Quick Summary:
Date Tested: 03/17/2022
In this review, I test the Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Liquid Daily Face Sunscreen. It has since been discontinued by the manufacturer but can still be found and purchased locally and online. Despite being discontinued, it is still a decently effective daily use broad spectrum sunscreen. The consistency does tend to lean a bit more on the runny less viscous (a bit thin and runny) side of the spectrum, yet the consistency is not detrimental to its protection abilities.
It is a chemical based sunscreen which uses a cocktail of five (wow!) chemical blockers, Avobenzone 3%, Homosalate 10 %, Octisalate 5%, Octocrylene 7.5%, and Oxybenzone 5%. I think Neutrogena really wanted to cover their bases when designing the formulation for this product and threw in as many UV blockers as possible. It could be that they wanted to create a topical which when applied didnt feel like a thick cream, and compensated for its more thin runny nature with more checmical blockers. This particular SPF70 reduced the UVI by 94.33%, reduced UVA by 94.49%, and reduced UVB intensity by 91.43%. It performs well despite the consistency.
Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Face Daily Broad Spectrum SPF 70 ingredients
Active ingredients: Avobenzone 3%, Homosalate 10 %, Octisalate 5%, Octocrylene 7.5%, Oxybenzone 5%
Inactive Ingredients:
Water, Silica, Cetyl Dimethicone, Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Steareth-100, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Cyclopentasiloxane, Steareth-2, Polyester-7, Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate, Chlorphenesin, Bisabolol, Disodium EDTA, Acrylates/Dimethicone Copolymer, Fragrance, Mannan, Xanthan Gum, BHTEucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil, Lavandula Hybrida Grosso Herb Oil
Manufacturers Website: www.neutrogena.com
The Ultra Sheer characteristics at a glance:
- Liquid Daily Facial Sunscreen
- Organic (chemical) sunscreen classification
- Made with Helioplex, a sunscreen technology with Broad Spectrum UVA/UVB protection
- Its unique formula is PABA- and oil-free as well as non-comedogenic so it won’t clog pores
- Viscosity is thin and runny.
Prepared slide ready for testing
The Neutrogena Ultra Sheer has a watery consistency, but it spreads easily and it still provides good even protection.
Below are the results from 2 hours of testing in my UV testing station.
Neutrogena SPF 70 UV blocking test results
Ultraviolet light quick reference:
UVA: The Ultraviolet wavelength from 315nm – 400nm. The “Aging UV light” – Causes wrinkles.
UVB: The Ultraviolet wavelength from 280nm – 315nm. The “Bad UV light” – Causes skin cancer.
UVI: The global sun UV index. The more a sunscreen can reduce the level of UVI, the better.
Ultra Sheer Daily Facial test results:
Ultraviolet sensor readings:
| Before Sunscreen | After Sunscreen | % UV Blocked | |
| TEMP | 78.8 | 79.4 | |
| UVA | 26251.5 | 1447.25 | 94.49% |
| UVB | 1272.5 | 109 | 91.43% |
| UVI | 15.42 | .88 | 94.33% |
Want to know more about how I test sunscreen? Head here to read about the details.
Testing notes:
The Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Broad Spectrum SPF70 is a watery and easy to apply sunscreen. It is quite runny and feels more like a light moisturizer than a sunscreen. It provides 94% protection from the suns UVI which is very good considering the thin consistency. Neutrogena incorporated 5 different types of UV blockers in its formulation, and I suspect they did so because they needed to compensate for the consistency. Its one of those things where If you find you like the way it feels when applied to the face/skin and as long as the protection is strong, its a good choice.
I recommend this particular sunscreen as a quick easy no hassle product when going to and from the office, or when anticipating very limited sun exposure going to lunch. Because of its thin and watery nature however, protection may wane if in used in an active sweat producing environment such as going to the beach or walking around Disneyland in 80F degree weather. If that is the use case, I would suggest a more viscous “active” sunscreen instead.
Want to try the Neutrogena Ultra Sheer SPF 70 Daily Facial sunscreen?
Powerful UV protection for an SFP70 which blocks 94% of the UVI irradiance. Use it when you are not anticipating being active outdoors or in environments where you may tend to sweat a lot.
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Great site Adrian! Could you please consider testing European sunscreens? They use very different filters, and a lot of companies have moved away from Avobenzone, Homosalate etc. I’d be interested in the results!
I will absolutely test them! At the moment I test whatever I can get my hands on. In the future I’ll be obtaining samples once I’ve exhausted my supply around me!