CL
Clinique
Pep Start Daily UV Protector Broad Spectrum SPF 50
SPF 50+ Tinted Iron-oxide pigment masks white cast with a sheer skin-tone finish. US United States us-fda Formulation variant: us-fda. Region-specific reformulations are tracked as separate products.
Mineral TiO2 + ZnO, alcohol- and fragrance-free, tinted base on a silicone matrix; very clean health and sensitivity profile.
△ MIN Mineral filters Mineral filters — Physical filters (ZnO, TiO2) sit on skin and reflect UV. Reef-safer; very gentle. F F-FREE Fragrance-free Fragrance-free — No added fragrance or perfume — lower irritation risk for reactive skin. A A-FREE Alcohol-free Alcohol-free — No drying short-chain alcohols (denatured / SD alcohol). ● TINT Tinted Tinted — Adds sheer colour — covers white cast and gives a skin-tone finish.
79.0
Composite
Composite score · independent
Ranks #392 of 1558 in the current catalogue. Mineral TiO2 + ZnO, alcohol- and fragrance-free, tinted base on a silicone matrix; very clean health and sensitivity profile.
Verdict Should you buy it?
A tinted mineral SPF 50 built on titanium dioxide in a silicone-heavy base with iron oxides for tone. The formula is fragrance- and alcohol-free, but UVA coverage from TiO2 alone is more limited than zinc-anchored mineral systems.
Pros
- Single-filter TiO2 system, fragrance- and alcohol-free
- Iron oxides add visible-light defense via tint
- Silicone matrix gives a smooth, primer-like finish
- Short, predictable ingredient profile for reactive skin
Cons
- TiO2-only filter system caps long-UVA performance
- No published PA rating to confirm UVA strength
- Silicone-forward base may not suit oily preferences
- Tint shade range is limited by iron oxide load
Who it's for: Sensitive or reactive skin wanting a fragrance-free tinted mineral primer and willing to trade some UVA depth for a clean, simple filter list.
01 Score breakdown
02 Composition · key UV filters 1 filters resolved
03 At-a-glance facts
Protection
Filter type Mineral filters (zinc oxide, titanium dioxide) sit on skin and reflect UV. Chemical filters absorb UV. Hybrid blends both.
Mineral
Broad spectrum Protects across both UVA and UVB ranges. UVA causes aging and deeper damage; UVB causes burns.
No
Formulation & feel
Texture How the formula feels at application — milk, gel, cream, spray, stick, essence, lotion, powder, or cushion.
Cream
Finish How the formula looks on skin once dry: matte, natural, dewy, or glowy.
Natural
Tinted Adds sheer pigment (iron oxides) that masks the white cast common to mineral filters and gives a skin-tone finish.
Yes
Fragrance-free No synthetic perfume added. Not FDA-defined in the US; the EU requires 'Parfum' + the 26 named allergens on the label. 'Unscented' differs — may contain masking fragrance. Botanical oils still scent.
Yes
Alcohol-free No drying short-chain alcohols (alcohol denat., SD alcohol, ethanol). Does not refer to fatty alcohols like cetyl or stearyl alcohol, which are emollients.
Yes
04 Full ingredient list (INCI) 29 ingredients
MODERN FILTER 0 LEGACY FILTER 1 MINERAL FILTER 1 ADDED FRAGRANCE 0 NATURAL FRAGRANCE 0 ALCOHOL 0 WATCH 0
Titanium Dioxide Mineral UV filter — physical block; reef-safer. ·Aqua·Dimethicone· Butyloctyl Salicylate Salicylate-class booster; supports avobenzone. ·Polydiethylsiloxane·C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate·Isononyl Isononanoate·Diethylhexyl Succinate·Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate·Methyl Trimethicone·Butylene Glycol·Ethylhexyl Methoxycrylene·Lauryl Peg-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone·Silica·Laureth-4·Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone·Dipentaerythrityl Tri-polyhydroxystearate·Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein/Pvp Crosspolymer·Caprylyl Glycol·Dimethicone Silylate·Dimethicone/Peg-10/15 Crosspolymer·Isostearic Acid·Dimethicone Crosspolymer-3·Polyhydroxystearic Acid·Triethoxycaprylylsilane·Dipropylene Glycol·Phenoxyethanol·Ci 77491·Iron Oxides
Source: brand-published INCI. Last verified 19 Jun 2026. Show in detail
13 Lauryl Peg-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone Lauryl PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone