Neostrata Skin Active Matrix Support Spf 30
65/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
Neostrata Skin Active Matrix Support is an SPF 30 chemical sunscreen using older filters such as Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate and Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane in a treatment-style cream. It gives a balanced finish with a low white cast and a lightweight feel, though it may sting mildly for some. Pore-clogging risk is generally low and it sits okay under makeup. With moderate protection and a score of 65.3/100, it is a fair anti-aging daily pick.
Ingredient & SPF scores
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UV protection
Moderate
39
- +30 Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane at #1, UV filter (UVA1 +16)
- +18 Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate at #2, UV filter
- +8 Ethylhexyl Salicylate at #3, UV filter
- Γ0.9 Limited long-UVA1 coverage
- Γ0.75 Avobenzone + octinoxate degrade each other in sunlight
- +1 Label claims (SPF 30)
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Health safety
Medium
56
- +100 Starting score
- β36 Octinoxate at #2 (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β3.5 Avobenzone at #1, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β5 Retinol at #16, disputed vitamin-A sunlight signal, under review
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Allergens
Low
98
- +100 Starting score
- β2 Essential oils (Rosa Damascena Flower Oil)
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Eye sting
Medium
51
- +100 Starting score
- β24 Avobenzone at #1, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β16 Octinoxate at #2, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β9 Octisalate at #3, migrates into eyes with sweat
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Heavy feel
Low
96
- +100 Starting score
- β5 Butyrospermum Parkii Fruit at #10, butter/occlusive fat
- +1.3 Volatile silicone at #7, flashes off
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Fungal acne
High
24
- +100 Starting score
- β12 1 polysorbate/sorbitan emulsifiers that feed Malassezia (Polysorbate 20)
- β14 1 oils/butters that feed Malassezia (Butyrospermum Parkii Fruit)
- β50 5 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, PEG-75 Stearate)
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Fabric stains
Medium
50
- +100 Starting score
- β50 Avobenzone at #1, reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
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Moisture
Balanced
LightNourishing
- β 1.5 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Nylon-12)
- β 6 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
- β 1 Glycerin at #25, the anchor humectant
- β 2 1 emollient lipids (Butyrospermum Parkii Fruit)
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Finish
Balanced
MatteDewy
- β 1 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Nylon-12)
- β 5 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
- β 3 1 emollient lipids (Butyrospermum Parkii Fruit)
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Makeup base
Okay
PillsPrimer
- β 6 Primer-style base, volatile silicones and dimethicone slip
- β 1 Gel polymers prone to pilling under friction (Carbomer, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP Copolymer)
- β 2 Occlusives/waxes float the foundation
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Water resistance
Not resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
Nothing flagged in the ingredient list.
How we rate water resistance βFull ingredient list (45)
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 (Avobenzone), high in the list, a primary filter
- β 30 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- β 3.5 stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β 24 migrates into eyes with sweat
- β 50 reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
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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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Legacy UV filter (Octisalate), high in the list, a primary filter
- β 8 UV protection
- β 9 migrates into eyes with sweat
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4 Water
Solvent base, the water phase
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Humectant, pulls water into the skin
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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Volatile silicone, flashes off for a light finish
- light β 5 volatile carrier, flashes off
- matte β 4 volatile carrier, flashes off
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 14 feeds malassezia
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Humectant, pulls water into the skin
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Botanical extract
- β 5 butter/occlusive fat
- 2 β nourishing emollient lipid
- 3 β dewy emollient lipid
- β 14 feeds malassezia
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 14 feeds malassezia
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12 Dimethicone
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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Fatty alcohol, an emollient and thickener, not the drying kind
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14 Nylon-12
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light β 1.5 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte β 1 sebum-absorbing powder
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Film former, locks the formula onto skin for water resistance
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16 Retinol
Supporting ingredient
- β 5 disputed vitamin-A sunlight signal, under review
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17 Citric Acid
pH adjuster
-
Protein, peptide or amino acid, conditions and hydrates skin
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Protein, peptide or amino acid, conditions and hydrates skin
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Botanical extract
-
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
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Botanical extract
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Botanical extract
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24 Arginine
pH adjuster
-
25 Glycerin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 1 β nourishing the anchor humectant
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Humectant, pulls water into the skin
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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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Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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29 Dimethiconol
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
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31 BHT
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
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32 Xanthan Gum
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 9 feeds malassezia
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34 Ceteth-20
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 9 feeds malassezia
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35 Steareth-20
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 9 feeds malassezia
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 12 feeds malassezia
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Supporting ingredient
-
40 Carbomer
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Supporting ingredient
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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44 Ci 19140
Colorant or pigment
-
45 Red 33
Colorant or pigment
Is Neostrata Matrix Support mineral or chemical?
It is a chemical sunscreen, using older filters such as Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate and Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane in a treatment cream.
Will the Neostrata Skin Active Matrix Support Spf 30 sting my eyes?
It may, mildly. Sting risk is medium, so it can feel slightly irritating near sensitive eyes for some people.
Is this a good sunscreen?
It is fair. With a score of 65.3/100 and moderate protection, it is a reasonable anti-aging daily pick rather than a top performer.