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Product Comparison

Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of Clinique City Block Sheer Oil-Free Daily Face Protector SPF 25 versus Australian Gold Botanical SPF 50 Tinted Face Rich to Deep .

Last updated on December 05, 2023. Published on April 25, 2021

Overview

What they are

These products are both sunscreens. They have a total of 9 ingredients in common

Cool Features

They both contain exfoliants, SPF and Vitamin E

Suited For

They're both likely to be good for fighting acne, dry skin, brightening skin and sensitive skin

Free From

They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, common allergens, oils, parabens or sulfates

What's Inside

They both contain fragrances and silicones

We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that need an update? Let us know.

Sunscreen American Brand United States
Sunscreen American Brand United States

Sunscreen

Sunscreens help absorb or reflect UV radiation and protect skin against skin damage. Sunscreens may come in the form of lotion, gel, foam, spray, or solid-stick.

Sunscreen

Sunscreens help absorb or reflect UV radiation and protect skin against skin damage. Sunscreens may come in the form of lotion, gel, foam, spray, or solid-stick.

Price

Ingredient Info

Click any item below to learn more and view relevant ingredients.
alcohol-free
silicon-free
fragrance-free
sulfate-free
paraben-free
oil-free
fungal-acne safe
reef-safe
eu-allergen-free
vegan
cruelty-free
spf rating
25
alcohol-free
silicon-free
fragrance-free
sulfate-free
paraben-free
oil-free
fungal-acne safe
reef-safe
eu-allergen-free
vegan
cruelty-free
spf rating
50

At a glance

Click on any of the items below to learn more

Notable Ingredients

Mineral UV Filter (2)
Vitamin C (2)
Vitamin E
Exfoliators (2)
Hyaluronic Acid

Benefits

Hydrating (2)
Redness Reducing (2)
Reduces Irritation
Skin Texture (2)
Anti-Aging (2)
Dark Spots (2)
Acne Fighting
Brightening (2)

Concerns

May Worsen Oily Skin (3)
Acne Trigger (2)
Rosacea
Eczema

Notable Ingredients

Mineral UV Filter (2)
Vitamin E
Exfoliators (2)

Benefits

Hydrating (3)
Reduces Irritation
Acne Fighting
Brightening (2)

Concerns

May Worsen Oily Skin (2)
Rosacea
Eczema
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Ingredients Compared

Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.

Ingredients Side-by-side

Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.

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Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.

1
What it does: Cosmetic Colorant, UV Absorber, UV Filter
Community Rating: Mixed

Titanium dioxide is known for its UVA and UVB protection properties. It is non-comedogenic and non-irritating. Titanium Dioxide is a physical sunscreen. Physical sunscreens reflect light and prevent it from reaching your skin.

Protecting your skin against UV radiation can prevent the signs of aging. Sun damage is associated with fine-lines, wrinkles, loss of firmness, and hyperpigmentation. Titanium dioxide can help prevent premature aging.

With modern production, nano-scale or fine-grade titanium dioxide can be easily produced for cosmetics. In sunscreen, titanium dioxide absorbs UV light. Our skin is not able to absorb Titanium dioxide, even nanoparticles.

Titanium itself is the 9th most common element in the Earth's crust. Titanium dioxide is formed when oxygen is introduced and can be found in ores, dust, sand, and soil.

Pure titanium dioxide is a white powder that is used in many products to add or change color.

Learn more about Titanium Dioxide

Clinique City Block Sheer Oil-Free Daily Face Protector SPF 25 contains this as ingredient number 1.

Australian Gold Botanical SPF 50 Tinted Face Rich to Deep contains this as ingredient number 1.

2
What it does: Cosmetic Colorant, Skin Protecting, UV Absorber, UV Filter
Community Rating: Liked

Zinc Oxide is a mineral broad-spectrum UV filter; it is the broadest UVA and UVB reflector approved by the FDA. While it is most commonly man-made for cosmetics, it can naturally occur in zincite, a rare mineral.

Today, traditional and nano-sized zinc oxide can be found in beauty products. Nano-sized zinc oxide can enhance a product's UV protection. While it is not believed to have a negative effect on skin, nano-zinc oxide can be harmful to coral reefs.

More about harmful reef ingredients here.

Zinc Oxide also has antibacterial and calming properties. It is not water soluble.

Zinc has been used throughout history as an ingredient in paint and medicine. An Indian text from 500BC is believed to list zinc oxide as a salve for open wound. The Ancient Greek physician Dioscorides has also mentioned the use of zinc as an ointment in 1AD.

Learn more about Zinc Oxide

Clinique City Block Sheer Oil-Free Daily Face Protector SPF 25 contains this as ingredient number 2.

Australian Gold Botanical SPF 50 Tinted Face Rich to Deep contains this as ingredient number 2.

3
What it does: Emollient, Skin Conditioning, Solvent
Community Rating: Disliked

Cyclopentasiloxane is a silicone used to improve texture and trap moisture. An easier name for this is D5.

D5 is considered lightweight and volatile. Volatile means it evaporates quickly after application. Once evaporated, D5 leaves a thin barrier that helps keep skin hydrated.

D5 is an emollient. Emollients help soften the skin and prevent water loss. Silicones create a silky texture in products. D5 helps other ingredients become more spreadable.

Studies show D5 is safe to use in skincare products. We recommend speaking with a skincare professional if you have concerns.

Learn more about Cyclopentasiloxane

Clinique City Block Sheer Oil-Free Daily Face Protector SPF 25 contains this as ingredient number 5.

Australian Gold Botanical SPF 50 Tinted Face Rich to Deep contains this as ingredient number 7.

4
What it does: Abrasive, Absorbent
Community Rating: Disliked

Silica is a mineral naturally found in our skin. It helps to thicken and smooth the texture of a product. It also acts as an agent for other ingredients by increasing the absorption of other ingredients into the skin.

Silica is often used for absorption and can help reduce shine when products are applied. Silica occurs in naturally in materials like clay and sandstone, and it can also be produced synthetically.

Silica is present naturally within the skin during collagen production and when reducing inflammation.

Learn more about Silica

Clinique City Block Sheer Oil-Free Daily Face Protector SPF 25 contains this as ingredient number 10.

Australian Gold Botanical SPF 50 Tinted Face Rich to Deep contains this as ingredient number 21.

5
What it does: Emollient, Humectant, Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Liked

Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant and emollient, meaning it attracts and preserves moisture.

It is a common ingredient in many products, especially those designed to hydrate skin. The primary benefits are retaining moisture, skin softening, and promoting a healthy skin barrier.

Though Caprylyl Glycol is an alcohol derived from fatty acids, it is not the kind that can dry out skin.

This ingredient is also used as a preservative to extend the life of products. It has slight antimicrobial properties.

Learn more about Caprylyl Glycol

Clinique City Block Sheer Oil-Free Daily Face Protector SPF 25 contains this as ingredient number 29.

Australian Gold Botanical SPF 50 Tinted Face Rich to Deep contains this as ingredient number 5.

6
What it does: Antioxidant, Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Liked

Tocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.

One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.

Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.

Learn more about Tocopheryl Acetate

Clinique City Block Sheer Oil-Free Daily Face Protector SPF 25 contains this as ingredient number 30.

Australian Gold Botanical SPF 50 Tinted Face Rich to Deep contains this as ingredient number 25.

7
What it does: Cleansing, Emulsifying, Emulsion Stabilising, Masking
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Stearic Acid is a fatty acid. It is an emollient, emulsifier, and texture enhancer.

As an emollient, stearic acid helps soften skin. It aids the skin's protective barrier by preventing water loss. It also provides a gentle cleansing effect without stripping away natural oils.

Stearic acid may also be used to enhance the texture of products. It can add volume and stabilize ingredients such as water and oil. This can help water and oil ingredients from separating.

Sources of stearic acid include animal or vegetable fats/oils such as coconut or shea. It can be naturally found in butter, cocoa butter, shea butter, vegetable fats, and animal tallow.

This ingredient may not be Malassezia folliculitis, or fungal-acne safe.

Learn more about Stearic Acid

Clinique City Block Sheer Oil-Free Daily Face Protector SPF 25 contains this as ingredient number 32.

Australian Gold Botanical SPF 50 Tinted Face Rich to Deep contains this as ingredient number 23.

8
What it does:
Community Rating: Disliked

Disodium EDTA plays a role in making products more stable by aiding other preservatives.

It is a chelating agent, meaning it neutralizes metal ions that may be found in a product.

Disodium EDTA is a salt of edetic acid and is found to be safe in cosmetic ingredients.

Learn more about Disodium EDTA

Clinique City Block Sheer Oil-Free Daily Face Protector SPF 25 contains this as ingredient number 55.

Australian Gold Botanical SPF 50 Tinted Face Rich to Deep contains this as ingredient number 9.

9
What it does: Preservative
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Phenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent germ and microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.

It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.

Clinique City Block Sheer Oil-Free Daily Face Protector SPF 25 contains this as ingredient number 57.

Australian Gold Botanical SPF 50 Tinted Face Rich to Deep contains this as ingredient number 17.

Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.

19% are loved or liked
14% have mixed ratings
41% are disliked or very disliked
27% have no rating yet
30% are loved or liked
7% have mixed ratings
59% are disliked or very disliked
4% have no rating yet

Usage

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Reviews

Here's what our community thinks

Clinique City Block Sheer Oil-Free Daily Face Protector SPF 25 59 ingredients

City Block Sheer Oil-Free Daily Face Protector SPF 25 hasn't been rated yet.
Rate it now

Australian Gold Botanical SPF 50 Tinted Face 27 ingredients

3.5 /5
from 4 ratings
Lakooo's avatar

Lakooo

9 months ago · Combination Skin
Review

Good choice of colors, but dried out my skin
First, the good: Unlike brands that offer only one "universal" tint that isn't actually a universal...

Good choice of colors, but dried out my skin
First, the good: Unlike brands that offer only one "universal" tint that isn't actually a universal match, there a three shades, so you can get a good colour match for your skin. Also, it has a genuinely matte finish and won't make you look like a glazed donut all day.

Now, the bad: The cost of that matte finish is that it's drying, and it made my skin look even more dry than it actually was. My neck looked like an 80-year-old's. Re-applying throughout the day made the situation even worse, but switching to a spray SPF didn't make it any better. And re-applying with a sheer SPF made me look streaky.

In summary: Not a fan.

MichelleR's avatar

MichelleR

6 months ago · Dry Skin
Review

For $13, it has its uses...
It has its pros and cons. Its thick and the matte finish can sometimes appear chalky. It layers well under powder...

For $13, it has its uses...
It has its pros and cons. Its thick and the matte finish can sometimes appear chalky. It layers well under powder foundation. For $13, I think it's worth it for particular scenarios.
(1) I use it on a weekend after slugging all day and I fiinnnallyy decide to go outside.
(2) I wear it under my makeup when I am working from home and need to get on zoom calls. I don't use this to reapply throughout the day. I use sun sticks instead.
Essentially, I think this is a great sunscreen when the event of the day isn't too high stakes. It is a mineral sunscreen that gets the job done.

Alternatives

Our Dupe Finder has found 2 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to Clinique City Block Sheer Oil-Free Daily Face Protector SPF 25.

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