Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel Lotion SPF 50
58/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel Lotion SPF 50 is a chemical sunscreen built on an older filter set of avobenzone, homosalate, octisalate, octocrylene and oxybenzone (benzophenone-3). It leaves no white cast, wears to a matte finish and feels lightweight, and it is generally rated as a good makeup base, though it can sting if it gets in the eyes. Protection is good and the formula is acne-friendly with low pore-clogging potential. With a score of 57.5/100, it is a middling pick whose dated filters hold it back despite the comfortable feel.
Ingredient & SPF scores
βοΈ
UV protection
Good
66
- +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
- +20.9 Benzophenone-3 at #5, UV filter
- β8.9 UVB coverage saturated
- β6.2 UVA2 coverage saturated
- Γ0.9 Limited long-UVA1 coverage
- +2 Label claims (SPF 50)
β’οΈ
Health safety
Low
2
- +100 Starting score
- β70 Oxybenzone at #5 (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β14 Homosalate at #2, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β10.5 Octocrylene at #4, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β3.5 Avobenzone at #1, 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
High
15
- +100 Starting score
- β24 Avobenzone at #1, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β15 Octocrylene at #4, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β11 Oxybenzone at #5, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β9 Homosalate at #2, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β9 Octisalate at #3, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β4 Volatile alcohol at #8
- 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
5
- +100 Starting score
- β50 Avobenzone at #1, reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
- β20 Oxybenzone at #5, yellow stains on white cotton
- β15 Octocrylene at #4, co-stains alongside avobenzone
- β10 Avobenzone + Octocrylene, the classic staining pair
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Moisture
Balanced
LightNourishing
- β 5 Volatile alcohol at #8
- β 4.5 2 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica, Aluminium Starch Octenylsuccinate)
- β 10 Glycerin at #7, the anchor humectant
- β 2 Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid at #28, hyaluronic family
β¨
Finish
Matte
MatteDewy
- β 4 2 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica, Aluminium Starch Octenylsuccinate)
- β 1 Volatile alcohol at #8
- β 3 3 dry-touch emollients reduce greasy shine (Caprylyl Methicone, Diisopropyl Adipate, Dicaprylyl Carbonate)
π
Makeup base
Good
PillsPrimer
- β 2 Quick-setting carrier (alcohol at #8), 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)
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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 (31)
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
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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 (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 (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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Legacy UV filter (Oxybenzone)
- β 20.9 UV protection
- β 11 migrates into eyes with sweat
- β 20 yellow stains on white cotton
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6 Water
Solvent base, the water phase
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7 Glycerin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 10 β nourishing the anchor humectant
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Volatile alcohol, a drying solvent that can sting eyes
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- matte β 1 dry-touch emollient, anti-shine
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- matte β 1 dry-touch emollient, anti-shine
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11 Silica
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light β 3 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte β 3 sebum-absorbing powder
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- matte β 1 dry-touch emollient, anti-shine
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13 Dimethicone
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
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Humectant, pulls water into the skin
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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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Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
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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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22 Fragrance
Fragrance
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
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Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
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27 Trideceth-6
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 9 feeds malassezia
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Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 2 β nourishing hyaluronic family
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pH adjuster
-
30 Violet 2
Colorant or pigment
-
31 Ci 42090
Colorant or pigment
Does Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel SPF 50 leave a white cast?
No, it does not leave a white cast. As a chemical sunscreen with no mineral filters, it absorbs clear and dries to a matte finish, and it is generally rated as a good base under makeup.
Is the Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel Lotion SPF 50 good for oily or acne-prone skin?
It is a reasonable option for oily and acne-prone skin. The finish is matte and the formula is acne-friendly with low pore-clogging potential. Note that it can sting if it gets into the eyes, so apply carefully near the eye area.
Is this a mineral or chemical sunscreen?
It is a chemical sunscreen. It relies on an older filter set of avobenzone, homosalate, octisalate, octocrylene and oxybenzone, with no zinc oxide or titanium dioxide.