Neutrogena Sunscreen SPF 50+
58/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
Neutrogena Sunscreen SPF 50+ is a chemical formula using older-school filters such as Homosalate, Benzophenone-3, Octocrylene and Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane. It wears with a balanced finish, stays lightweight, and keeps white cast low. Notably it rates high on sting risk, so it may be best kept away from the eye area and sensitive skin. With a 57.6/100 score and good protection, it is a middling option in this set.
Ingredient & SPF scores
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UV protection
Good
65
- +12 Homosalate at #2, UV filter
- +22 Benzophenone-3 at #3, UV filter
- +7.6 Ethylhexyl Salicylate at #4, UV filter
- +15.2 Octocrylene at #5, UV filter
- +28.5 Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane at #6, UV filter (UVA1 +15.2)
- β9 UVB coverage saturated
- β6.1 UVA2 coverage saturated
- Γ0.9 Limited long-UVA1 coverage
- +2 Label claims (SPF 50)
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Health safety
Low
0
- +100 Starting score
- β70 Oxybenzone at #3 (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β14 Homosalate at #2, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β10.5 Octocrylene at #5, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β3.5 Avobenzone at #6, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- +0 2 endocrine-scrutinized filters together
- β10 Propylparaben at #28, endocrine-scrutinized preservative
- +8 Penalties exceed the scale, floored at 0
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Allergens
Low
61
- +100 Starting score
- β18 Fragrance
- β12 Opaque "Fragrance", hidden allergens that can't be checked from the label
- β9 Photoallergen-tail UV filters (Benzophenone-3, Octocrylene)
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Eye sting
High
30
- +100 Starting score
- β16 Avobenzone at #6, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β15 Octocrylene at #5, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β16 Oxybenzone at #3, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β9 Homosalate at #2, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β6 Octisalate at #4, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β8 Fragrance
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Heavy feel
Low
94
- +100 Starting score
- β6 Cera Alba at #10, wax film
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Fungal acne
Medium
63
- +100 Starting score
- β37 3 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Trideceth-6)
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Fabric stains
High
10
- +100 Starting score
- β45 Avobenzone at #6, reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
- β20 Oxybenzone at #3, yellow stains on white cotton
- β15 Octocrylene at #5, co-stains alongside avobenzone
- β10 Avobenzone + Octocrylene, the classic staining pair
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Moisture
Balanced
LightNourishing
- β 5 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica)
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Finish
Balanced
MatteDewy
- β 6 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica)
- β 1 1 slippy emollient esters (Ethylhexyl Stearate)
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Makeup base
Okay
PillsPrimer
- β 3 1 soft-focus powders in moderation
- β 0.5 Gel polymers prone to pilling under friction (Sodium Polyacrylate)
- β 2 Occlusives/waxes float the foundation
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Water resistance
Resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
- +10 2 film-forming polymers that lock the formula on for water resistance
- +4 1 water-locking waxes
Full ingredient list (33)
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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1 Water
Solvent base, the water phase
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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 (Oxybenzone), high in the list, a primary filter
- β 22 UV protection
- β 16 migrates into eyes with sweat
- β 20 yellow stains on white cotton
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Legacy UV filter (Octisalate)
- β 7.6 UV protection
- β 6 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 (Avobenzone)
- β 28.5 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- β 3.5 stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β 16 migrates into eyes with sweat
- β 45 reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
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7 Silica
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light β 5 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte β 6 sebum-absorbing powder
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Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
- β 7 film former
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
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10 Cera Alba
Occlusive, seals moisture into the skin
- β 6 wax film
- β 4 wax water lock
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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 14 feeds malassezia
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13 Dimethicone
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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Humectant, pulls water into the skin
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Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
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Fatty alcohol, an emollient and thickener, not the drying kind
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20 Xanthan Gum
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
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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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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- 1 β dewy slippy emollient ester
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25 Fragrance
Fragrance
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Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
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Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
- β 10 endocrine-scrutinized preservative
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29 BHT
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
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Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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31 Ethylparaben
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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32 Trideceth-6
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 9 feeds malassezia
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Filter booster, photostabilizes the UV filters or lifts their SPF
Does Neutrogena Sunscreen SPF 50+ sting the eyes?
It rates high on sting risk, so it may irritate around the eyes. Many people prefer to keep this type of formula away from the eye area.
Is the Neutrogena Sunscreen SPF 50+ mineral or chemical?
It is a chemical sunscreen using older-school filters such as Homosalate, Benzophenone-3, Octocrylene and Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane.
Is it good?
It scores 57.6/100 with good protection, a middling result. It is lightweight with low white cast, but the high sting risk is the main drawback.