Clinique Super City Block Ultra Protection SPF 40 for dry sensitive skin
Zinc Oxide
Titanium Dioxide
Octinoxate
Octisalate
Rosa Roxburghii Fruit Extract
Average
- HighDry Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for dry sensitive skin; other sunscreens fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with dry sensitive skin: flakiness, tightness, redness, fine lines, and wrinkles. For scores and recommendations based on your full skin profile, including your 12D face scan results and any goals or preferences you have, please use the Lovi app.
Page built Nov 8, 2026How the Fit score works
Lovi Assistant explains
- Highly suitable for your dry skin due to the presence of squalane and glycerin, which provide emollient and humectant actions to support skin hydration and barrier function.
- The formula offers excellent protection against UV rays with titanium dioxide and zinc oxide, and while it provides general hydration, it lacks specialized ingredients to deeply address flakiness.
- The safety profile is excellent, with no risks of irritation for your dry and sensitive skin due to the absence of prohibited or harsh ingredients.
How to apply
- Use your sunscreen as part of your AM routine every morning. Reapply every two hours when exposed to the sun.
- Apply the sunscreen after your moisturizer as the final step of your morning skincare routine.
- Gently press a coin-sized amount of sunscreen evenly into your skin, and avoid rubbing it harshly. Let it set for a minute before going outdoors.
- Since your skin is sensitive , apply the sunscreen over your dry moisturizer to ensure better comfort and protection.
- Always do a patch test before your first use and avoid direct contact with the eyes.
People Say
★4.6Overall rating based on 700+ reviewsUsers with sensitive and combination skin highly praise this product for its dual function as a lightweight, non-irritating sunscreen and a makeup primer that does not cause breakouts. While the sheer tint effectively neutralizes white cast for most skin tones, some users with oily skin find the finish slightly too dewy or greasy for humid weather.
Highlights
Gentle on Sensitive Skin Mostly Mentioned
- “never stings my eyes”
- “no breakouts or irritation”
- “great for allergy-prone skin”
Invisible/Sheer Tint Mostly Mentioned
- “tint disappears quickly”
- “no white cast”
- “blends seamlessly into skin”
- “universally flattering tint”
Excellent Makeup Primer Often Mentioned
- “foundation glides right on”
- “grips makeup well”
- “smooths skin texture”
- “works great under powder”
Lightweight Texture Often Mentioned
- “feels like nothing on”
- “absorbs instantly”
- “non-greasy formula”
- “breathable for daily wear”
Greasy/Shiny Finish Sometimes Noted
- “too shiny for oily skin”
- “leaves a greasy film”
- “slick in humidity”
- “requires powder to set”
Hard to Dispense Rarely Noted
- “tube gets messy”
- “product separates sometimes”
- “hard to get last bit”
- “leaks in cap”
Tint Mismatch Rarely Noted
- “too dark for pale skin”
- “turns slightly orange”
- “visible on collar”
- “muddy on fair complexion”
Unpleasant Scent Rarely Noted
- “smells a bit funky”
- “odd chemical smell”
- “scent lingers briefly”
- “smells like rubber”
Sources: lovi.care, macys.com, lookfantastic.com, walmart.com, makeupalley.com, sephora.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Clinique Super City Block work for dry sensitive skin?
Clinique Super City Block works for your dry sensitive skin as an average fit because it offers gentle sun protection with zinc oxide and titanium dioxide without causing irritation, though it lacks specialized ingredients for flakiness. Sunscreens for this skin need rich moisturizing ingredients and gentle soothing agents to deeply hydrate dry patches and keep the skin soft and calm.
Which ingredients make this cream a good fit for dry sensitive skin?
This cream works for your dry sensitive skin thanks to squalane, which keeps skin soft, along with titanium dioxide and zinc oxide for sun protection without irritation. Because it lacks ingredients that deeply soothe flakiness, a product of this type needs rich, nourishing moisturizers and gentle soothing agents to fully care for dry skin.
What does Zinc Oxide do for dry sensitive skin?
Zinc oxide helps calm dry, sensitive skin by reducing redness and soothing irritation while protecting a delicate skin barrier. It is unlikely to cause irritation and is commonly used to keep skin comfortable.
What does Titanium Dioxide do for dry sensitive skin?
Titanium dioxide acts as a physical shield on the skin surface to block UV rays without irritating dry sensitive skin. Because it sits on the outer layer rather than absorbing deeply, it is unlikely to cause allergic reactions or clog pores.
Skin Pharmacology and Applied Skin Physiology, 2001Current Problems in Dermatology, 2021
Where does it go in a skincare routine for dry sensitive skin?
This product goes in the morning routine as a moisturizing sunscreen, applied after your cleanser and soothing toner. It is unlikely to cause irritation for your dry and sensitive skin, but products of this type for your skin also need ingredients that deeply address flakiness.
Can I use this cream with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this sunscreen in the morning after applying your retinol treatment to protect your sensitive skin. This product is unlikely to irritate your skin, but because it lacks ingredients that deeply target flakiness, dry skin types need extra hydrating ingredients like ceramides or rich oils to fully soothe rough patches.
How often should I use it?
You can use this sunscreen every morning as part of your daily routine. It is unlikely to cause irritation on your dry and sensitive skin, though a product of this type for your skin needs extra nourishing ingredients to deeply combat flakiness.
Can this cream clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for dry sensitive skin?
This cream is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for dry sensitive skin because it avoids harsh ingredients and has a very safe profile. It features soothing minerals and plant extracts that help keep skin calm without heavy blockages.
Is it fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
Chemical sunscreens containing avobenzone, octocrylene, homosalate, and octisalate showed no to minimal risks of dermal irritation, sensitization, photo-allergy, and photo-irritation in human subjects.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2025Topical 0.5% hyaluronic-ZnO nanogel applied twice daily reduced inflammatory-lesion counts by 58% at week four in human subjects compared to baseline without causing erythema.
Biomedicines, 2025Nels cream achieved a similar reduction in inflammatory and noninflammatory lesion counts compared to 5% benzoyl peroxide in acne vulgaris patients, but caused significantly fewer side-effects such as peeling and dryness.
Clinical and Experimental Dermatology, 2000Topically applied coated and uncoated zinc oxide nanoparticles under flexing and massage are retained in the stratum corneum with no significant penetration into the viable epidermis and no cellular toxicity in human skin.
Nanomedicine, 2016Microfine titanium dioxide does not penetrate human skin when formulated in an oil-in-water emulsion with the pigment dispersed in the aqueous phase, compared to oily dispersions and liposomal encapsulation which allow deeper skin penetration.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2000Replacing microsized titanium dioxide and zinc oxide with nanoparticles in sunscreens eliminates opaqueness and alters UV protection balance while inducing (photo)cyto- and genotoxicity and penetrating viable skin layers during long-term exposures.
Nanotechnology, Science and Applications, 2011Microfine zinc oxide and titanium dioxide do not penetrate the stratum corneum of porcine skin in vitro, indicating that their use in sunscreens does not pose a health risk from internal exposure.
Toxicology in Vitro, 2006Replacing 20% of the chemical UV filter octyl methoxycinnamate with urucum oil in solid lipid nanoparticles maintained the skin protection factor without inducing toxic responses or significant skin penetration in human volunteers.
Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, 2018Liposomal encapsulation of octyl methoxycinnamate increases its safety, skin affinity, and in vivo solar photoprotection factor while slowing its release and enhancing retention in the stratum corneum compared to a conventional formulation.
International Journal of Nanomedicine, 2013Encapsulation of ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate and butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane in lipid microparticles significantly reduced their in vivo human skin penetration compared to nonencapsulated filters.
Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, 2011Simulated real-life dermal sunscreen exposure in twenty human volunteers leads to the systemic bioavailability and urinary excretion of the UV filter 2-ethylhexyl salicylate and its metabolite, reaching concentration peaks at 7 to 8 hours with 70-80% of overall excretion within 24 hours.
Archives of Toxicology, 2019The application of a sunscreen formulation containing ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate, ethylhexyl salicylate, methyl anthranilate, and octocrylene does not significantly affect critical acne-related species such as Cutibacterium acnes and Staphylococcus epidermidis, refuting the induction of facial dysbiosis in men.
Archives of Dermatological Research, 2024Controlled single dermal exposure to an EHS-containing sunscreen in three volunteers resulted in delayed systemic resorption with elimination half-lives between 6.6 and 9.7 hours, where the parent compound EHS occurred as the dominant urinary parameter.
Archives of Toxicology, 2024Rosa roxburghii fruit extract and its isolated ellagitannins, strictinin and casuarictin, suppressed poly(I:C)-induced interleukin-8 mRNA expression and release in normal human epidermal keratinocytes compared to stimulated controls.
Journal of Natural Medicines, 2021
Why other sunscreens fit dry sensitive skin better
Topical formulation containing beeswax-based nanoparticles decreased transepidermal water loss and increased stratum corneum water content after 28 days of treatment.
AAPS PharmSciTech, 2017
Ingredients
Octinoxate, Octisalate, Titanium Dioxide, Zinc Oxide, Water, Trioctyldodecyl Citrate, Butylene Glycol, Dimethicone, Octyldodecyl Neopentanoate, Steareth-2, Silica, Rosa Roxburghii Fruit Extract, Citrus Unshiu Peel Extract, Porphyra Yezoensis Extract Algae Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract Licorice Root Extract, Saccharomyces Lysate Extract, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Betula Alba Bark Extract, Hordeum Vulgare Extract, Extrait Dorge, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract Rosemary Leaf Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seedcake Sunflower Seedcake, Gentiana Lutea Root Extract, Yeast Extract, Yeast, Extrait De Levure, Sodium Rna, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Pantethine, Squalane, Polyglyceryl-6 Polyricinoleate, Propylene Glycol Dicaprate, Chamomilla Recutita Matricaria, Hexylene Glycol, Peg, Ppg-18, 18 Dimethicone, Caprylyl Glycol, Barium Sulfate, Polyethylene, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Lecithin, Ceteth-2, Peg-40 Stearate, Sodium Stearate, Steareth-20, Sorbitan Tristearate, Isopropyl Titanium Triisostearate, Xanthan Gum, Stearic Acid, Aluminum Hydroxide, Citric Acid, Disodium Edta, Bht, Phenoxyethanol, Mica, Titanium Dioxide Ci 77891
Behind this fit score
Lovi calculates every fit score from the full ingredient list with brand-independent rules our dermatologists and cosmetic chemists build and review, and personalizes every pick with AI trained on the real results of millions of users. Lovi trains its fit score models on a proprietary dataset built from more than 10,000 expert-labeled products and more than 100,000 simulated examples, following an internally consistent methodology presented at Cosmoprof, AMWC, and Skin of Color Update.
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Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
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Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
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Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
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Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
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Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
How does it fit your skin?
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