Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel Lotion Sunscreen SPF 30
Works for
Sun protectionSPF 30 · 4 UV filtersBroad spectrum
This product offers a good level of protection against both UVB and UVA rays.
This sunscreen uses organic (so-called "chemical") sunscreen filters. Organic, or "chemical" filters usually provide reliable sun protection and rarely leave a white cast. Sunscreens with organic filters can sting eyes.
This product can be considered "reef safe" because it does not contain the UV filters (oxybenzone and octinoxate) that can be harmful to coral reefs when present in the water in high concentrations.
Evens skin toneNot advertised by the brand · No ingredient credited for this claimWorks well
This product offers broad spectrum sun protection. It means that it can prevent hyperpigmentation and help keep the skin tone even (sun damage is the main factor causing age spots, darkening of post-acne marks and other discolorations).
MoisturizingSide benefit the brand mentions · Dimethicone, Glycerin + 7 moreWorks
“Non-greasy sunscreen lotion quenches skin with vital hydration”
This product can help improve hydration of the skin with the two types of ingredients.
The first type is called “humectants”:
these ingredients help attract water.
When humectants are on the surface of the skin, they “pull in” the moisture from the outside environment, or from
within deeper layers of the skin. The following ingredients in this product do the job:
glycerin, hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid.
This product also contains ingredients called “occlusives”. They help reduce the speed with which our skin loses moisture to the outside environment. These ingredients also help soften the upper layer of the skin, so it feels less tight and nicer to the touch. The following ingredients in this product do the job: dimethicone, diisopropyl adipate.
Can it cause trouble?
Irritancy1 strong irritant: ParfumMedium risk
ComedogenicClean of flagged comedogenic ingredientsNone flagged
User reviews
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Ingredients
Filter by role to see what each ingredient is doing.
Water~45–55%
Glycerin~4.9–6%
- Irritation risk
- Low
One of the best moisturizing ingredients. Naturally present in skin. It attracts water to the upper layer of the skin working as a humectant
More about GlycerinDiisopropyl adipate~3.8–4.7%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Helps soften the upper layer of the skin
More about Diisopropyl adipateCaprylyl methicone~2.9–3.5%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A type of silicone that helps to soften the upper layer of the skin and create a nice product finish on the skin
More about Caprylyl methiconeAlcohol denat.~2.3–2.8%
- Irritation risk
- High
Produces temporary toning effect. Can help dissolve other ingredients or preserve products
More about Alcohol denat.Dimethicone~1.9–2.4%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A silicone that helps to reduce water loss from the surface of the skin. Can temporarily "fill in" lines and wrinkles, absorb oil, and create a nice product finish
More about DimethiconeSilica~1.8–2.2%
Dicaprylyl carbonate~1.4–1.7%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Helps products spread more easily and works as an emollient to soften skin
More about Dicaprylyl carbonateSodium acryloyldimethyltaurate/vp crosspolymer~1.1–1.4%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Used to stabilize the product formulations
More about Sodium acryloyldimethyltaurate/vp crosspolymerPolyurethane-62~0.75–1.15%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Hydroxyacetophenone~0.55–0.85%
Pentylene glycol~0.45–0.7%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Used to preserve products, dissolve other ingredients and create a nice product texture
More about Pentylene glycolAcrylates/dimethicone copolymer~0.25–0.5%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Used to stabilize product formulation, help create an even product layer over skin (for example, in sunscreen), evenly disperse pigements and create a nice product consistency
More about Acrylates/dimethicone copolymerParfum~0.2–0.35%
- Irritation risk
- High
An aromatic blend of unspecified and possibly irritating ingredients
More about ParfumPhenoxyethanol~0.2–0.4%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A preservative. It helps prevent bacterial growth in cosmetic products
More about PhenoxyethanolGlyceryl stearate~0.25–0.45%
- Irritation risk
- Low
An emollient that softens the skin and forms a protective layer on its surface. Helps water and oil mix together
More about Glyceryl stearateChlorphenesin~0.16–0.32%
Dimethicone crosspolymer~0.2–0.4%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Used to create a thicker product texture. Helps soften the upper layer of the skin and might be able to prevent moisture loss from its surface
More about Dimethicone crosspolymerTocopheryl acetate~0.2–0.4%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
A more stable but less bio-available form of vitamin E compared to Tocopherol. Might help moisturize and protect the skin from free radicals, but mostly used in low concentrations to stabilize other ingredients.
More about Tocopheryl acetateDisodium edta~0.2–0.35%
Trideceth-6~0.15–0.3%
Hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid~0.15–0.25%
- Irritation risk
- Low
One of the best moisturizing ingredients. Attracts water into the upper layer of the skin. A version of it is naturally present in skin
More about Hydrolyzed hyaluronic acidSodium hydroxide~0.15–0.25%
Ci 42090~0.15–0.25%
Butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane1.5%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Avobenzone. An organic, or so-called "chemical" UV filter. Protects against both UVA and UVB rays. Needs to be combined with other filters in a formulation to be stable.
More about Butyl methoxydibenzoylmethaneHomosalate5%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
A weak sunscreen that offers some protection against the sun rays that cause sunburn (UVB), but does not offer meaningful protection against protect against the most aging sun rays (UVA). It loses its effectiveness quickly when exposed to sunlight. It is an organic, or so called "chemical" sunscreen. When used in low concentrations, helps to stabilize the product formulation
More about HomosalateEthylhexyl salicylate4%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Octisalate. A UV filter. It offers some protection against the sun rays that cause sunburn (UVB), but does not protect against the most aging sun rays (UVA). It loses its effectiveness quickly when exposed to sunlight. It is an organic, or so called "chemical" sunscreen
More about Ethylhexyl salicylateOctocrylene6%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
A weak sunscreen that protects against the sun rays that cause sunburn (UVB) and is somewhat effective against the UVA rays. It is quite stable and can help stabilize other, more vulnerable, sunscreen ingredients like Avobenzone. It is an organic, or so called "chemical" sunscreen
More about OctocryleneWater~0.15–0.25%
Glycerin~0.15–0.3%
- Irritation risk
- Low
One of the best moisturizing ingredients. Naturally present in skin. It attracts water to the upper layer of the skin working as a humectant
More about GlycerinDiisopropyl adipate~0.15–0.3%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Helps soften the upper layer of the skin
More about Diisopropyl adipateCaprylyl methicone~0.15–0.25%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A type of silicone that helps to soften the upper layer of the skin and create a nice product finish on the skin
More about Caprylyl methiconeAlcohol denat.~0.15–0.25%
- Irritation risk
- High
Produces temporary toning effect. Can help dissolve other ingredients or preserve products
More about Alcohol denat.Dimethicone~0.2–0.35%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A silicone that helps to reduce water loss from the surface of the skin. Can temporarily "fill in" lines and wrinkles, absorb oil, and create a nice product finish
More about DimethiconeSilica~0.25–0.45%
Dicaprylyl carbonate~0.15–0.3%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Helps products spread more easily and works as an emollient to soften skin
More about Dicaprylyl carbonateSodium acryloyldimethyltaurate/vp crosspolymer~0.15–0.25%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Used to stabilize the product formulations
More about Sodium acryloyldimethyltaurate/vp crosspolymerPolyurethane-62~0.15–0.25%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Hydroxyacetophenone~0.15–0.25%
Pentylene glycol~0.2–0.35%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Used to preserve products, dissolve other ingredients and create a nice product texture
More about Pentylene glycolAcrylates/dimethicone copolymer~0.15–0.25%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Used to stabilize product formulation, help create an even product layer over skin (for example, in sunscreen), evenly disperse pigements and create a nice product consistency
More about Acrylates/dimethicone copolymerParfum~0.1–0.2%
- Irritation risk
- High
An aromatic blend of unspecified and possibly irritating ingredients
More about ParfumPhenoxyethanol~0.15–0.25%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A preservative. It helps prevent bacterial growth in cosmetic products
More about PhenoxyethanolGlyceryl stearate~0.2–0.4%
- Irritation risk
- Low
An emollient that softens the skin and forms a protective layer on its surface. Helps water and oil mix together
More about Glyceryl stearateChlorphenesin~0.15–0.25%
Dimethicone crosspolymer~0.15–0.3%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Used to create a thicker product texture. Helps soften the upper layer of the skin and might be able to prevent moisture loss from its surface
More about Dimethicone crosspolymerTocopheryl acetate~0.15–0.3%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
A more stable but less bio-available form of vitamin E compared to Tocopherol. Might help moisturize and protect the skin from free radicals, but mostly used in low concentrations to stabilize other ingredients.
More about Tocopheryl acetateDisodium edta~0.15–0.25%
Trideceth-6~0.15–0.3%
Hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid~0.15–0.25%
- Irritation risk
- Low
One of the best moisturizing ingredients. Attracts water into the upper layer of the skin. A version of it is naturally present in skin
More about Hydrolyzed hyaluronic acidSodium hydroxide~0.1–0.15%
Ci 42090~0.1–0.15%
Ingredient list view
Water, Glycerin, Diisopropyl adipate, Caprylyl methicone, Alcohol denat., Dimethicone, Silica, Dicaprylyl carbonate, Sodium acryloyldimethyltaurate/vp crosspolymer, Polyurethane-62, Hydroxyacetophenone, Pentylene glycol, Acrylates/dimethicone copolymer, Parfum, Phenoxyethanol, Glyceryl stearate, Chlorphenesin, Dimethicone crosspolymer, Tocopheryl acetate, Disodium edta, Trideceth-6, Hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid, Sodium hydroxide, Ci 42090, Butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane, Homosalate, Ethylhexyl salicylate, Octocrylene, Water, Glycerin, Diisopropyl adipate, Caprylyl methicone, Alcohol denat., Dimethicone, Silica, Dicaprylyl carbonate, Sodium acryloyldimethyltaurate/vp crosspolymer, Polyurethane-62, Hydroxyacetophenone, Pentylene glycol, Acrylates/dimethicone copolymer, Parfum, Phenoxyethanol, Glyceryl stearate, Chlorphenesin, Dimethicone crosspolymer, Tocopheryl acetate, Disodium edta, Trideceth-6, Hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid, Sodium hydroxide, Ci 42090
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Worth comparing, line by line.
Match % combines shared ingredients, the first five ingredients, shared actives and hero ingredients, irritancy (lower counts in the alternative's favour), texture and body area. Only products in the same routine step are compared.
| NeutrogenaHydro Boost Water Gel Lotion Sunscreen SPF 30YOUR PRODUCT | Piz BuinHydro Infusion Sun Gel Cream SPF 30 | La Roche-PosayANTHELIOS 50+ UVMUNE 400 Oil Control Non-perfumed gel-cream | White FormulaCPAQUA UV Protective Gel With Hyaluronic Acid SPF 50+ PA++++ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Match | — | 42% | 42% | 42% |
| Price | $12.19 | $18.40+$6.21 | $30.08+$17.89 | $22.47+$10.28 |
| Shared key ingredients | — | 5 of 6 | 5 of 6 | 5 of 6 |
| Key difference | — | Tinosorb S | Tinosorb S | Urea |
| Irritancy | Medium | Medium | Low | Low |
| SPF | SPF 30 | SPF 30 | SPF 50 | SPF 50 |
| Drying alcohol | Contains drying alcohol | Contains drying alcohol | — | — |
| View product | Shop | Shop | Shop |
More alternatives: Eucerin Sun Protection Leb Protect Cream-Gel SPF50Coco & Eve Daily Water Gel SPF50+ Sunscreen
Product summary
We assess that "Neutrogena - Hydro Boost Water Gel Lotion Sunscreen SPF 30" can provide reliable sun protection based on the ingredient list. It can protect from both UVA and UVB rays. This is great news because not all sunscreens with SPF ratings give UVA protection. (UVA rays do not cause sunburn, but still damage our skin and lead to early aging).
It contains good moisturizing ingredients and can double as a hydrating day cream.
Sunscreen filters
This is a "mixed" sunscreen in the sense that it uses both mineral and organic (so-called "chemical") sun filters. The organic filters in the product are: avobenzone, octisalate, homosalate and octocrylene. As for the mineral filters, this sunscreen uses zinc oxide.
Irritation risk
This formulation includes some common irritants, including ingredients that do not provide a benefit for the skin. We assess the overall irritancy of this moisturizer to be medium. For a detailed overview of all potential irritants: click here
You can see the detailed formula review with the breakdown of all actives in the product and the full ingredient list with estimated concentrations in the tables below.
Price
The product retails for 15.99CA$ in Canada, for 150.15A$ in Australia and from 11.19$ up to 60.68$ in the United States.
For a detailed price comparison: click here.
Sources cited in this review
Every concentration estimate and effectiveness label is anchored to one of these 7 studies and safety reviews.
- 1
- 2
- 3Final Report on the Safety Assessment of Dimethicone Copolyoljournals.sagepub.com
- 4
- 5Efficacy of a New Topical Nano-hyaluronic Acid in Humansncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- 6Physiochemical properties and application of hyaluronic acid: a systematic reviewonlinelibrary.wiley.com
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