Sunscreen Ranker Independent ranker
Clinique Pep Start Daily UV Protector Broad Spectrum SPF 50
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. 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 top and reflect UV. Reef-safer and super gentle. F F-FREE Fragrance-free Fragrance-free — No added fragrance — lower irritation risk if your skin's reactive. A A-FREE Alcohol-free Alcohol-free — No drying short-chain alcohols (denatured / SD alcohol). ● TINT Tinted Tinted — Adds sheer colour — kills white cast and gives a skin-tone finish.
Where to buy it
Ulta US In stock
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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.
Composite is a weighted blend: UV 25% · Modernity 10% · Sensitivity 15% · Environment 10% · Elegance 15% · Health 25%. That's the recipe.
01 The score breakdown
UV protection How hard it blocks UVA + UVB across the spectrum at the stated SPF/PA. 70
Filter modernity Dings legacy filters (octinoxate, oxybenzone); rewards photostable next-gen ones. 80
Sensitivity safety Risk for reactive skin — fragrance, alcohol, and known sensitisers. 80
Reef / env. safety Reef toxicity plus how biodegradable the UV filters and surfactants are. 100
Cosmetic elegance Spread, finish, white-cast, and how it actually feels on skin. 70
Health safety Endocrine concerns and systemic absorption signals across the whole formula. 84
02 Composition · key UV filters 1 filters resolved
UVA-I 340–400nm UVA-I (340–400nm) — not covered UVA-II 320–340nm UVA-II (320–340nm) — covered UVB 290–320nm UVB (290–320nm) — covered
Titanium Dioxide Mineral Physical filter — sits on skin and reflects UV. Reef-safer.
03 The facts, at a glance
Protection
Filter type Mineral filters (zinc oxide, titanium dioxide) sit on skin and reflect UV. Chemical filters absorb UV. Hybrid runs both.
Mineral
Broad spectrum Covers both UVA and UVB. UVA drives aging and deeper damage; UVB gives you burns.
No
Formulation & feel
Texture How it feels going on — milk, gel, cream, spray, stick, essence, lotion, powder, or cushion.
Cream
Finish How it looks 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' is different — it can hide masking fragrance. Botanical oils still scent.
Yes
Alcohol-free No drying short-chain alcohols (alcohol denat., SD alcohol, ethanol). Doesn't mean fatty alcohols like cetyl or stearyl — those are emollients.
Yes
Verdict Is it worth 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.

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 2026. Show in detail
01 Titanium Dioxide MINERAL FILTER Mineral UV filter — physical block; reef-safer.
02 Aqua Water
03 Dimethicone Dimethicone
04 Butyloctyl Salicylate LEGACY FILTER Salicylate-class booster; supports avobenzone.
05 Polydiethylsiloxane Polydiethylsiloxane
06 C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
07 Isononyl Isononanoate Isononyl Isononanoate
08 Diethylhexyl Succinate Diethylhexyl Succinate
09 Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate
10 Methyl Trimethicone Methyl Trimethicone
11 Butylene Glycol Butylene Glycol
12 Ethylhexyl Methoxycrylene Ethylhexyl Methoxycrylene (Solastay S1)
13 Lauryl Peg-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone Lauryl PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone
14 Silica Silica
15 Laureth-4 Laureth-4
16 Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone
17 Dipentaerythrityl Tri-polyhydroxystearate Dipentaerythrityl Tri-Polyhydroxystearate
18 Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein/Pvp Crosspolymer Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein/PVP Crosspolymer
19 Caprylyl Glycol Caprylyl Glycol
20 Dimethicone Silylate Dimethicone Silylate
21 Dimethicone/Peg-10/15 Crosspolymer Dimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer
22 Isostearic Acid Isostearic Acid
23 Dimethicone Crosspolymer-3 Dimethicone Crosspolymer-3
24 Polyhydroxystearic Acid Polyhydroxystearic Acid
25 Triethoxycaprylylsilane Triethoxycaprylylsilane
26 Dipropylene Glycol Dipropylene Glycol
27 Phenoxyethanol Phenoxyethanol
28 Ci 77491 Iron Oxide Red (CI 77491)
29 Iron Oxides Iron Oxides