Neutrogena Oil Free Facial Moisturizer Sunscreen - Spf 35
59/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
Neutrogena Oil-Free Facial Moisturizer Sunscreen SPF 35 is a chemical, oil-free moisturizer that pairs avobenzone with homosalate, octisalate, octocrylene and the older filter oxybenzone (Benzophenone-3). It has a balanced finish, low white cast and a lightweight feel, and it works well as a base under makeup. The formula is generally low on pore-clogging risk, though it may sting if it gets in the eyes. With good protection but an older filter set, it lands at 59.3 out of 100.
Ingredient & SPF scores
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UV protection
Good
65
- +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
- +1 Label claims (SPF 35)
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Health safety
Low
0
- +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
- β10 Propylparaben at #23, endocrine-scrutinized preservative
- +8 Penalties exceed the scale, floored at 0
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Allergens
Low
72
- +100 Starting score
- β1 1 declared fragrance allergens
- β18 Sensitizing preservatives (Methylisothiazolinone)
- β9 Photoallergen-tail UV filters (Benzophenone-3, Octocrylene)
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Eye sting
Medium
32
- +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
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Fungal acne
Medium
75
- +100 Starting score
- β23 2 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate)
- β2 1 ubiquitous fatty ingredients (Cetearyl Glucoside), weak Malassezia signal
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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 4 Glycerin at #10, the anchor humectant
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Makeup base
Good
PillsPrimer
- β 5 Primer-style base, volatile silicones and dimethicone slip
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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 (26)
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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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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Filter booster, photostabilizes the UV filters or lifts their SPF
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10 Glycerin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 4 β nourishing the anchor humectant
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 14 feeds malassezia
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 9 feeds malassezia
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Fatty alcohol, an emollient and thickener, not the drying kind
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Fatty alcohol, an emollient and thickener, not the drying kind
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
- β 3 film former
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Humectant, pulls water into the skin
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Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 2 minor malassezia feeder
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22 Xanthan Gum
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
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Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
- β 10 endocrine-scrutinized preservative
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Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
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25 BHT
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
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Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
Is Neutrogena Oil-Free Facial Moisturizer Sunscreen good under makeup?
Yes, it is rated good as a makeup base. It has a balanced, lightweight finish and low white cast, which helps it layer under foundation.
Is the Neutrogena Oil Free Facial Moisturizer Sunscreen - Spf 35 mineral or chemical?
It is chemical. It pairs avobenzone with homosalate, octisalate and octocrylene, plus the older filter oxybenzone (Benzophenone-3).
Is it good for acne-prone skin?
It is oil-free and generally low on pore-clogging risk, so it can suit acne-prone skin. The finish is balanced rather than strongly matte. Patch testing is always sensible.