Neutrogena Ultra Sheer® Face Sunscreen (Spf 60)
56/100 overall score
Sign in to see this product's score for your skin.
About this sunscreen
Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Face Sunscreen SPF 60 is a chemical sunscreen blending Homosalate, Oxybenzone, Octisalate, Avobenzone, and Octocrylene. It wears lightweight with a balanced finish and low white cast, but it is rated high for stinging, so it may not suit sensitive or eye-area skin. Pore-clogging risk is low. With good protection but a score of 55.8/100, held back partly by an older filter set, it is a serviceable high-SPF face option rather than a standout.
Ingredient & SPF scores
☀️
UV protection
Good
65
- +12 Homosalate at #1, UV filter
- +22 Benzophenone-3 at #2, UV filter
- +8 Ethylhexyl Salicylate at #3, UV filter
- +28.5 Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane at #4, UV filter (UVA1 +15.2)
- +15.2 Octocrylene at #5, UV filter
- −9.4 UVB coverage saturated
- −6.1 UVA2 coverage saturated
- ×0.9 Limited long-UVA1 coverage
- +2 Label claims (SPF 60)
☢️
Health safety
Low
2
- +100 Starting score
- −70 Oxybenzone at #2 (regulatory/evidence concern)
- −14 Homosalate at #1, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- −10.5 Octocrylene at #5, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- −3.5 Avobenzone at #4, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- +0 2 endocrine-scrutinized filters together
🤧
Allergens
Medium
43
- +100 Starting score
- −18 Fragrance
- −12 Opaque "Fragrance", hidden allergens that can't be checked from the label
- −18 Sensitizing preservatives (Methylisothiazolinone)
- −9 Photoallergen-tail UV filters (Benzophenone-3, Octocrylene)
🔥
Eye sting
High
27
- +100 Starting score
- −16 Avobenzone at #4, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −15 Octocrylene at #5, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −16 Oxybenzone at #2, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −9 Homosalate at #1, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −9 Octisalate at #3, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −8 Fragrance
🍄
Fungal acne
Low
82
- +100 Starting score
- −18 2 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate)
👕
Fabric stains
High
10
- +100 Starting score
- −45 Avobenzone at #4, reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
- −20 Oxybenzone at #2, yellow stains on white cotton
- −15 Octocrylene at #5, co-stains alongside avobenzone
- −10 Avobenzone + Octocrylene, the classic staining pair
✨
Finish
Balanced
MatteDewy
- ← 1 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica)
- ← 1 1 dry-touch emollients reduce greasy shine (Caprylyl Methicone)
💄
Makeup base
Okay
PillsPrimer
- → 1 Primer-style base, volatile silicones and dimethicone slip
- → 1 Dry-touch esters, smooth fast-absorbing base
- ← 0.5 Gel polymers prone to pilling under friction (Sodium Polyacrylate)
- ← 2 Occlusives/waxes float the foundation
🌊
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, ↑ / ↓ give the direction, and ← / → shift a slider toward its ends (finish, moisture, makeup base). Auto-derived from our scoring rules and the ingredient's position.
-
Legacy UV filter (Homosalate), high in the list, a primary filter
- ↑ 12 UV protection
- ↓ 14 stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- ↑ 9 migrates into eyes with sweat
-
Legacy UV filter (Oxybenzone), high in the list, a primary filter
- ↑ 22 UV protection
- ↑ 16 migrates into eyes with sweat
- ↑ 20 yellow stains on white cotton
-
Legacy UV filter (Octisalate), high in the list, a primary filter
- ↑ 8 UV protection
- ↑ 9 migrates into eyes with sweat
-
Legacy UV filter (Avobenzone)
- ↑ 28.5 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- ↓ 3.5 stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- ↑ 16 migrates into eyes with sweat
- ↑ 45 reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
-
Legacy UV filter (Octocrylene)
- ↑ 15.2 UV protection
- ↓ 10.5 stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- ↑ 15 migrates into eyes with sweat
- ↑ 15 co-stains alongside avobenzone
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
- ↑ 13 film former
-
7 BHT
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- matte ← 1 dry-touch emollient, anti-shine
-
Occlusive, seals moisture into the skin
- ↑ 6 wax film
- ↑ 4 wax water lock
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Filter booster, photostabilizes the UV filters or lifts their SPF
-
12 Dimethicone
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
18 Fragrance
Fragrance
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
-
Supporting ingredient
-
21 Silica
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light ← 1.5 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte ← 1 sebum-absorbing powder
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
- ↑ 3 film former
-
Film former, locks the formula onto skin for water resistance
- ↑ 2 wax water lock
-
25 Water
Solvent base, the water phase
-
26 Xanthan Gum
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
Does Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Face SPF 60 sting the eyes?
It is rated high for stinging, so it may irritate sensitive or eye-area skin. Those prone to irritation may prefer a gentler or mineral formula.
Is the Neutrogena Ultra Sheer® Face Sunscreen (Spf 60) mineral or chemical?
It is a chemical sunscreen, blending Homosalate, Oxybenzone, Octisalate, Avobenzone, and Octocrylene. White cast is rated low as a result.
Is Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Face SPF 60 any good?
It has good protection but scores 55.8/100, held back partly by an older filter set. Pore-clogging risk is low, so it is serviceable for the face, though not a standout.