Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel Lotion Sunscreen Broad Spectrum Spf 30
65/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
Neutrogena's Hydro Boost Water Gel Lotion is a chemical SPF 30 built on a classic filter blend of avobenzone, homosalate, octisalate and octocrylene. The water-gel format wears light and matte with low risk of a white cast, and its low pore-clogging profile makes it a comfortable daily pick that layers well under makeup. It scores 65 out of 100: protection is good but the older-generation filters and SPF 30 cap hold it back from the top tier, so it suits everyday city wear more than long, intense sun exposure.
Ingredient & SPF scores
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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)
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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)
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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
Medium
31
- +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
- β4 Volatile alcohol at #9
- β8 Fragrance
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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
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
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Moisture
Balanced
LightNourishing
- β 5 Volatile alcohol at #9
- β 3 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica)
- β 10 Glycerin at #6, the anchor humectant
- β 2 Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid at #26, hyaluronic family
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Finish
Matte
MatteDewy
- β 3 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica)
- β 1 Volatile alcohol at #9
- β 4 3 dry-touch emollients reduce greasy shine (Diisopropyl Adipate, Caprylyl Methicone, Dicaprylyl Carbonate)
π
Makeup base
Good
PillsPrimer
- β 1 Primer-style base, volatile silicones and dimethicone slip
- β 2 Quick-setting carrier (alcohol at #9), fast, even canvas
- β 3 1 soft-focus powders in moderation
- β 4 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 (28)
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 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
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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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5 Water
Solvent base, the water phase
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6 Glycerin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 10 β nourishing the anchor humectant
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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 1 dry-touch emollient, anti-shine
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Volatile alcohol, a drying solvent that can sting eyes
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10 Dimethicone
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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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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Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Film former, locks the formula onto skin for water resistance
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Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
- β 3 film former
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18 Fragrance
Fragrance
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Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 9 feeds malassezia
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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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25 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
-
28 Ci 42090
Colorant or pigment
Does Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel SPF 30 leave a white cast?
No, white cast is rated low. This is a chemical sunscreen rather than a mineral one, so it tends to absorb clear without the chalky residue some mineral formulas leave.
Is the Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel Lotion Sunscreen Broad Spectrum Spf 30 good for oily or acne-prone skin?
It has a low pore-clogging profile and a light, matte water-gel feel, so it tends to suit oily and breakout-prone skin. It also layers well under makeup.
Is it a good sunscreen overall?
It scores 65 out of 100 with good protection at SPF 30. The filter blend is an older generation, so it is a solid everyday city pick rather than a top choice for long, intense sun exposure.