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Dermalogica   Clear Start Golden Hour Hydrating SPF 30 Stick
Dermalogica

  Clear Start Golden Hour Hydrating SPF 30 Stick

SPF 30
Our score 76.8 / 100

No fragrance or ethanol; octocrylene and malic acid add tolerance caveats. Oils, squalane and gel structuring suggest a richer tinted shimmer film; actual wear is unknown.

Tinted Iron-oxide pigment masks white cast with a sheer skin-tone finish. Sensitive & baby fragrance-free, low-irritant, baby-safe gentle formulas. United States
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.
Hybrid
Broad spectrum Covers both UVA and UVB. UVA drives aging and deeper damage; UVB gives you burns.
Yes
Formulation & feel
Texture How it feels going on — milk, gel, cream, spray, stick, essence, lotion, powder, or cushion.
Stick
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
Where to buy it
Ulta US In stock
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76.8
Composite score · independent
Ranks #1584 of 1759 in the current catalogue. No fragrance or ethanol; octocrylene and malic acid add tolerance caveats. Oils, squalane and gel structuring suggest a richer tinted shimmer film; actual wear is unknown.
Composite is a weighted blend: UV 25% · Modernity 10% · Sensitivity 15% · Environment 10% · Elegance 15% · Health 25%. That's the recipe.
The score breakdown
UV protection How hard it blocks UVA + UVB across the spectrum at the stated SPF/PA. 60
Filter modernity Dings legacy filters (octinoxate, oxybenzone); rewards photostable next-gen ones. 58
Sensitivity safety Risk for reactive skin — fragrance, alcohol, and known sensitisers. 83
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. 74
Health safety Endocrine concerns and systemic absorption signals across the whole formula. 90
02 Composition · key UV filters 4 filters resolved
UVA-I 340–400nm UVA-I (340–400nm) — covered UVA-II 320–340nm UVA-II (320–340nm) — covered UVB 290–320nm UVB (290–320nm) — covered
Avobenzone Legacy Older organic filter. Photostable in combination; some literature concerns.
Octisalate Legacy Older organic filter. Photostable in combination; some literature concerns.
Octocrylene Legacy Older organic filter. Photostable in combination; some literature concerns.
Titanium Dioxide Mineral Physical filter — sits on skin and reflects UV. Reef-safer.
04 Full ingredient list (INCI) 23 ingredients
MODERN FILTER 0 LEGACY FILTER 4 MINERAL FILTER 1 ADDED FRAGRANCE 0 NATURAL FRAGRANCE 0 ALCOHOL 0 WATCH 0 ACTIVE 1
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane Avobenzone — UVA filter, needs stabilisation. · Ethylhexyl Salicylate Octisalate — older filter; well-tolerated. · Octocrylene Octocrylene — degrades to benzophenone over time. ·Octyldodecanol·C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate· Butyloctyl Salicylate Salicylate-class booster; supports avobenzone. ·Dibutyl Ethylhexanoyl Glutamide·Dibutyl Lauroyl Glutamide·Diisostearyl Malate·Dextrin Palmitate· Squalane Plant emollient; skin-mimicking. ·Calcium Sodium Borosilicate·Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil·Meadowfoam Estolide·Pentaerythrityl Tetra-di-t-butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate·Isostearyl Alcohol· Titanium Dioxide Mineral UV filter — physical block; reef-safer. ·Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil·Malic Acid·Tin Oxide·Iron Oxides·Salix Alba Bark Extract·Palmitic Acid
Source: brand-published INCI. Last verified 2026. Show in detail
01 Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane LEGACY FILTER Avobenzone — UVA filter, needs stabilisation.
02 Ethylhexyl Salicylate LEGACY FILTER Octisalate — older filter; well-tolerated.
03 Octocrylene LEGACY FILTER Octocrylene — degrades to benzophenone over time.
04 Octyldodecanol Octyldodecanol
05 C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
06 Butyloctyl Salicylate LEGACY FILTER Salicylate-class booster; supports avobenzone.
07 Dibutyl Ethylhexanoyl Glutamide Dibutyl Ethylhexanoyl Glutamide
08 Dibutyl Lauroyl Glutamide Dibutyl Lauroyl Glutamide
09 Diisostearyl Malate Diisostearyl Malate
10 Dextrin Palmitate Dextrin Palmitate
11 Squalane ACTIVE Plant emollient; skin-mimicking.
12 Calcium Sodium Borosilicate Calcium Sodium Borosilicate
13 Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
14 Meadowfoam Estolide Meadowfoam Estolide
15 Pentaerythrityl Tetra-di-t-butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate Pentaerythrityl Tetra-di-t-butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
16 Isostearyl Alcohol Isostearyl Alcohol
17 Titanium Dioxide MINERAL FILTER Mineral UV filter — physical block; reef-safer.
18 Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil Safflower Seed Oil
19 Malic Acid Malic Acid
20 Tin Oxide Tin Oxide
21 Iron Oxides Iron Oxides
22 Salix Alba Bark Extract
23 Palmitic Acid Palmitic Acid