Sunscreen Reviews

Neutrogena Ultra Sheer 3 oz SPF 55:
Actives: 10% Homosalate, 6% Oxybenzone, 5% Octisalate, 3% Avobenzone, 2.8% Octocrylene, est PPD 15

Other ingredients: Water, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Styrene Acrylates Copolymer, Silica, Diethylhexyl 2,6-Naphthalate, VP Hexadecene Copolymer, Dimethicone, Ethylhexyl Glycerin, Caprylyl Methicone, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexyl Stearate, BHT, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG 100 Stearate, Trideceth 6, Behenyl Alcohol, Trimethyl Siloxysilicate, Sodium Polyacrylate, Xanthan Gum, Disodium EDTA, Methylparaben, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, Propylparaben, Ethylparaben, Fragrance

Pros:
Texture: 4/5 Dry and matt texture that’s hardly noticeable. The problem with balling up is still present, but I can live with that. It also stung my face upon application.

Price: 3/5 3 dollars per price unit. Reduced one star because Avobenzone and oxybenzone are the only UVA absorbers.

Cons:
UVA protection: 2/5 This sunscreen utilizes Helioplex technology, Avobenzone is stabilized with Octocrylene and Diethylhexyl 2,6-Naphthalate. However, UVA absorber oxybenzone is rumored to be raher harmful to the skin, though I haven’t been able to verify this. But this sunscreen is probably one of the most UVA protective sunscreens in the US today.  Reduced one star due to lack of Mexoryl/Tinosorb.

Transparency: 1/5 I suffered endless painful embarrassments wearing this sunscreen, it was all fine and dandy when it was first applied, then it would flake off, revealing accursed white specks all over to my chagrin. Even though there was no shine whatsoever, I absolutely loath the slightest white cast, which is this sunscreen’s fatal flaw.

Overall: Decent UVA protection, nice texture with absolutely unbearable transparency, that’s it, I’m done with Neutrogena. Fragranced. Won’t buy again.

Neutrogena Ultra Sheer SPF 30:
Start: 7-28-2007 to 8-20-2007 for 25 days.

Actives: 7.5% Octinoxate, 7% Homosalate, 5% Octisalate, 3% Oxybenzone, 2% Avobenzone, est. PPD 0

Other ingredients: Water, Silica, Adipic Acid/Diethylene Glycol/Glycerin Crosspolymer, VP Hexadecene Copolymer, Dimethicone, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate, Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer, Glycerin, Oat (Avena Sativa) Kernel Extract, Squalane, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Retinyl Palmitate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Dimethicone, BHT, Cetyl Dimethicone, Bisabolol, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG 100 Stearate, Polysorbate 60, Tetrasodium EDTA, Butylene Glycol, Trimethyl Siloxysilicate, Xanthan Gum, Benzyl Alcohol, Isobutylparaben, Isobutylparaben, Butylparaben, Phenoxyethanol, Fragrance

Pros:
Price: 3/5 3 dollars per price unit. It’s pretty reasonable to be spending only 9 dollars a month on sunscreen, I would have given it a 4/5 had it contain either Mexoryl or Tinosorb, but since it only contains Avobenzone and Oxybenzone for UVA protection, I had to lower a star.

Texture: 4/5 This sunblock is so weightless and light that it’s almost invisible. It definitely lives up to what it claims to be: As sheer and as dry as possible. Applying it was such a pleasure that I almost looked forward to it. However, it flakes off like powder and balls up with re-application, so I subtracted one star. How I wish every sunscreen has a texture like this sunblock

Transparency: 5/5 Chemical sunblocks tend to do very well in this department, and this sunblock is no exception: Invisible and most importantly, I had yet to detect a trace of oily sheen on my face, as it was the norm with Ombrelle. Again, a joy to use.

Cons:
UVA protection: 0/5 This is where it fails miserably: It contains 7.5% Octinoxate that renders Avobenzone practically useless. I naïvely assumed all sunblocks in the Neutrogena Ultra-Sheer series employ Helioplex technology, but alas, how wrong I was! But being the Scrooge that I am, I had to use this photo-unstable sunblock up and my face undoubtedly suffered a beating from UVA in silence……

Overall: “What a great sunscreen! Such magnificent texture and flawless invisibility, this must be it!” That was what I thought…until I scrutinized the ingredients. Fragranced. Won’t buy again.