Neutrogena Clear Face Broad Spectrum Spf 30 Sunscreen
69/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
Neutrogena Clear Face Broad Spectrum SPF 30 is a chemical sunscreen on an older-school blend of Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane (Avobenzone), Homosalate, Ethylhexyl Salicylate and Octocrylene. It wears lightweight with a balanced finish and a low white cast, and it is generally pore-friendly with a makeup-ready base. Sweat-and-sting behavior is moderate. With good rated protection and a score of 69/100, it is a familiar, breakout- conscious daily SPF 30.
Ingredient & SPF scores
βοΈ
UV protection
Good
60
- +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
- Γ0.9 Limited long-UVA1 coverage
- +1 Label claims (SPF 30)
β’οΈ
Health safety
Medium
46
- +100 Starting score
- β40 Homosalate at #2 (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β10.5 Octocrylene at #4, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β3.5 Avobenzone at #1, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
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Allergens
Low
97
- +100 Starting score
- β3 Photoallergen-tail UV filters (Octocrylene)
π₯
Eye sting
Medium
43
- +100 Starting score
- β24 Avobenzone at #1, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β15 Octocrylene at #4, 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
25
- +100 Starting score
- β50 Avobenzone at #1, reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
- β15 Octocrylene at #4, co-stains alongside avobenzone
- β10 Avobenzone + Octocrylene, the classic staining pair
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Moisture
Light
LightNourishing
- β 8 2 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica, Aluminium Starch Octenylsuccinate)
β¨
Finish
Balanced
MatteDewy
- β 9 2 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica, Aluminium Starch Octenylsuccinate)
- β 3 1 emollient lipids (C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate)
- β 1 1 slippy emollient esters (Ethylhexyl Stearate)
π
Makeup base
Good
PillsPrimer
- β 6 2 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 (35)
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
-
Legacy UV filter (Homosalate), high in the list, a primary filter
- β 12 UV protection
- β 9 migrates into eyes with sweat
-
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
-
5 Water
Solvent base, the water phase
-
6 Silica
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light β 5 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte β 6 sebum-absorbing powder
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
- β 7 film former
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- 3 β dewy emollient lipid
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
11 Steareth-100
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 14 feeds malassezia
-
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light β 3 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte β 3 sebum-absorbing powder
-
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 Polyester-7
Film former, locks the formula onto skin for water resistance
- β 3 film former
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
19 Steareth-2
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 9 feeds malassezia
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- 1 β dewy slippy emollient ester
-
Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
24 Bisabolol
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
- β 3 film former
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
27 BHT
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
28 Mannan
Supporting ingredient
-
29 Xanthan Gum
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Protein, peptide or amino acid, conditions and hydrates skin
-
31 Trideceth-6
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 9 feeds malassezia
-
32 Sarcosine
Protein, peptide or amino acid, conditions and hydrates skin
-
Botanical extract
-
Botanical extract
-
Botanical extract
Is Neutrogena Clear Face SPF 30 good for acne-prone skin?
It is designed to be breakout-conscious and is rated low for pore-clogging with a good makeup base, so it is generally a reasonable choice for acne-prone skin.
Does the Neutrogena Clear Face Broad Spectrum Spf 30 Sunscreen leave a white cast?
No, it commonly leaves a low white cast. It is a chemical sunscreen with a balanced finish, so it tends to apply clear.
Is it mineral or chemical?
It is a chemical sunscreen using Avobenzone, Homosalate, Ethylhexyl Salicylate and Octocrylene.