Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunscreen SPF 45
57/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunscreen SPF 45 is a chemical sunscreen built on older-generation filters including Homosalate, Octocrylene, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, and Benzophenone-3, with Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane for UVA. The balanced, lightweight finish has low white cast, but it is reported to sting more easily, so caution near the eyes is sensible. It sits okay under makeup and is low risk for breakouts. With a score of 57.2/100 and good protection, it is an average performer.
Ingredient & SPF scores
βοΈ
UV protection
Good
65
- +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
- +1 Label claims (SPF 45)
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
Low
61
- +100 Starting score
- β18 Fragrance
- β1 1 declared fragrance allergens
- β11 Opaque "Fragrance", hidden allergens that can't be checked from the label
- 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 #12, wax film
π
Fungal acne
Medium
73
- +100 Starting score
- β27 3 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Trideceth-6)
π
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 4.5 2 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica, Aluminium Starch Octenylsuccinate)
β¨
Finish
Balanced
MatteDewy
- β 4 2 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica, Aluminium Starch Octenylsuccinate)
- β 1 1 slippy emollient esters (Ethylhexyl Stearate)
π
Makeup base
Okay
PillsPrimer
- β 1 Primer-style base, volatile silicones and dimethicone slip
- 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
π
Water resistance
Resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
- +16 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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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
-
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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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
12 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
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 9 feeds malassezia
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 9 feeds malassezia
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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Humectant, pulls water into the skin
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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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Fatty alcohol, an emollient and thickener, not the drying kind
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Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
- β 3 film former
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22 Xanthan Gum
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
27 Fragrance
Fragrance
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Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- 1 β dewy slippy emollient ester
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Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
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31 BHT
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
32 Trideceth-6
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 9 feeds malassezia
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
Does Neutrogena Ultra Sheer sting the eyes?
Stinging risk is rated high for this one, so it may irritate sensitive eyes. Applying carefully around the eye area is sensible.
Is the Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunscreen SPF 45 mineral or chemical?
It is a chemical sunscreen, built on older-generation filters including Homosalate, Octocrylene, and Benzophenone-3, with Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane for UVA.
Is it a good sunscreen?
It is an average performer. It scores 57.2/100 with good protection and a lightweight finish, but the higher stinging tendency holds it back.