Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunscreen Broad Spectrum Spf 55
57/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch SPF 55 is a chemical sunscreen using an older-school blend of Homosalate, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Octocrylene, Benzophenone-3 and Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane for good protection. The finish is balanced, lightweight and low on white cast, and it layers well under makeup, but it tends to sting and is best kept away from the eyes. It is low on pore-clogging risk. With a 57.4/100 score, it is a functional but middle-of-the-pack option.
Ingredient & SPF scores
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UV protection
Good
66
- +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
- +2 Label claims (SPF 55)
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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
Medium
55
- +100 Starting score
- β18 Fragrance
- β12 Opaque "Fragrance", hidden allergens that can't be checked from the label
- β6 Sensitizing preservatives (Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate)
- β9 Photoallergen-tail UV filters (Benzophenone-3, Octocrylene)
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Eye sting
High
24
- +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
- β8 Fragrance
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Fungal acne
Low
82
- +100 Starting score
- β18 2 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate)
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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 3 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica)
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Makeup base
Good
PillsPrimer
- β 1 Primer-style base, volatile silicones and dimethicone slip
- β 3 1 soft-focus powders in moderation
- β 4 Transfer-resistant grip resin, holds makeup
- β 0.5 Gel polymers prone to pilling under friction (Sodium Polyacrylate)
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Water resistance
Resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
- +14 2 film-forming polymers that lock the formula on for water resistance
- +2 1 water-locking waxes
Full ingredient list (28)
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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Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
- β 7 film former
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9 Silica
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light β 3 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte β 3 sebum-absorbing powder
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Filter booster, photostabilizes the UV filters or lifts their SPF
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Film former, locks the formula onto skin for water resistance
- β 7 film former
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12 Dimethicone
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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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 9 feeds malassezia
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 9 feeds malassezia
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Film former, locks the formula onto skin for water resistance
- β 2 wax water lock
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Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
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Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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Fatty alcohol, an emollient and thickener, not the drying kind
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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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24 Ethylparaben
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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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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27 BHT
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
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Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
Does Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch SPF 55 sting the eyes?
It has a high sting rating, so it is best kept away from the eye area. Sensitive users may find it uncomfortable if it migrates.
Is the Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunscreen Broad Spectrum Spf 55 mineral or chemical?
It is a chemical sunscreen, using an older-school blend of Homosalate, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Octocrylene, Benzophenone-3 and Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane.
Is Neutrogena Ultra Sheer SPF 55 any good?
It scores 57.4/100 with good protection, a lightweight low-cast finish and a strong makeup-base rating. The main drawback is its tendency to sting, which makes it a middle-of-the-pack option.