Sunscreen Ranker Independent ranker
DE
Dermalogica

Clear Start Clearing Defense Moisturizer SPF 30

SPF 30 Invisible No white cast — chemical/hybrid filters that disappear on skin. US United States us-fda Formulation variant: us-fda. Region-specific reformulations are tracked as separate products.

Homosalate/octocrylene/octisalate/avobenzone plus thymol, terpineol, orange oil and linalool/limonene/geraniol/citronellol — acne-targeted yet allergen-heavy.

◐ CHEM Chemical filters Chemical filters — Organic filters absorb UV. Cosmetically elegant; filter selection matters. 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).
52.1
Composite
Composite score · independent
Ranks #1498 of 1558 in the current catalogue. Homosalate/octocrylene/octisalate/avobenzone plus thymol, terpineol, orange oil and linalool/limonene/geraniol/citronellol — acne-targeted yet allergen-heavy.
Composite is a weighted blend: UV 25% · Modernity 10% · Sensitivity 15% · Environment 10% · Elegance 15% · Health 25%.
Verdict Should you buy it?

US-label chemical SPF 30 (homosalate, octocrylene, octisalate, avobenzone) aimed at blemish-prone skin with sodium ascorbyl phosphate, salix alba bark, and bisabolol. No parfum, but citrus oil, thymol, linalool, limonene, geraniol, and citronellol are present.

Pros
  • Fragrance-free per INCI and alcohol-free
  • Sodium ascorbyl phosphate for vitamin C support
  • Salix alba bark and bisabolol for blemish-prone skin
  • Silica and tapioca starch deliver a matte feel
Cons
  • Citrus oil, thymol, linalool, limonene, geraniol, citronellol present
  • SPF 30 ceiling
  • Older homosalate/octocrylene chemical filter base
  • No PA rating (US-label format)

Who it's for: US shoppers with blemish-prone skin wanting a parfum-free chemical SPF; less suited to easily reactive skin.

01 Score breakdown
UV protection How well the product blocks UVA + UVB across the spectrum at the stated SPF/PA. 36
Filter modernity Penalises legacy filters (octinoxate, oxybenzone); rewards photostable next-gen filters. 50
Sensitivity safety Risk for reactive skin — fragrance, alcohol, known sensitisers. 38
Reef / env. safety Reef toxicity, biodegradability of UV filters and surfactants. 100
Cosmetic elegance Spread, finish, white-cast, comfort on skin. 66
Health safety Endocrine concerns, systemic absorption signals across the formula. 50
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.
Chemical
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.
No
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) 43 ingredients
MODERN FILTER 0 LEGACY FILTER 2 MINERAL FILTER 0 ADDED FRAGRANCE 0 NATURAL FRAGRANCE 5 ALCOHOL 0 WATCH 0 ACTIVE 2
Homosalate (8.0%), Octocrylene (8.0%), Octisalate (5.0%), Avobenzone Homosalate — legacy UVB filter; endocrine literature. ·Water·Butylene Glycol·Silica·C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate· Butyloctyl Salicylate Salicylate-class booster; supports avobenzone. ·Vp/Eicosene Copolymer·Polyglyceryl-2 Distearate·Saccharide Isomerate·Tapioca Starch·Coriandrum Sativum Fruit Oil·Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract·Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate·Salix Alba Bark Extract·Terpineol·Thymol· Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil Essential / botanical oil — releases scent compounds (terpenes, aldehydes) naturally. Marketed as "natural" but still a recognised source of contact sensitivity. ·Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate·Tocopheryl Acetate·Potassium Cetyl Phosphate·Arachidyl Alcohol·Glyceryl Stearate·Peg-100 Stearate·Behenyl Alcohol·Xanthan Gum·Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer·Arachidyl Glucoside· Ethylhexylglycerin Humectant — the workhorse hydrator. ·Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate·Citric Acid·Sodium Citrate·Sodium Hydroxide· Glycerin Humectant — the workhorse hydrator. ·Bisabolol·Pentylene Glycol·Propanediol·Caprylyl Glycol·Potassium Sorbate·Sodium Benzoate· Linalool Known fragrance allergen (one of the EU-26). Naturally found in essential oils; required to be listed by name in the EU. Can trigger sensitivity even when no synthetic parfum is added. · Limonene Known fragrance allergen (one of the EU-26). Naturally found in essential oils; required to be listed by name in the EU. Can trigger sensitivity even when no synthetic parfum is added. · Geraniol Known fragrance allergen (one of the EU-26). Naturally found in essential oils; required to be listed by name in the EU. Can trigger sensitivity even when no synthetic parfum is added. · Citronellol Known fragrance allergen (one of the EU-26). Naturally found in essential oils; required to be listed by name in the EU. Can trigger sensitivity even when no synthetic parfum is added.
Source: brand-published INCI. Last verified 19 Jun 2026. Show in detail
01 Homosalate (8.0%), Octocrylene (8.0%), Octisalate (5.0%), Avobenzone LEGACY FILTER Homosalate — legacy UVB filter; endocrine literature.
02 Water Water
03 Butylene Glycol Butylene Glycol
04 Silica Silica
05 C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
06 Butyloctyl Salicylate LEGACY FILTER Salicylate-class booster; supports avobenzone.
07 Vp/Eicosene Copolymer VP/Eicosene Copolymer
08 Polyglyceryl-2 Distearate Polyglyceryl-2 Distearate
09 Saccharide Isomerate Saccharide Isomerate
10 Tapioca Starch Tapioca Starch
11 Coriandrum Sativum Fruit Oil Coriander Fruit Oil
12 Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract Green Tea Leaf Extract
13 Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
14 Salix Alba Bark Extract
15 Terpineol Terpineol
16 Thymol Thymol
17 Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil NATURAL FRAGRANCE Essential / botanical oil — releases scent compounds (terpenes, aldehydes) naturally. Marketed as "natural" but still a recognised source of contact sensitivity.
18 Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
19 Tocopheryl Acetate Vitamin E Acetate
20 Potassium Cetyl Phosphate Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
21 Arachidyl Alcohol Arachidyl Alcohol
22 Glyceryl Stearate Glyceryl Stearate
23 Peg-100 Stearate PEG-100 Stearate
24 Behenyl Alcohol Behenyl Alcohol
25 Xanthan Gum Xanthan Gum
26 Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
27 Arachidyl Glucoside Arachidyl Glucoside
28 Ethylhexylglycerin ACTIVE Humectant — the workhorse hydrator.
29 Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
30 Citric Acid Citric Acid
31 Sodium Citrate Sodium Citrate
32 Sodium Hydroxide Sodium Hydroxide
33 Glycerin ACTIVE Humectant — the workhorse hydrator.
34 Bisabolol Bisabolol
35 Pentylene Glycol Pentylene Glycol
36 Propanediol Propanediol
37 Caprylyl Glycol Caprylyl Glycol
38 Potassium Sorbate Potassium Sorbate
39 Sodium Benzoate Sodium Benzoate
40 Linalool NATURAL FRAGRANCE Known fragrance allergen (one of the EU-26). Naturally found in essential oils; required to be listed by name in the EU. Can trigger sensitivity even when no synthetic parfum is added.
41 Limonene NATURAL FRAGRANCE Known fragrance allergen (one of the EU-26). Naturally found in essential oils; required to be listed by name in the EU. Can trigger sensitivity even when no synthetic parfum is added.
42 Geraniol NATURAL FRAGRANCE Known fragrance allergen (one of the EU-26). Naturally found in essential oils; required to be listed by name in the EU. Can trigger sensitivity even when no synthetic parfum is added.
43 Citronellol NATURAL FRAGRANCE Known fragrance allergen (one of the EU-26). Naturally found in essential oils; required to be listed by name in the EU. Can trigger sensitivity even when no synthetic parfum is added.