Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Moisturizing Face Serum Sunscreen SPF 50+
69/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Moisturizing Face Serum Sunscreen SPF 50+ is a chemical sunscreen using an older filter set of homosalate, octocrylene, ethylhexyl salicylate and avobenzone. It has a matte finish, wears lightweight and leaves low white cast, with a moderate chance of stinging. The low breakout trigger and good makeup-base rating make it friendly for daily face wear. With good protection and a score of 68.7, it is a solid mid-tier serum sunscreen.
Ingredient & SPF scores
βοΈ
UV protection
Good
60
- +12 Homosalate at #1, UV filter
- +16 Octocrylene at #2, UV filter
- +8 Ethylhexyl Salicylate at #3, UV filter
- +28.5 Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane at #4, UV filter (UVA1 +15.2)
- Γ0.9 Limited long-UVA1 coverage
- +2 Label claims (SPF 50)
β’οΈ
Health safety
Medium
46
- +100 Starting score
- β40 Homosalate at #1 (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β10.5 Octocrylene at #2, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β3.5 Avobenzone at #4, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
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Allergens
Low
97
- +100 Starting score
- β3 Photoallergen-tail UV filters (Octocrylene)
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Eye sting
Medium
34
- +100 Starting score
- β16 Avobenzone at #4, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β22 Octocrylene at #2, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β9 Homosalate at #1, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β9 Octisalate at #3, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β10 Volatile alcohol at #6
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Fungal acne
Low
82
- +100 Starting score
- β18 2 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Glyceryl Stearate, Trideceth-6)
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Fabric stains
High
30
- +100 Starting score
- β45 Avobenzone at #4, reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
- β15 Octocrylene at #2, co-stains alongside avobenzone
- β10 Avobenzone + Octocrylene, the classic staining pair
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Moisture
Light
LightNourishing
- β 13 Volatile alcohol at #6
- β 6.5 2 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica, Aluminium Starch Octenylsuccinate)
- β 4 Glycerin at #12, the anchor humectant
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Finish
Matte
MatteDewy
- β 7 2 sebum-absorbing powders (Aluminium Starch Octenylsuccinate, Silica)
- β 3 Volatile alcohol at #6
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Makeup base
Good
PillsPrimer
- β 1 Primer-style base, volatile silicones and dimethicone slip
- β 6 Quick-setting carrier (alcohol at #6), fast, even canvas
- β 3 1 soft-focus powders in moderation
- β 0.5 Gel polymers prone to pilling under friction (Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Crosspolymer)
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Water resistance
Resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
- +16 2 film-forming polymers that lock the formula on for water resistance
Full ingredient list (23)
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 (Homosalate), high in the list, a primary filter
- β 12 UV protection
- β 9 migrates into eyes with sweat
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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
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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 (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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Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
- β 13 film former
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Volatile alcohol, a drying solvent that can sting eyes
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Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light β 5 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte β 6 sebum-absorbing powder
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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10 Dimethicone
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
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12 Glycerin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 4 β nourishing the anchor humectant
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 9 feeds malassezia
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Humectant, pulls water into the skin
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Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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Film former, locks the formula onto skin for water resistance
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17 Silica
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light β 1.5 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte β 1 sebum-absorbing powder
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Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
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pH adjuster
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
- β 3 film former
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Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
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22 Trideceth-6
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 9 feeds malassezia
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23 Water
Solvent base, the water phase
Does Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Face Serum leave a white cast?
It leaves low white cast and has a matte finish, so it tends to disappear into the skin. It also wears lightweight.
Is the Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Moisturizing Face Serum Sunscreen SPF 50+ good for oily or acne-prone skin?
It is generally a good fit. The matte finish, low breakout trigger and good makeup-base rating suit oilier and acne-prone skin under makeup.
Is it mineral or chemical?
It is a chemical sunscreen using an older filter set of homosalate, octocrylene, ethylhexyl salicylate and avobenzone. It scores 68.7 out of 100 with good protection.