Neutrogena Sheer Zinc Mineral Sunscreen Stick
65/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
Neutrogena Sheer Zinc Mineral Sunscreen Stick is a pure mineral stick built on Zinc Oxide. The stick format commonly feels heavier on skin and can show a medium white cast, with a balanced finish that does not sting and is low on pore-clogging risk. Protection is moderate and it is generally better worn alone than under makeup, with the stick handy for targeted reapplication. Score: 64.6/100.
Ingredient & SPF scores
βοΈ
UV protection
Moderate
41
- +41 Zinc Oxide at #1, UV filter (UVA1 +18)
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White cast
Medium
35
- +100 Starting score
- β55 Zinc Oxide, 21.6% declared
- β15 Pure mineral formula (21.6% total declared)
- +4.9 Coated minerals (Triethoxycaprylylsilane)
πͺ¨
Heavy feel
High
0
- +100 Starting score
- β40 Zinc Oxide, 21.6% declared
- β12 Polyethylene at #4, wax film
- β6 Ozokerite at #8, wax film
- β12 Paraffin at #5, wax film
- β18 Mineral suspended in a dense emollient base (strong)
- β12 Stick/balm format with a wax skeleton
π΄
Comedogenic
Low
93
- +100 Starting score
- β7 Isopropyl Myristate at #9, heavy comedogenic ester
π
Fungal acne
Low
86
- +100 Starting score
- β14 1 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Isopropyl Myristate)
π
Fabric stains
Low
85
- +100 Starting score
- β15 Zinc Oxide at #1, white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
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Moisture
Light
LightNourishing
- β 5 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica)
- β 5 Zinc Oxide at #1, mild sebum absorbent
β¨
Finish
Balanced
MatteDewy
- β 6 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica)
- β 3 1 dry-touch emollients reduce greasy shine (Octyldodecyl Neopentanoate)
- β 9 1 emollient lipids (C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate)
- β 2 1 slippy emollient esters (Isopropyl Myristate)
π
Makeup base
Poor
PillsPrimer
- β 3 Dry-touch esters, smooth fast-absorbing base
- β 10 Occlusives/waxes float the foundation
- β 15 High mineral load at #1 greys under foundation
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Water resistance
Resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
- +18 3 water-locking waxes
Skincare extras
Beneficial actives this formula contains. Informational only, not part of the rating: their effect depends on a concentration the label does not disclose.
- β¨ Vitamin E
Full ingredient list (14)
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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Mineral UV filter (Zinc Oxide), high in the list, a primary filter
- β 41 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- β 55 21.6% declared
- β 40 21.6% declared
- β 15 white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
- light β 5 mild sebum absorbent
- pills β 15 High mineral load greys under foundation
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- matte β 3 dry-touch emollient, anti-shine
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- 9 β dewy emollient lipid
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- β 12 wax film
- β 7 wax water lock
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5 Paraffin
Occlusive, seals moisture into the skin
- β 12 wax film
- β 7 wax water lock
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6 Silica
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light β 5 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte β 6 sebum-absorbing powder
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Occlusive, seals moisture into the skin
- β 6 wax film
- β 4 wax water lock
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- β 7 heavy comedogenic ester
- 2 β dewy slippy emollient ester
- β 14 feeds malassezia
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Film former, locks the formula onto skin for water resistance
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Supporting ingredient
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
Is Neutrogena Sheer Zinc Stick mineral or chemical?
It is a pure mineral sunscreen stick, built on Zinc Oxide with no chemical UV filters.
Does the Neutrogena Sheer Zinc Mineral Sunscreen Stick leave a white cast?
It may show a medium white cast, and the stick format commonly feels heavier on skin. It does not tend to sting and is low on pore-clogging risk.
Is it good under makeup?
It is generally better worn alone than under makeup, but the stick is handy for targeted reapplication. Protection is moderate and it scores 64.6/100.