is an organic, or so called "chemical" sunscreen. When used in low concentrations, helps to stabilize the product formulation
More about HomosalateButyl methoxydibenzoylmethane3%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Avobenzone. An organic, or so-called "chemical" UV filter. Protects against both UVA and UVB rays. Needs to be combined with other filters in a formulation to be stable.
More about Butyl methoxydibenzoylmethaneOctocrylene2.7%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
A weak sunscreen that protects against the sun rays that cause sunburn (UVB) and is somewhat effective against the UVA rays. It is quite stable and can help stabilize other, more vulnerable, sunscreen ingredients like Avobenzone. It is an organic, or so called "chemical" sunscreen
More about OctocryleneWater~45–55%
Methyl trimethicone~5.8–7.1%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A type of silicone that helps create a silky product finish and dissolve other ingredients
More about Methyl trimethiconeButylene glycol~4.9–5.9%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Used to create a nice product texture and help delivery of other ingredients. Might be somewhat helpful in attracting water to the upper layer of the skin
More about Butylene glycolButyloctyl salicylate~4.2–5.1%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
A synthetic ester of salicylic acid that is used to help disperse pigments and boost effectiveness of sunscreen ingredients. It is able to absorb UV light (working as an organic, or chemical filter), but is not approved as a sunscreen ingredient on its own
More about Butyloctyl salicylateNeopentyl glycol diheptanoate~3.2–3.9%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Helps soften the upper layer of the skin and create a nice product consistency
More about Neopentyl glycol diheptanoateButyrospermum parkii butter~2.5–3%
- Irritation risk
- Low
- Comedogenicity
- 3/5
A great moisturising ingredient that softens the skin and reduces water loss from its upper layer. It also can be helpful in protecting skin from free radicals
More about Butyrospermum parkii butterPeg-100 stearate~1.7–2.1%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Helps oil and water mix togehter and creates a nice product texture
More about Peg-100 stearateSilica~1.7–2.1%
Dipentaerythrityl tri-polyhydroxystearate~1.3–1.6%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Lauryl peg-9 polydimethylsiloxyethyl dimethicone~1–1.2%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A type of silicone that helps to soften upper layer of the skin and create a nice product texture
More about Lauryl peg-9 polydimethylsiloxyethyl dimethiconeDimethicone~1–1.2%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A silicone that helps to reduce water loss from the surface of the skin. Can temporarily "fill in" lines and wrinkles, absorb oil, and create a nice product finish
More about DimethiconeGlyceryl stearate~0.75–1.1%
- Irritation risk
- Low
An emollient that softens the skin and forms a protective layer on its surface. Helps water and oil mix together
More about Glyceryl stearateLaurdimonium hydroxypropyl hydrolyzed soy protein~0.6–0.9%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Rosmarinus officinalis extract~0.55–0.8%
- Irritation risk
- High
Perilla ocymoides leaf extract~0.5–0.75%
- Irritation risk
- High
A plant extract that might help neutralize free radicals in skin but solid research is lacking. Contains a number of volatile compounds and could be irritating
More about Perilla ocymoides leaf extractPlankton extract~0.5–0.8%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
- Comedogenicity
- 3/5
Can help attract water to the upper layer of the skin
More about Plankton extractCaffeine~0.5–0.75%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Might be helpful in neutralizing free radicals. Can have a dehydration effect that might somewhat decrease the look of puffy eyes
More about CaffeinePotassium cetyl phosphate~0.5–0.75%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Helps oil and water mix together
More about Potassium cetyl phosphateSucrose~0.4–0.6%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Can help attract water to the upper layer of the skin. In crystal form, it can work as a gentle exfoliant, gentler than the salt scrub. Helps stabilize the emulsion
More about SucroseStyrene/acrylates copolymer~0.55–0.8%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Used to create an even product consistency. Can help boost efficiency of sunscreen filters
More about Styrene/acrylates copolymerC30-38 olefin/isopropyl maleate/ma copolymer~0.4–0.6%
Cetyl alcohol~0.5–0.7%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A non-drying alcohol that works to soften the skin and stabilize product formulations helping oil and water mix together
More about Cetyl alcoholVp/eicosene copolymer~0.45–0.65%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Used to improve the product adherence to the skin, for example, to pro-long the protective effect of sunscreens. Can be irritating to very sensitive skin
More about Vp/eicosene copolymerEthylhexylglycerin~0.3–0.6%
Ammonium acryloyldimethyltaurate/vp copolymer~0.3–0.6%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Increases thickness of a product. Texture enhancer for oil-in-water emulsions
More about Ammonium acryloyldimethyltaurate/vp copolymerPeg-8 laurate~0.35–0.65%
Sodium rna~0.3–0.6%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Is claimed to have anti-aging properties, but research about its effect in topical application is missing
More about Sodium rnaLecithin~0.45–0.7%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Used mostly for creating emulsions - helping oil and water mix together. Helps soften the upper layer of the skin
More about LecithinPropyl gallate~0.3–0.55%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Helps preserve product formulations and can mask the smell of other ingredients in a product
More about Propyl gallateArginine ferulate~0.3–0.6%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Tocopheryl acetate~0.3–0.6%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
A more stable but less bio-available form of vitamin E compared to Tocopherol. Might help moisturize and protect the skin from free radicals, but mostly used in low concentrations to stabilize other ingredients.
More about Tocopheryl acetateCaprylyl glycol~0.4–0.6%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Helps preserve products and creates a nice product texture
More about Caprylyl glycolAscorbyl tocopheryl maleate~0.45–0.65%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Stearic acid~0.5–0.75%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Helps oil and water mix together and works as an emollient
More about Stearic acidXanthan gum~0.3–0.55%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Used to create a thicker product consistency
More about Xanthan gumHexylene glycol~0.25–0.45%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Helps create a more spreadable product texture
More about Hexylene glycolNordihydroguaiaretic acid~0.25–0.45%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Used to stabilize the formula of product formulation. Might be helpful in neutralizing free radicals in skin
More about Nordihydroguaiaretic acidDisodium edta~0.2–0.35%
Phenoxyethanol~0.2–0.35%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A preservative. It helps prevent bacterial growth in cosmetic products
More about PhenoxyethanolMica~0.2–0.4%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Creates an illusion of smoother and more radiant skin tone. Adds shimmer to the skin by reflecting light
More about MicaSodium dehydroacetate~0.2–0.4%
Ingredient list view
Benzophenone-3, Ethylhexyl salicylate, Homosalate, Butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane, Octocrylene, Water, Methyl trimethicone, Butylene glycol, Butyloctyl salicylate, Neopentyl glycol diheptanoate, Butyrospermum parkii butter, Peg-100 stearate, Silica, Dipentaerythrityl tri-polyhydroxystearate, Lauryl peg-9 polydimethylsiloxyethyl dimethicone, Dimethicone, Glyceryl stearate, Laurdimonium hydroxypropyl hydrolyzed soy protein, Rosmarinus officinalis extract, Perilla ocymoides leaf extract, Plankton extract, Caffeine, Potassium cetyl phosphate, Sucrose, Styrene/acrylates copolymer, C30-38 olefin/isopropyl maleate/ma copolymer, Cetyl alcohol, Vp/eicosene copolymer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Ammonium acryloyldimethyltaurate/vp copolymer, Peg-8 laurate, Sodium rna, Lecithin, Propyl gallate, Arginine ferulate, Tocopheryl acetate, Caprylyl glycol, Ascorbyl tocopheryl maleate, Stearic acid, Xanthan gum, Hexylene glycol, Nordihydroguaiaretic acid, Disodium edta, Phenoxyethanol, Mica, Sodium dehydroacetate
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Product summary
We believe that "Clinique - Broad Spectrum SPF 50 Sunscreen Face Cream" can provide reliable sun protection based on the ingredients listed. It can protect from both UVA and UVB rays. This is great news because not all sunscreens with SPF ratings give UVA protection. (UVA rays do not cause sunburn, but still damage our skin and lead to early aging).
Because it includes good moisturizing ingredients, it can also work as a hydrating day cream. Like all broad-spectrum sunscreens, this product helps prevent early signs of aging.
Sunscreen filters
This sunscreen uses so-called "chemical", or organic UV filters (organic simply means that their molecules contain atoms of carbon). These filters typically give good sun protection and rarely leave a white cast, but they can be irritating for sensitive skin. These are the sun protection ingredients in this sunscreen: oxybenzone 5.00% (declared), avobenzone 3.00% (declared), butyloctyl salicylate 4.20% - 5.10%, octisalate 5.00% (declared), homosalate 5.00% (declared) and octocrylene 2.70% (declared).
Irritation risk
There are some common irritants in this product, including ingredients that do not have benefits for the skin. We assess the overall irritancy of this moisturizer to be high. For a detailed overview of all potential irritants: click here
You can see the detailed formula review with the breakdown of all actives in the product and the full ingredient list with estimated concentrations in the tables below.
Price
The product retails for 38.00CA$ in Canada and from 30.00$ up to 36.80$ in the United States.
For a detailed price comparison: click here.
Sources cited in this review
Every concentration estimate and effectiveness label is anchored to one of these 15 studies and safety reviews.
- 1
- 2
- 3On Photostability of Oxybenzonecore.ac.uk
- 4
- 5
- 6
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