Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry Touch Sunscreen Spf 70
56/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry Touch SPF 70 is a chemical sunscreen with an older-style filter set of Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Homosalate, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Octocrylene and Benzophenone-3. It wears with a balanced finish, stays lightweight and keeps white cast low, with a low pore-clogging risk, though it is more likely to sting around the eyes. It works well under makeup. At 56.0/100 with good protection, the high SPF is offset by a dated filter blend.
Ingredient & SPF scores
βοΈ
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 70)
β’οΈ
Health safety
Low
2
- +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
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Allergens
Medium
43
- +100 Starting score
- β18 Fragrance
- β12 Opaque "Fragrance", hidden allergens that can't be checked from the label
- β18 Sensitizing preservatives (Methylisothiazolinone)
- β9 Photoallergen-tail UV filters (Benzophenone-3, Octocrylene)
π₯
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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Heavy feel
Low
94
- +100 Starting score
- β6 Cera Alba at #10, wax film
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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)
β¨
Finish
Balanced
MatteDewy
- β 3 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica)
- β 1 1 dry-touch emollients reduce greasy shine (Caprylyl Methicone)
π
Makeup base
Good
PillsPrimer
- β 3 1 soft-focus powders in moderation
- β 1 Dry-touch esters, smooth fast-absorbing base
- β 4 Transfer-resistant grip resin, holds makeup
- β 0.5 Gel polymers prone to pilling under friction (Sodium Polyacrylate)
- β 2 Occlusives/waxes float the foundation
π
Water resistance
Resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
- +16 2 film-forming polymers that lock the formula on for water resistance
- +6 2 water-locking waxes
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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Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
- β 13 film former
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8 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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10 Cera Alba
Occlusive, seals moisture into the skin
- β 6 wax film
- β 4 wax water lock
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- matte β 1 dry-touch emollient, anti-shine
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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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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Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
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Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
- β 3 film former
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18 Dimethicone
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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19 Xanthan Gum
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
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Film former, locks the formula onto skin for water resistance
- β 2 wax water lock
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Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
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22 Fragrance
Fragrance
-
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
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24 BHT
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
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Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Supporting ingredient
Does Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry Touch SPF 70 sting the eyes?
It can. This formula scores higher on stinging, so it is more likely to irritate if it migrates near the eyes. It is generally better kept away from the eye area.
Is Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry Touch mineral or chemical?
It is chemical. It uses filters such as Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Homosalate, Octocrylene and Benzophenone-3, with no mineral filters.
Is it good?
It scores 56.0/100 with good protection at SPF 70. The high SPF is offset by a dated filter blend, so it lands in the lower-middle of the catalog.