Neostrata Sheer Hydration SPF 40
49/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
Neostrata Sheer Hydration is an SPF 40 sunscreen built on older-generation chemistry, pairing Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate with Titanium Dioxide. It wears lightweight with a balanced finish and a low white cast, and it is generally low-sting with low pore-clogging risk. With a score of 49.0/100 and protection rated weak, it is better viewed as a light hydrating day product than a robust sun shield.
Ingredient & SPF scores
βοΈ
UV protection
Weak
30
- +18 Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate at #1, UV filter
- +33 Titanium Dioxide at #2, UV filter (UVA1 +5)
- β2 UVB coverage saturated
- Γ0.6 Almost no UVA1, poor aging protection
- +1 Label claims (SPF 40)
β’οΈ
Health safety
High
64
- +100 Starting score
- β36 Octinoxate at #1 (regulatory/evidence concern)
π»
White cast
Low
94
- +100 Starting score
- β7 Titanium Dioxide, 2.4% declared
- +0.5 Coated minerals (Aluminum Hydroxide)
π₯
Eye sting
Low
84
- +100 Starting score
- β16 Octinoxate at #1, migrates into eyes with sweat
πͺ¨
Heavy feel
Low
90
- +100 Starting score
- β10 Titanium Dioxide, 2.4% declared
π
Fungal acne
Medium
70
- +100 Starting score
- β28 2 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate)
- β2 1 ubiquitous fatty ingredients (Stearic Acid), weak Malassezia signal
π
Fabric stains
Low
85
- +100 Starting score
- β15 Titanium Dioxide at #2, white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
π§
Moisture
Balanced
LightNourishing
- β 1.5 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Aluminium Starch Octenylsuccinate)
- β 1 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
- β 2 Titanium Dioxide at #2, mild sebum absorbent
- β 1 Glycerin at #13, the anchor humectant
- β 1 1 strong humectants (Panthenol)
β¨
Finish
Balanced
MatteDewy
- β 1 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Aluminium Starch Octenylsuccinate)
- β 1 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
- β 2 2 dry-touch emollients reduce greasy shine (Isononyl Isononanoate, Octyldodecyl Neopentanoate)
- β 6 1 emollient lipids (C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate)
π
Makeup base
Okay
PillsPrimer
- β 3 Primer-style base, volatile silicones and dimethicone slip
- β 3 Dry-touch esters, smooth fast-absorbing base
- β 15 High mineral load at #2 greys under foundation
π
Water resistance
Not resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
Nothing flagged in the ingredient list.
How we rate water resistance βSkincare extras
Beneficial actives this formula contains. Informational only, not part of the rating: their effect depends on a concentration the label does not disclose.
- β¨ Vitamin E
Full ingredient list (33)
What each ingredient does and how it moves each rating: green helps, red hurts, β / β give the direction, and β / β shift a slider toward its ends (finish, moisture, makeup base). Auto-derived from our scoring rules and the ingredient's position.
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Legacy UV filter (Octinoxate), high in the list, a primary filter
- β 18 UV protection
- β 16 migrates into eyes with sweat
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Mineral UV filter (Titanium Dioxide), high in the list, a primary filter
- β 33 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- β 7 2.4% declared
- β 10 2.4% declared
- β 15 white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
- light β 2 mild sebum absorbent
- pills β 15 High mineral load greys under foundation
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3 Water
Solvent base, the water phase
-
Supporting ingredient
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- 6 β dewy emollient lipid
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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Humectant, pulls water into the skin
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 14 feeds malassezia
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- matte β 1 dry-touch emollient, anti-shine
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Humectant, pulls water into the skin
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 14 feeds malassezia
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- matte β 1 dry-touch emollient, anti-shine
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13 Glycerin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 1 β nourishing the anchor humectant
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Volatile silicone, flashes off for a light finish
- light β 1 volatile carrier, flashes off
- matte β 1 volatile carrier, flashes off
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Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
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17 Biotin
Supporting ingredient
-
18 Pyridoxine
Supporting ingredient
-
19 Panthenol
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
- 1 β nourishing humectant
-
20 Niacinamide
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light β 1.5 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte β 1 sebum-absorbing powder
-
Supporting ingredient
-
23 Allantoin
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
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Protein, peptide or amino acid, conditions and hydrates skin
-
Supporting ingredient
-
26 Stearic Acid
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- β 2 minor malassezia feeder
-
27 Xanthan Gum
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
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29 Arginine
pH adjuster
-
Supporting ingredient
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
Is Neostrata Sheer Hydration SPF 40 any good?
Its protection is rated weak and it scores 49.0/100, so it is better seen as a light hydrating day product than a robust sun shield. It does wear comfortably, lightweight with a low white cast.
Is the Neostrata Sheer Hydration SPF 40 mineral or chemical?
It uses older-generation chemistry, pairing Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate with Titanium Dioxide. So it is a hybrid leaning on classic filters.
Is it good for sensitive or acne-prone skin?
It is generally gentle, with low sting and low pore-clogging risk, and a balanced finish. That makes it easy to wear, even if its sun protection is on the weaker side.