Neutrogena Healthy Defense Daily Moisturizer Spf 45
59/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
Neutrogena Healthy Defense Daily Moisturizer SPF 45 is a chemical sunscreen built on an older-generation filter mix including Homosalate, Benzophenone-3, Octocrylene and Avobenzone. It has a balanced finish, stays lightweight with low white cast, and is low on pore-clogging, though it can sting somewhat if it reaches the eyes. It layers okay under makeup. With a score of 59 and good protection, it is a serviceable daily moisturizer that leans on dated filter chemistry.
Ingredient & SPF scores
βοΈ
UV protection
Good
64
- +12 Homosalate at #1, UV filter
- +22 Benzophenone-3 at #2, UV filter
- +8 Ethylhexyl Salicylate at #3, UV filter
- +28.5 Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane at #4, UV filter (UVA1 +15.2)
- +15.2 Octocrylene at #5, UV filter
- β9.4 UVB coverage saturated
- β6.1 UVA2 coverage saturated
- Γ0.9 Limited long-UVA1 coverage
- +1 Label claims (SPF 45)
β’οΈ
Health safety
Low
0
- +100 Starting score
- β70 Oxybenzone at #2 (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β14 Homosalate at #1, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β10.5 Octocrylene at #5, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β3.5 Avobenzone at #4, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- +0 2 endocrine-scrutinized filters together
- β10 Propylparaben at #26, endocrine-scrutinized preservative
- β7 Retinyl Palmitate at #27, disputed vitamin-A sunlight signal, under review
- +15 Penalties exceed the scale, floored at 0
π€§
Allergens
Low
72
- +100 Starting score
- β1 1 declared fragrance allergens
- β18 Sensitizing preservatives (Methylisothiazolinone)
- β9 Photoallergen-tail UV filters (Benzophenone-3, Octocrylene)
π₯
Eye sting
Medium
35
- +100 Starting score
- β16 Avobenzone at #4, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β15 Octocrylene at #5, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β16 Oxybenzone at #2, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β9 Homosalate at #1, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β9 Octisalate at #3, migrates into eyes with sweat
πͺ¨
Heavy feel
Low
95
- +100 Starting score
- β5 Behenyl Alcohol at #7, rich gel-network thickener
π
Fungal acne
Low
77
- +100 Starting score
- β18 2 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate)
- β5 1 ubiquitous fatty ingredients (Cetearyl Glucoside), weak Malassezia signal
π
Fabric stains
High
10
- +100 Starting score
- β45 Avobenzone at #4, reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
- β20 Oxybenzone at #2, yellow stains on white cotton
- β15 Octocrylene at #5, co-stains alongside avobenzone
- β10 Avobenzone + Octocrylene, the classic staining pair
π§
Moisture
Balanced
LightNourishing
- β 1.5 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Polymethyl Methacrylate)
- β 1 Glycerin at #17, the anchor humectant
- β 1.5 2 fatty-alcohol emollients (Cetearyl Alcohol, Behenyl Alcohol)
β¨
Finish
Balanced
MatteDewy
- β 1 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Polymethyl Methacrylate)
- β 1 1 dry-touch emollients reduce greasy shine (Caprylyl Methicone)
π
Makeup base
Okay
PillsPrimer
- β 1 Dry-touch esters, smooth fast-absorbing base
π
Water resistance
Not resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
- +3 1 film-forming polymers that lock the formula on for water resistance
Skincare 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 C
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 (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 (Oxybenzone), high in the list, a primary filter
- β 22 UV protection
- β 16 migrates into eyes with sweat
- β 20 yellow stains on white cotton
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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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Legacy UV filter (Avobenzone)
- β 28.5 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- β 3.5 stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β 16 migrates into eyes with sweat
- β 45 reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
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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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Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
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Fatty alcohol, an emollient and thickener, not the drying kind
- β 5 rich gel-network thickener
- 1 β nourishing fatty-alcohol emollient
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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9 BHT
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- matte β 1 dry-touch emollient, anti-shine
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Fatty alcohol, an emollient and thickener, not the drying kind
- 0.5 β nourishing fatty-alcohol emollient
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 5 minor malassezia feeder
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Filter booster, photostabilizes the UV filters or lifts their SPF
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14 Dimethicone
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
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Humectant, pulls water into the skin
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17 Glycerin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 1 β nourishing the anchor humectant
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 9 feeds malassezia
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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Supporting ingredient
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 9 feeds malassezia
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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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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
- β 10 endocrine-scrutinized preservative
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- β 7 disputed vitamin-A sunlight signal, under review
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
- β 3 film former
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29 Tocopherol
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
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Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
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31 Trisiloxane
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
32 Water
Solvent base, the water phase
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33 Xanthan Gum
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
Is the Neutrogena Healthy Defense Daily Moisturizer Spf 45 mineral or chemical?
It is chemical. It uses an older filter blend including Homosalate, Benzophenone-3, Octocrylene and Avobenzone, with no mineral filters.
Does the Neutrogena Healthy Defense Daily Moisturizer Spf 45 sting the eyes?
It can sting somewhat. Sting risk is rated medium, so take care around the eye area, especially when sweating.
Is it any good?
It is serviceable. With a score of 59 and good protection it works as a daily SPF 45 moisturizer, though it leans on dated filter chemistry.