Neutrogena Hydro Boost City Shield™ Water Gel Sunscreen Broad Spectrum Spf 25
65/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
Neutrogena Hydro Boost City Shield Water Gel is an Spf 25 chemical sunscreen using an older-school blend of Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Homosalate, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, and Octocrylene. It wears light with a balanced finish and low white cast, and is low on pore-clogging risk, though it may sting slightly if it reaches the eyes. It works okay under makeup. With a 64.6/100 score and good protection, it is a serviceable lightweight gel.
Ingredient & SPF scores
☀️
UV protection
Good
59
- +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
☢️
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
🍄
Fungal acne
Low
86
- +100 Starting score
- −14 1 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Glyceryl Stearate)
👕
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
Hydrating
LightNourishing
- ← 3 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer)
- → 10 Glycerin at #6, the anchor humectant
- → 2 Sodium Hyaluronate at #15, hyaluronic family
✨
Finish
Balanced
MatteDewy
- ← 3 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer)
- ← 2 1 dry-touch emollients reduce greasy shine (Caprylyl Methicone)
💄
Makeup base
Okay
PillsPrimer
- → 3 1 soft-focus powders in moderation
- → 2 Dry-touch esters, smooth fast-absorbing base
- ← 2 Gel polymers prone to pilling under friction (Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Crosspolymer)
- ← 1.5 Humectant syrup tackiness (partly offset by the base)
🌊
Water resistance
Not resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
Nothing flagged in the ingredient list.
How we rate 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.
- ✨ Vitamin E
Full ingredient list (21)
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
-
5 Water
Solvent base, the water phase
-
6 Glycerin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 10 → nourishing the anchor humectant
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- matte ← 2 dry-touch emollient, anti-shine
-
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light ← 3 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte ← 3 sebum-absorbing powder
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 14 feeds malassezia
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 2 → nourishing hyaluronic family
-
Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
18 Fragrance
Fragrance
-
pH adjuster
-
20 Ci 42090
Colorant or pigment
-
21 FD&C Red 40
Colorant or pigment
Is Neutrogena Hydro Boost City Shield Water Gel mineral or chemical?
It is a chemical sunscreen. It uses an older-school blend of Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Homosalate, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, and Octocrylene.
Does the Neutrogena Hydro Boost City Shield™ Water Gel Sunscreen Broad Spectrum Spf 25 leave a white cast?
No, it keeps a low white cast and wears light with a balanced finish. It may sting slightly if it reaches the eyes.
Is Neutrogena Hydro Boost City Shield SPF 25 any good?
It scores 64.6/100 with good protection. It is low on pore-clogging risk and works okay under makeup, making it a serviceable lightweight gel.