Neutrogena Hydro Boost Broad Spectrum SPF 50
48/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
Neutrogena Hydro Boost Broad Spectrum SPF 50 is a chemical sunscreen using older filters including avobenzone, homosalate, octocrylene and oxybenzone. It wears lightweight with a matte finish and a low chance of white cast, and it works as an excellent makeup base. It is low on pore-clogging but may sting slightly for some, so sensitive eyes should take care. With weak protection and a score of 47.8/100, it sits at the lower end and is best paired with reapplication or a stronger formula for serious sun exposure.
Ingredient & SPF scores
βοΈ
UV protection
Weak
18
- +9 Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane at #27, UV filter (UVA1 +4.8)
- +3.6 Homosalate at #28, UV filter
- +2.4 Ethylhexyl Salicylate at #29, UV filter
- +4.8 Octocrylene at #30, UV filter
- +6.6 Benzophenone-3 at #31, UV filter
- Γ0.6 Almost no UVA1, poor aging protection
- +2 Label claims (SPF 50)
β’οΈ
Health safety
Low
2
- +100 Starting score
- β70 Oxybenzone at #31 (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β14 Homosalate at #28, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β10.5 Octocrylene at #30, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β3.5 Avobenzone at #27, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- +0 2 endocrine-scrutinized filters together
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Allergens
Low
61
- +100 Starting score
- β18 Fragrance
- β12 Opaque "Fragrance", hidden allergens that can't be checked from the label
- β9 Photoallergen-tail UV filters (Benzophenone-3, Octocrylene)
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Eye sting
Medium
55
- +100 Starting score
- β3 Avobenzone at #27, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β2 Octocrylene at #30, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β2 Oxybenzone at #31, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β1 Homosalate at #28, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β1 Octisalate at #29, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β18 Volatile alcohol at #3
- β5 Alcohol high up speeds filter migration
- β8 Fragrance
- β5 Cooling agents (Menthyl Lactate)
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Fungal acne
Low
82
- +100 Starting score
- β18 2 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Glyceryl Stearate, Trideceth-6)
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Fabric stains
High
27
- +100 Starting score
- β28 Avobenzone at #27, reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
- β20 Oxybenzone at #31, yellow stains on white cotton
- β15 Octocrylene at #30, co-stains alongside avobenzone
- β10 Avobenzone + Octocrylene, the classic staining pair
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Moisture
Light
LightNourishing
- β 22 Volatile alcohol at #3
- β 6.5 2 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica, Aluminium Starch Octenylsuccinate)
- β 16 Glycerin at #2, the anchor humectant
- β 2 Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid at #23, hyaluronic family
β¨
Finish
Matte
MatteDewy
- β 7 2 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica, Aluminium Starch Octenylsuccinate)
- β 5 Volatile alcohol at #3
- β 6 3 dry-touch emollients reduce greasy shine (Caprylyl Methicone, Diisopropyl Adipate, Dicaprylyl Carbonate)
π
Makeup base
Excellent
PillsPrimer
- β 1 Primer-style base, volatile silicones and dimethicone slip
- β 10 Quick-setting carrier (alcohol at #3), fast, even canvas
- β 3 1 soft-focus powders in moderation
- β 6 Dry-touch esters, smooth fast-absorbing base
- β 0.5 Gel polymers prone to pilling under friction (Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Crosspolymer)
- β 3.5 Humectant syrup tackiness (partly offset by the base)
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Water resistance
Not resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
- +3 1 film-forming polymers that lock the formula on for water resistance
Full ingredient list (57)
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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1 Water
Solvent base, the water phase
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2 Glycerin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 16 β nourishing the anchor humectant
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Volatile alcohol, a drying solvent that can sting eyes
- β 5 Alcohol high up speeds filter migration
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- matte β 2 dry-touch emollient, anti-shine
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- matte β 2 dry-touch emollient, anti-shine
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6 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
- matte β 2 dry-touch emollient, anti-shine
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Film former, locks the formula onto skin for water resistance
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Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
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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Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
- β 3 film former
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 9 feeds malassezia
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17 Fragrance
Fragrance
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
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Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
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22 Trideceth-6
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 9 feeds malassezia
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 2 β nourishing hyaluronic family
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pH adjuster
-
25 Violet 2
Colorant or pigment
-
26 Ci 42090
Colorant or pigment
-
Legacy UV filter (Avobenzone), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- β 9 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- β 3.5 stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β 3 migrates into eyes with sweat
- β 28 reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
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28 Homosalate
Legacy UV filter (Homosalate), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- β 3.6 UV protection
- β 14 stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β 1 migrates into eyes with sweat
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Legacy UV filter (Octisalate), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- β 2.4 UV protection
- β 1 migrates into eyes with sweat
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30 Octocrylene
Legacy UV filter (Octocrylene), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- β 4.8 UV protection
- β 10.5 stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β 2 migrates into eyes with sweat
- β 15 co-stains alongside avobenzone
-
Legacy UV filter (Oxybenzone), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- β 6.6 UV protection
- β 2 migrates into eyes with sweat
- β 20 yellow stains on white cotton
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32 Water
Solvent base, the water phase
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33 Glycerin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
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Volatile alcohol, a drying solvent that can sting eyes
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
37 Silica
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
39 Dimethicone
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Film former, locks the formula onto skin for water resistance
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
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48 Fragrance
Fragrance
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
-
53 Trideceth-6
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
pH adjuster
-
56 Violet 2
Colorant or pigment
-
57 Ci 42090
Colorant or pigment
Is the Neutrogena Hydro Boost Broad Spectrum SPF 50 mineral or chemical?
It is chemical, using older filters including avobenzone, homosalate, octocrylene and oxybenzone.
Is the Neutrogena Hydro Boost Broad Spectrum SPF 50 good as a makeup base?
Yes. It wears lightweight with a matte finish and rates as an excellent makeup base.
Is it good?
Its protection is weak and it scores 47.8/100, near the lower end. For serious sun exposure, pair it with reapplication or a stronger formula.