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Neutrogena Invisible Defense Fragrance-free Lotion SPF 60+

Neutrogena Invisible Defense Fragrance-free Lotion SPF 60+

65/100 overall score

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About this sunscreen

Neutrogena Invisible Defense Fragrance-Free Lotion SPF 60+ is a chemical sunscreen using older filters Avobenzone, Homosalate, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, and Octocrylene. The fragrance-free lotion wears matte and lightweight with low white cast and rates well as a makeup base. With good high-SPF protection and a score of 65.4/100, it is a dependable everyday lotion, mainly limited by its dated filter set.

Ingredient & SPF scores

β˜€οΈ

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
  • Γ—0.9 Limited long-UVA1 coverage
  • +2 Label claims (SPF 60)
How we rate uv protection β†’
☒️

Health safety

Medium 46
  • +100 Starting score
  • βˆ’40 Homosalate at #2 (regulatory/evidence concern)
  • βˆ’10.5 Octocrylene at #4, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
  • βˆ’3.5 Avobenzone at #1, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
How we rate health safety β†’
🀧

Allergens

Low 67
  • +100 Starting score
  • βˆ’18 Fragrance
  • βˆ’12 Opaque "Fragrance", hidden allergens that can't be checked from the label
  • βˆ’3 Photoallergen-tail UV filters (Octocrylene)
How we rate allergens β†’
πŸ‘»

White cast

Low 100
  • +100 Starting score
How we rate white cast β†’
πŸ”₯

Eye sting

Medium 31
  • +100 Starting score
  • βˆ’24 Avobenzone at #1, migrates into eyes with sweat
  • βˆ’15 Octocrylene at #4, migrates into eyes with sweat
  • βˆ’9 Homosalate at #2, migrates into eyes with sweat
  • βˆ’9 Octisalate at #3, migrates into eyes with sweat
  • βˆ’4 Volatile alcohol at #9
  • βˆ’8 Fragrance
How we rate eye sting β†’
πŸͺ¨

Heavy feel

Low 100
  • +100 Starting score
How we rate heavy feel β†’
πŸ”΄

Comedogenic

Low 100
  • +100 Starting score
How we rate comedogenic β†’
πŸ„

Fungal acne

Low 82
  • +100 Starting score
  • βˆ’18 2 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Glyceryl Stearate, Trideceth-6)
How we rate fungal acne β†’
πŸ‘•

Fabric stains

High 25
  • +100 Starting score
  • βˆ’50 Avobenzone at #1, reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
  • βˆ’15 Octocrylene at #4, co-stains alongside avobenzone
  • βˆ’10 Avobenzone + Octocrylene, the classic staining pair
How we rate fabric stains β†’
πŸ’§

Moisture

Balanced
LightNourishing
  • ← 5 Volatile alcohol at #9
  • ← 3 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica)
  • β†’ 10 Glycerin at #6, the anchor humectant
How we rate moisture β†’
✨

Finish

Matte
MatteDewy
  • ← 3 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica)
  • ← 1 Volatile alcohol at #9
  • ← 4 3 dry-touch emollients reduce greasy shine (Diisopropyl Adipate, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Caprylyl Methicone)
How we rate finish β†’
πŸ’„

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
  • ← 0.5 Gel polymers prone to pilling under friction (Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Crosspolymer)
  • ← 1.5 Humectant syrup tackiness (partly offset by the base)
How we rate makeup base β†’
🌊

Water resistance

Not resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
  • +3 1 film-forming polymers that lock the formula on for water resistance
How we rate water resistance β†’

Full ingredient list (29)

What each ingredient does and how it moves each rating: green helps, red hurts, ↑ / ↓ give the direction, and ← / β†’ shift a slider toward its ends (finish, moisture, makeup base). Auto-derived from our scoring rules and the ingredient's position.

  1. 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
  2. 2 Homosalate

    Legacy UV filter (Homosalate), high in the list, a primary filter

    • ↑ 12 UV protection
    • ↑ 9 migrates into eyes with sweat
  3. 3 Ethylhexyl Salicylate

    Legacy UV filter (Octisalate), high in the list, a primary filter

    • ↑ 8 UV protection
    • ↑ 9 migrates into eyes with sweat
  4. 4 Octocrylene

    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. 5 Water

    Solvent base, the water phase

  6. 6 Glycerin

    Humectant, pulls water into the skin

    • 10 β†’ nourishing the anchor humectant
  7. 7 Diisopropyl Adipate

    Emollient, softens and smooths skin

    • matte ← 2 dry-touch emollient, anti-shine
  8. 8 Dimethicone

    Emollient, softens and smooths skin

  9. 9 Alcohol Denat

    Volatile alcohol, a drying solvent that can sting eyes

  10. 10 Silica

    Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish

    • light ← 3 sebum-absorbing powder
    • matte ← 3 sebum-absorbing powder
  11. 11 Dicaprylyl Carbonate

    Emollient, softens and smooths skin

    • matte ← 1 dry-touch emollient, anti-shine
  12. 12 Caprylyl Methicone

    Emollient, softens and smooths skin

    • matte ← 1 dry-touch emollient, anti-shine
  13. Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream

  14. 14 Polyurethane-62

    Film former, locks the formula onto skin for water resistance

  15. 15 Pentylene Glycol

    Humectant, pulls water into the skin

  16. Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin

  17. Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream

    • ↑ 3 film former
  18. 18 Glyceryl Stearate

    Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended

    • ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
  19. 19 Phenoxyethanol

    Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling

  20. 20 Chlorphenesin

    Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling

  21. Emollient, softens and smooths skin

  22. 22 Fragrance

    Fragrance

  23. 23 Tocopheryl Acetate

    Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin

  24. 24 Disodium EDTA

    Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable

  25. 25 Sodium Hydroxide

    pH adjuster

  26. 26 Trideceth-6

    Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended

    • ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
  27. Botanical extract

  28. 28 Ci 19140

    Colorant or pigment

  29. 29 FD&C Red 40

    Colorant or pigment

Does Neutrogena Invisible Defense Lotion leave a white cast?

No, white cast is low. It is a chemical lotion with a matte, lightweight finish that blends in invisibly, as the name suggests.

Is the Neutrogena Invisible Defense Fragrance-free Lotion SPF 60+ mineral or chemical?

It is a chemical sunscreen, using Avobenzone, Homosalate, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, and Octocrylene. It is also fragrance-free.

Is Neutrogena Invisible Defense SPF 60+ good?

It scores 65.4/100 with good high-SPF protection and a makeup-friendly matte finish. Its older filter set is the main thing holding the rating back.

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