Neutrogena Clear Face Break-Out Free Liquid Lotion Sunscreen Broad Spectrum Spf 55
62/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
Neutrogena Clear Face Break-Out Free is a broad-spectrum SPF 55 chemical sunscreen built around an older-generation filter set of avobenzone, homosalate, octisalate, octocrylene and oxybenzone. It wears as a lightweight liquid lotion with a balanced finish and little to no white cast, and its low breakout-trigger rating means it is generally well suited to acne-prone skin. The blend can sting somewhat if it migrates near the eyes. With good protection and a score of 61.7/100, it is a competent everyday face option held back mainly by its dated filter chemistry.
Ingredient & SPF scores
βοΈ
UV protection
Good
66
- +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
- +20.9 Benzophenone-3 at #5, UV filter
- β8.9 UVB coverage saturated
- β6.2 UVA2 coverage saturated
- Γ0.9 Limited long-UVA1 coverage
- +2 Label claims (SPF 55)
β’οΈ
Health safety
Low
2
- +100 Starting score
- β70 Oxybenzone at #5 (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β14 Homosalate at #2, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β10.5 Octocrylene at #4, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β3.5 Avobenzone at #1, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- +0 2 endocrine-scrutinized filters together
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Allergens
Low
91
- +100 Starting score
- β9 Photoallergen-tail UV filters (Benzophenone-3, Octocrylene)
π₯
Eye sting
Medium
32
- +100 Starting score
- β24 Avobenzone at #1, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β15 Octocrylene at #4, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β11 Oxybenzone at #5, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β9 Homosalate at #2, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β9 Octisalate at #3, migrates into eyes with sweat
π
Fungal acne
Medium
68
- +100 Starting score
- β32 3 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Steareth-100, Steareth-2, Trideceth-6)
π
Fabric stains
High
5
- +100 Starting score
- β50 Avobenzone at #1, reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
- β20 Oxybenzone at #5, yellow stains on white cotton
- β15 Octocrylene at #4, co-stains alongside avobenzone
- β10 Avobenzone + Octocrylene, the classic staining pair
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Moisture
Balanced
LightNourishing
- β 5 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica)
β¨
Finish
Balanced
MatteDewy
- β 6 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica)
- β 3 1 emollient lipids (C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate)
- β 1 1 slippy emollient esters (Ethylhexyl Stearate)
π
Makeup base
Okay
PillsPrimer
- β 3 1 soft-focus powders in moderation
- β 1 Dry-touch esters, smooth fast-absorbing base
- β 0.5 Gel polymers prone to pilling under friction (Sodium Polyacrylate)
π
Water resistance
Resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
- +13 3 film-forming polymers that lock the formula on for water resistance
Full ingredient list (36)
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 (Homosalate), high in the list, a primary filter
- β 12 UV protection
- β 14 stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β 9 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
-
Legacy UV filter (Octocrylene)
- β 15.2 UV protection
- β 10.5 stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β 15 migrates into eyes with sweat
- β 15 co-stains alongside avobenzone
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Legacy UV filter (Oxybenzone)
- β 20.9 UV protection
- β 11 migrates into eyes with sweat
- β 20 yellow stains on white cotton
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6 Water
Solvent base, the water phase
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7 Silica
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light β 5 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte β 6 sebum-absorbing powder
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
- β 7 film former
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- 3 β dewy emollient lipid
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11 Steareth-100
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 14 feeds malassezia
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
16 Dimethicone
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
17 Steareth-2
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 9 feeds malassezia
-
18 Polyester-7
Film former, locks the formula onto skin for water resistance
- β 3 film former
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- 1 β dewy slippy emollient ester
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
23 Bisabolol
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
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Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
- β 3 film former
-
Filter booster, photostabilizes the UV filters or lifts their SPF
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28 Mannan
Supporting ingredient
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29 Xanthan Gum
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
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30 BHT
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Protein, peptide or amino acid, conditions and hydrates skin
-
32 Trideceth-6
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 9 feeds malassezia
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33 Sarcosine
Protein, peptide or amino acid, conditions and hydrates skin
-
Botanical extract
-
Botanical extract
-
Botanical extract
Is Neutrogena Clear Face good for acne-prone skin?
It rates low for pore-clogging, so it is generally a reasonable pick for acne-prone skin. The texture is a lightweight liquid lotion with a balanced finish. As with any product, individual skin reactions can vary.
Is the Neutrogena Clear Face Break-Out Free Liquid Lotion Sunscreen Broad Spectrum Spf 55 mineral or chemical?
It is a chemical sunscreen. The filters are avobenzone, homosalate, octisalate, octocrylene and oxybenzone, an older-generation set.
Does it leave a white cast?
No, white cast is low. As a chemical liquid lotion it generally goes on clear with a balanced finish.