Neutrogena Invisible Daily Defense Serum Spf 60
69/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
Neutrogena Invisible Daily Defense Serum SPF 60 is a chemical serum on an older filter set: Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Homosalate, Ethylhexyl Salicylate and Octocrylene. It wears matte and lightweight with a low white cast and is generally good under makeup. It is low for pore-clogging but may sting in sweat. Protection is good with high SPF, and the overall score of 69 makes it a solid daily defense serum.
Ingredient & SPF scores
βοΈ
UV protection
Good
61
- +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
- +2 Label claims (SPF 60)
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
97
- +100 Starting score
- β3 Photoallergen-tail UV filters (Octocrylene)
π₯
Eye sting
Medium
34
- +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 #8
- 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 5 Volatile alcohol at #8
- β 6 2 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica, Aluminium Starch Octenylsuccinate)
- β 10 Glycerin at #7, the anchor humectant
β¨
Finish
Matte
MatteDewy
- β 6 2 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica, Aluminium Starch Octenylsuccinate)
- β 1 Volatile alcohol at #8
π
Makeup base
Good
PillsPrimer
- β 1 Primer-style base, volatile silicones and dimethicone slip
- β 2 Quick-setting carrier (alcohol at #8), fast, even canvas
- β 6 2 soft-focus powders in moderation
- 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
- +6 2 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
-
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
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5 Water
Solvent base, the water phase
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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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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9 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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10 Dimethicone
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light β 3 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte β 3 sebum-absorbing powder
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Film former, locks the formula onto skin for water resistance
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
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
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Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
- β 3 film former
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Botanical extract
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
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24 Trideceth-6
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 9 feeds malassezia
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Botanical extract
-
pH adjuster
-
27 Ci 19140
Colorant or pigment
-
28 FD&C Red 40
Colorant or pigment
Does this Neutrogena serum work under makeup?
Yes. It wears matte and lightweight with a low white cast, so it is generally good as a base under makeup.
Is the Neutrogena Invisible Daily Defense Serum Spf 60 mineral or chemical, and what SPF?
It is chemical at SPF 60, on an older filter set: Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Homosalate, Ethylhexyl Salicylate and Octocrylene.
Is it good?
Protection is good with high SPF and the overall score is 69, making it a solid daily defense serum. It may sting in sweat.