Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Clear Face Sunscreen Lotion Spf 30
61/100 overall score
Sign in to see this product's score for your skin.
About this sunscreen
Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Clear Face Sunscreen Lotion is an SPF 30 chemical formula built on older-generation filters such as Octocrylene, Homosalate, Benzophenone-3, and Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane. It is lightweight with a balanced finish and a low white cast, with low breakout risk, though it carries a medium chance of stinging if it reaches the eyes. With a score of 61.3/100 and good protection, it is a serviceable everyday face sunscreen rather than a top performer.
Ingredient & SPF scores
βοΈ
UV protection
Good
64
- +16 Octocrylene at #1, UV filter
- +8 Ethylhexyl Salicylate at #2, UV filter
- +22 Benzophenone-3 at #3, UV filter
- +11.4 Homosalate at #4, UV filter
- +28.5 Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane at #5, UV filter (UVA1 +15.2)
- β9.4 UVB coverage saturated
- β6.3 UVA2 coverage saturated
- Γ0.9 Limited long-UVA1 coverage
- +1 Label claims (SPF 30)
β’οΈ
Health safety
Low
2
- +100 Starting score
- β70 Oxybenzone at #3 (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β14 Homosalate at #4, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β10.5 Octocrylene at #1, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β3.5 Avobenzone at #5, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- +0 2 endocrine-scrutinized filters together
π€§
Allergens
Low
91
- +100 Starting score
- β9 Photoallergen-tail UV filters (Benzophenone-3, Octocrylene)
π₯
Eye sting
Medium
31
- +100 Starting score
- β16 Avobenzone at #5, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β22 Octocrylene at #1, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β16 Oxybenzone at #3, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β6 Homosalate at #4, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β9 Octisalate at #2, migrates into eyes with sweat
π
Fungal acne
Medium
68
- +100 Starting score
- β32 3 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Steareth-100, Steareth-2, Trideceth-6)
π
Fabric stains
High
10
- +100 Starting score
- β45 Avobenzone at #5, reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
- β20 Oxybenzone at #3, yellow stains on white cotton
- β15 Octocrylene at #1, co-stains alongside avobenzone
- β10 Avobenzone + Octocrylene, the classic staining pair
π§
Moisture
Balanced
LightNourishing
- β 5 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica)
β¨
Finish
Balanced
MatteDewy
- β 6 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica)
- β 3 1 emollient lipids (C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate)
- β 1 1 slippy emollient esters (Ethylhexyl Stearate)
π
Makeup base
Okay
PillsPrimer
- β 3 1 soft-focus powders in moderation
- β 1 Dry-touch esters, smooth fast-absorbing base
- β 0.5 Gel polymers prone to pilling under friction (Sodium Polyacrylate)
π
Water resistance
Resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
- +13 3 film-forming polymers that lock the formula on for water resistance
Full ingredient list (36)
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.
-
Legacy UV filter (Octocrylene), high in the list, a primary filter
- β 16 UV protection
- β 10.5 stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β 22 migrates into eyes with sweat
- β 15 co-stains alongside avobenzone
-
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 (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
-
Legacy UV filter (Homosalate)
- β 11.4 UV protection
- β 14 stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β 6 migrates into eyes with sweat
-
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
-
6 Water
Solvent base, the water phase
-
7 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
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
- β 7 film former
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- 3 β dewy emollient lipid
-
11 Steareth-100
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 14 feeds malassezia
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
16 Dimethicone
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
17 Steareth-2
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 9 feeds malassezia
-
18 Polyester-7
Film former, locks the formula onto skin for water resistance
- β 3 film former
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- 1 β dewy slippy emollient ester
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
23 Bisabolol
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
- β 3 film former
-
Filter booster, photostabilizes the UV filters or lifts their SPF
-
28 Mannan
Supporting ingredient
-
29 Xanthan Gum
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
30 BHT
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Protein, peptide or amino acid, conditions and hydrates skin
-
32 Trideceth-6
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 9 feeds malassezia
-
33 Sarcosine
Protein, peptide or amino acid, conditions and hydrates skin
-
Botanical extract
-
Botanical extract
-
Botanical extract
Does Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Clear Face leave a white cast?
No, it is rated low for white cast and has a balanced finish, so it generally goes on clear. The texture is lightweight for daily face use.
Is the Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Clear Face Sunscreen Lotion Spf 30 good for oily or acne-prone skin?
It carries a low pore-clogging risk rating, which is reassuring for breakout-prone skin. Note it has a medium chance of stinging if it gets into the eyes, so keep it away from the eye area.
Is Neutrogena Ultra Sheer SPF 30 any good?
It scores 61.3/100 with good protection, making it a serviceable everyday face sunscreen. It relies on older-generation filters such as Octocrylene and Homosalate rather than newer chemistry.