Many years ago, I’d tried a sample of Clinique’s City Block tinted sunscreen that comes in a pale green tube (I was on Makeupalley at that time and everyone raved about it for some reason) and I hated it. It was thick, oily and the colour was so off for me, it was not funny. Hate!
So when Clinique released the Derma White City Block Anti-Pollution sunscreen with tint, and asked me to take it for a spin, I balked. I balked so long its taken me till now to tell you about it 😛 If you read reviews at Makeupalley, this sunscreen gets a 2.8/5 rating which is pretty abysmal. Happily, I no longer go by Mua ratings and I must say I like this sunscreen, as a sunscreen. Don’t go thinking its anything but that. I went to take a gander at the Clinique counter to test the Clinique BB Cream against this tinted sunscreen and I must say I much prefer this one for texture and tint.
This is the second sunscreen I’ve come across that touts anti-pollution benefits (the first was Clarins UV Plus HP). It seems to be the current trend – products that help shield our skin against pollution and environmental aggressors (which are also aging).
I mentioned that this was a tinted sunscreen, so here’s the swatch. I believe it only comes in one colour, pretty much like the BB Cream.
Clinique Derma White City Block Anti-Pollution sunscreen swatch Left: Straight from tube Right: Blended
For my skintone, this colour is quite perfect. It is a light beige that blends right into my skin. If you are of a darker skintone, I’m not sure how this will fare on your skin but because it is so sheer, I don’t think it’ll make much difference.
Once blended, it is practically nothing on my skin. Although there is a tint, it isn’t quite sufficient to even out all skin faults as any coverage is very low. There is some skin brightening though. So do not expect this to perform in place of a foundation or like a BB Cream. I personally think it too sheer for that but maybe it could work as a base. However, if you have good skin and just want something to even things out this works and if you dust some powder over it, you’d pretty much be good to go.
I find the texture light – rather like a gel emulsion – and it absorbs quickly into my skin and does not cause me any problems. It must be noted that I do now have normal-combination skin with less problems than before but I do not get super oily throughout the day at all. That seems to be a prevailing lament about this one, so to test, I have been wearing this on normal work days under makeup (periodic sun exposure), by itself on weekends when I’m out and about, by itself on weekends when I’m cooped up in a hot environment and in most cases, I did not turn into an oil slick. My skin did turn a little bit oily around the T-zone which happens all the time anyway.
I tried a dab of the Clinique BB Cream at the counter. Colour wise, the colour in this product suits my skintone better. The BB Cream was too dark/yellow. Texture wise, I also prefer the texture of the City Block because it is so much lighter and more fluid. I’m glad I wasn’t asked to take the BB Cream for a spin. Clinique wouldn’t have gotten much raves from me for that one LOL!
Pros: Light texture that absorbs quickly, Does not turn my skin very oily, Light tint is suitable for my skintone, Good mix of physical and chemical blockers
Cons: Pricey, May not suit everyone
I don’t have the box, but I found a list of ingredients from this blogger who likes it too:-
Active Ingredients: Zinc Oxide 8.8%, Octinoxate 7.5%, Titanium Dioxide 6.6%, Octisalate 2%
Ingredients: Water/Aqua/Eau,Trioctyldodecyl Citrate, Butylene Glycol, Dimethicone, Octyldodecyl Neopentanoate, Steareth-2, Silica, Aluminum Stearate, Angelica Acutiloba (Japanese Angelica) root extract, Porphyra Yezoensis (Algae) extract, Hordeum Vulgare (Barley) extract/Extrait d’orge, Zizyphus Jujuba fruit extract, Paeonia Suffruticosa (Peony) root extract, cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) fruit extract, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) seedcake, Saccharomyces Lysate extract, Carthamus Tinctorius (Safflower) flower extract, Rosa Roxburghii fruit extract, Paeonia Albiflora (Peony) root extract, Gardenia Florida extract, lecithin, Poria Cocos Sclerotium extract, Propylene Glycol dicaprate, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria), yeast extract/faex/extrait de levure, Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) root extract, citric acid, peg-100 stearate, Betula Alba (Birch) bark extract, acetyl glucosamine, tocopheryl acetate, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) extract, caffeine, magnesium ascorbyl, phosphate, squalane, glycyrrhetinic acid, Gentiana Lutea (Gentian) root extract, Oryza Sativa (Rice) bran extract, Ceteth-2, peg-40 stearate, sorbitan tristearate, magnesium aluminum silicate, polyglyceryl-6 polyricinoleate, tricaprylin, sucrose, stereath-20, sodium rna, sodium stearate, isopropyl titanium triisostearate, stearic acid, pantethine, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) leaf extract, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Glycine Soja (Soybean) seed extract, glycerin, barium sulfate, glucose, caprylyl glycol, hexylene glycol, polyethylene, peg/ppg-18/18 dimethicone, Citrus Unshiu peel extract, xanthan gum, disodium edta, bht, chlorphenesin, phenoxyethanol, mica, iron oxides (Ci-77491, CI 77492, CI 77499), titanium dioxide (Ci 77891)
It has a good mix of physical and chemical blockers and although it does have Zinc Oxide, again it isn’t breaking me out which is of course a good thing. Its such a good thing, I’m tempting fate by giving the Diorsnow sunscreen another chance. That one has a high zinc oxide content so I’m going to see how I fare with it after my last disastrous outing.
Mayhap you have tried this one and have some thoughts on it? 🙂 I do recommend you try this out at the counter before you buy or see if you can get yourself a sample to see if it works for you. I like using this on lazy days. A touch of concealer, a dab of powder and I’m good to go! 😀
Paris B
Clinique Derma White City Block Anti-Pollution sunscreen SPF40 PA+++ retails at RM135/30ml at all Clinique counters. Unsure if this is only available in Asia.
Hah! I thought I was the only one who stopped following MUA ratings.
I shall look out for this at Clinique counters in Canada. The two words side by side, “gel emulsion”, interests me.
Haha you too! I found some of the reviews a bit skewed 😛 But they are useful for a general guide. I prefer to try it myself and not treat it as gospel 😉 I hope you manage to find it in Canada (do let us know if you do) and that you like it if you do!
Thanks for the review! I can get this in the UK – I will have a look!
I hope you like it Jamilla! With SPF40 I think its alright for use in the UK 🙂
Hey I have this one too and I like it so much!!
Yay! Its really nice isn’t it? I never expected to like it.
Hmmm…. I might get this one, seeing that I’m a Clinique fan and all. ^.^
Well if Clinique works for you then this might too 🙂
Good review. Unfortunately Clinique products never in my buy list. I’ve tried many of their things and it always give me unhappy result. The sunblock (from previous green tube, the orange tube, till this white tube) too oily and cause zits on me. The whitening essence (after using 2 bottles) didn’t see much changes on me in contrast of yours. The eye cream lagi teruk, oil seed growing like nobody business after I used for few times. I wonder anybody else has the similar problems after using Clinique products?…
about the eye cream, yes! and when i told the clinique consultant, they said, yes, some customers do find the eye cream a bit oily….
Oh wait, I think a friend of mine also had complaints about the eye cream. I haven’t tried it though (and probably never will because I only really use eye serums) 🙂 I was quite keen to try the Clinique Moisture Surge eye cream. Looks light.
The Clinique 3 Step doesn’t work for me. Broke me out. The other products in the brand have so far been alright, thank goodness. Guess this just isn’t the brand for you – we all have different skin that react differently after all 🙂
yeah, I’m also face the same problem after used the Clinique -All about eyes, it is too oily and caused the oil seed growing…I’m stopped using it and now seeking for any good eyecream….
amazing! doth mine eyes deceive me? a clinique product that doesnt contain alcohol?
How interesting. I didn’t notice that!
Hi Paris, is this better than Vichy Aera mineral BB cream in terms of color blending into Asian skin? Thx! 🙂
Yes. This one is more yellow than the Vichy Aera Mineral BB Cream 🙂 It is however more sheer too.
how would you compare this to the clarins sunblock?!
I’d say they are different. The texture is thicker and the tint is more skin toned. With good skin, you can use this as a very light sheer foundation, topped with powder. With foundation over this, it offers better coverage. Clarins has a pink brightening tone. Its more suitable as a base for makeup. It depends on what you want. I like both as sunscreens but they also serve different makeup functions.
i think i’ll go for the clarins 1 ! cause i dont really like the tint in clinique!! Thanks anyway!!!
Glad to help!
This 1 is quite light and does not dry my skin or feel sticky
Better than kiehls uv light
Kiehl’s UV Light is a little bit heavier I agree 🙂
i’ve had this product for a while now, and i’ve never had problems such as skin breakouts with it. its so light and smooths on nicely, without being too oily. it matches my skin color well too. so overall, i think its a great product. especially when ur in a rush, or don’t want to put on too much makeup
I have very pale, pinkish skin that I’ve been told many times is beautiful (sorry, don’t mean to brag) and in an attempt to keep it that way I’ve been using Clinique City Block sunscreen for many years. I like the fact that it contains titanium dioxide and zinc oxide with no other ingredients. However the tint is awful on me and it looks I have heavy dark foundation on. I don’t get to show off my great skin color – ever! I recently asked (Aug. 15, 2013) if they have any Clinique City Block that has a whitish tint and they don’t. I’m in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada and I’m not sure if this product is only selling in the States. Can someone advise?
As far as I know, this particular products is only available in Asia. You could try looking for it online for a site that will ship it internationally.