Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel Lotion Spf 30
64/100 overall score
Sign in to see this product's score for your skin.
About this sunscreen
Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel Lotion SPF 30 is a chemical sunscreen built on Avobenzone, Homosalate, Ethylhexyl Salicylate and Octocrylene. It delivers a true matte finish with low white cast and a lightweight, water-gel feel, and it is rated good as a makeup base, so it layers well under foundation. Pore-clogging risk is low, though the wear can feel prone to stinging near the eyes. Scoring 64.4 with good protection, it is a dependable matte option for oilier skin.
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)
π€§
Allergens
Low
67
- +100 Starting score
- β18 Fragrance
- β12 Opaque "Fragrance", hidden allergens that can't be checked from the label
- β3 Photoallergen-tail UV filters (Octocrylene)
π₯
Eye sting
High
20
- +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
- β10 Volatile alcohol at #7
- β8 Fragrance
- β5 Cooling agents (Menthyl Lactate)
π
Fungal acne
Low
82
- +100 Starting score
- β18 2 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Glyceryl Stearate, 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
π§
Moisture
Balanced
LightNourishing
- β 13 Volatile alcohol at #7
- β 4.5 2 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica, Aluminium Starch Octenylsuccinate)
- β 10 Glycerin at #6, the anchor humectant
- β 2 Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid at #27, hyaluronic family
β¨
Finish
Matte
MatteDewy
- β 4 2 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica, Aluminium Starch Octenylsuccinate)
- β 3 Volatile alcohol at #7
- β 3 3 dry-touch emollients reduce greasy shine (Caprylyl Methicone, Diisopropyl Adipate, Dicaprylyl Carbonate)
π
Makeup base
Good
PillsPrimer
- β 1 Primer-style base, volatile silicones and dimethicone slip
- β 6 Quick-setting carrier (alcohol at #7), fast, even canvas
- β 3 1 soft-focus powders in moderation
- β 3 Dry-touch esters, smooth fast-absorbing base
- β 0.5 Gel polymers prone to pilling under friction (Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Crosspolymer)
- β 1.5 Humectant syrup tackiness (partly offset by the base)
π
Water resistance
Not resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
- +3 1 film-forming polymers that lock the formula on for water resistance
Full ingredient list (30)
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.
-
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 Glycerin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 10 β nourishing the anchor humectant
-
Volatile alcohol, a drying solvent that can sting eyes
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- matte β 1 dry-touch emollient, anti-shine
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- matte β 1 dry-touch emollient, anti-shine
-
10 Silica
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light β 3 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte β 3 sebum-absorbing powder
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- matte β 1 dry-touch emollient, anti-shine
-
12 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
- light β 1.5 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte β 1 sebum-absorbing powder
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
- β 3 film former
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 9 feeds malassezia
-
21 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
-
26 Trideceth-6
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 9 feeds malassezia
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 2 β nourishing hyaluronic family
-
pH adjuster
-
29 Violet 2
Colorant or pigment
-
30 Ci 42090
Colorant or pigment
Is Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel SPF 30 good for oily skin?
Yes, it has a true matte finish and a lightweight water-gel texture, with low pore-clogging risk, so it is generally well suited to oily and acne-prone skin.
Does the Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel Lotion Spf 30 work under makeup?
It is rated good as a makeup base, and its matte finish and low white cast help it layer smoothly under foundation.
Is it mineral or chemical?
It is a chemical sunscreen built on Avobenzone, Homosalate, Ethylhexyl Salicylate and Octocrylene.