Neutrogena Beach Defense® Water + Sun Protection Sunscreen Stick Broad Spectrum Spf 50+
62/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
Neutrogena Beach Defense Water + Sun Protection Stick is a Broad Spectrum SPF 50+ chemical sunscreen built on older filters including Avobenzone, Homosalate, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, and Octocrylene. It commonly wears with a balanced finish and low white cast, though it feels a little heavier and may sting if it reaches the eyes. It tends to be acne-friendly. With a score of 62.0 and good protection, it suits beach and outdoor body use.
Ingredient & SPF scores
☀️
UV protection
Good
61
- +30 Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane at #1, UV filter (UVA1 +16)
- +12 Homosalate at #2, UV filter
- +8 Ethylhexyl Salicylate at #3, UV filter
- +15.2 Octocrylene at #4, UV filter
- ×0.9 Limited long-UVA1 coverage
- +2 Label claims (SPF 50)
☢️
Health safety
Medium
46
- +100 Starting score
- −40 Homosalate at #2 (regulatory/evidence concern)
- −10.5 Octocrylene at #4, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- −3.5 Avobenzone at #1, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
🤧
Allergens
Low
67
- +100 Starting score
- −18 Fragrance
- −12 Opaque "Fragrance", hidden allergens that can't be checked from the label
- −3 Photoallergen-tail UV filters (Octocrylene)
🔥
Eye sting
Medium
35
- +100 Starting score
- −24 Avobenzone at #1, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −15 Octocrylene at #4, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −9 Homosalate at #2, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −9 Octisalate at #3, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −8 Fragrance
🪨
Heavy feel
Medium
58
- +100 Starting score
- −12 Polyethylene at #7, wax film
- −6 Ozokerite at #10, wax film
- −6 Paraffin at #11, wax film
- −6 Synthetic Beeswax at #12, wax film
- −12 Stick/balm format with a wax skeleton
👕
Fabric stains
High
25
- +100 Starting score
- −50 Avobenzone at #1, reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
- −15 Octocrylene at #4, co-stains alongside avobenzone
- −10 Avobenzone + Octocrylene, the classic staining pair
💧
Moisture
Balanced
LightNourishing
- ← 2 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
✨
Finish
Balanced
MatteDewy
- ← 2 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
- ← 2 1 dry-touch emollients reduce greasy shine (Octyldodecyl Neopentanoate)
- → 1 1 emollient lipids (C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate)
💄
Makeup base
Okay
PillsPrimer
- → 1 Quick-setting carrier, fast, even canvas
- ← 10 Occlusives/waxes float the foundation
🌊
Water resistance
Very resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
- +6 2 film-forming polymers that lock the formula on for water resistance
- +19 4 water-locking waxes
Full ingredient list (20)
What each ingredient does and how it moves each rating: green helps, red hurts, ↑ / ↓ give the direction, and ← / → 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
- ↑ 30 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- ↓ 3.5 stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- ↑ 24 migrates into eyes with sweat
- ↑ 50 reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
-
Legacy UV filter (Homosalate), high in the list, a primary filter
- ↑ 12 UV protection
- ↑ 9 migrates into eyes with sweat
-
Legacy UV filter (Octisalate), high in the list, a primary filter
- ↑ 8 UV protection
- ↑ 9 migrates into eyes with sweat
-
Legacy UV filter (Octocrylene)
- ↑ 15.2 UV protection
- ↓ 10.5 stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- ↑ 15 migrates into eyes with sweat
- ↑ 15 co-stains alongside avobenzone
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- matte ← 2 dry-touch emollient, anti-shine
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- ↑ 12 wax film
- ↑ 7 wax water lock
-
Volatile hydrocarbon, flashes off for a light finish
- light ← 2 volatile carrier, flashes off
- matte ← 2 volatile carrier, flashes off
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
10 Ozokerite
Occlusive, seals moisture into the skin
- ↑ 6 wax film
- ↑ 4 wax water lock
-
11 Paraffin
Occlusive, seals moisture into the skin
- ↑ 6 wax film
- ↑ 4 wax water lock
-
Occlusive, seals moisture into the skin
- ↑ 6 wax film
- ↑ 4 wax water lock
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- 1 → dewy emollient lipid
-
Film former, locks the formula onto skin for water resistance
- ↑ 3 film former
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
16 Dimethicone
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Filter booster, photostabilizes the UV filters or lifts their SPF
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
- ↑ 3 film former
-
19 Fragrance
Fragrance
-
20 BHT
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
Does Neutrogena Beach Defense stick leave a white cast?
No, it commonly applies with a low white cast and a balanced finish, though as a stick it feels a little heavier.
Will the Neutrogena Beach Defense® Water + Sun Protection Sunscreen Stick Broad Spectrum Spf 50+ sting my eyes?
It may sting somewhat if it reaches the eyes. As a stick it is easy to apply carefully around the face while avoiding the eye area.
Is it mineral or chemical?
It is a chemical sunscreen built on older filters including Avobenzone, Homosalate, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, and Octocrylene.
Is Neutrogena Beach Defense stick good?
It is a decent beach option. It scores 62.0 out of 100 with good SPF 50+ protection, suited to outdoor and water-side body use.