Works for:
based on ingredients and %- Sun protection
- Anti-aging
- Evens skin tone
- Moisturizing
Can it cause trouble?
- Irritation risk: medium
- Comedogenic risk ingredients: 0
Key actives
Product Summary
Based on the ingredients included, we believe that "Neutrogena - ULTRA SHEER Face Sunscreen" can offer reliable sun protection. We love that it can protect from both UVA and UVB rays (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. Like all broad-spectrum sunscreens, this product has an anti-aging benefit.
Sunscreen filters
This sunscreen uses so-called "chemical", or organic UV filters (organic simply means that their molecules contain atoms of carbon). These filters typically give good sun protection and rarely leave a white cast, but they can be irritating for sensitive skin. Here are the exact UV filters in this sunscreen: avobenzone 3.00% (declared), octisalate 5.00% (declared), homosalate 10.00% (declared) and octocrylene 10.00% (declared).
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 product 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.
Anti-aging
What does the product description say?
NEUTROGENA ® ULTRA SHEER ® Face Sunscreen helps prevent and reduce the risk of early signs of skin aging caused by the sun when used as directed with other sun protection measures.
Source: Neutrogena Canada
This product can help prevent early signs of skin aging because it offers a good level of broad spectrum sun protection. Sun damage is the main cause of premature skin aging, and protecting your skin from the sun is the best anti-aging strategy.
Evens skin tone
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).
Sun protection
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.
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.
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
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
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
Moisturizing
What does the product description say?
Formulated with HELIOPLEX ® technology, it provides broad spectrum, photostable protection against both skin-aging UVA and skin-burning UVB rays.
Source: Neutrogena Canada
This product can help soften the skin and reduce its moisture loss with emollients and occlusives: cera alba, dimethicone.
Keep in mind that this product does not contain effective ingredients to attract water to the upper layer of the skin. This is why an additional product with humectants like glycerin or hyaluronic acid can be helpful (apply it before this product for the best results).
Helps soften the upper layer of the skin
An emollient made of jojoba oil. Helps soften the skin and support its barrier function
Forms a protective barrier that holds water and keeps dry skin hydrated. Keeps an emulsion from separating into its oil and liquid components, and increases the thickness of a product. Can be an allergen
A type of silicone. Helps soften the upper layer of the skin and creates a nice, light product texture
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
Helps soften the upper layer of the skin
An emollient that softens the skin and forms a protective layer on its surface. Helps water and oil mix together
Non-drying alcohol that helps water and oil mix together. Also serves as an emollient
Helps preserve products and creates a nice product texture
A type of silicone that helps to soften the upper layer of the skin and create a nice product finish on the skin
How honest is this product?
| Promise | Can it deliver? |
|---|---|
| Sun protection | |
| Anti-aging |
Total Promises Fulfilled score: 100/100.
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Potential irritants
Comedogenic ingredients
No comedogenic ingredients detected
User reviews (1)
Averages from community submissions.
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Key Actives
Forms a protective barrier that holds water and keeps dry skin hydrated. Keeps an emulsion from separating into its oil and liquid components, and increases the thickness of a product. Can be an allergen
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
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
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
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.
A type of silicone. Helps soften the upper layer of the skin and creates a nice, light product texture
Helps soften the upper layer of the skin
An emollient made of jojoba oil. Helps soften the skin and support its barrier function
Used to create a gel-like product texture, as well as to stabilize emulsions
Potential irritants
A preservative. Can be used to mask unpleasant smell. Can be irritating
An aromatic blend of unspecified and possibly irritating ingredients
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
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
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.
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
Helps preserve products and creates a nice product texture
Forms a protective barrier that holds water and keeps dry skin hydrated. Keeps an emulsion from separating into its oil and liquid components, and increases the thickness of a product. Can be an allergen
An emollient made of jojoba oil. Helps soften the skin and support its barrier function
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.
Comedogenic ingredients
We couldn't find any comedogenic ingredients in this product
All ingredients
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
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
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
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.
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
Non-drying alcohol that helps water and oil mix together. Also serves as an emollient
A preservative. Can be used to mask unpleasant smell. Can be irritating
Helps preserve products and creates a nice product texture
A type of silicone that helps to soften the upper layer of the skin and create a nice product finish on the skin
Forms a protective barrier that holds water and keeps dry skin hydrated. Keeps an emulsion from separating into its oil and liquid components, and increases the thickness of a product. Can be an allergen
A type of silicone. Helps soften the upper layer of the skin and creates a nice, light product texture
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
An emollient that softens the skin and forms a protective layer on its surface. Helps water and oil mix together
An emollient made of jojoba oil. Helps soften the skin and support its barrier function
An aromatic blend of unspecified and possibly irritating ingredients
Helps oil and water mix togehter and creates a nice product texture
Used to create a gel-like product texture, as well as to stabilize emulsions
Used to create an even product consistency. Can help boost efficiency of sunscreen filters
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.
Ingredient list view
Homosalate, Octocrylene, Ethylhexyl salicylate, Butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane, Acrylates/dimethicone copolymer, Aluminum starch octenylsuccinate, Behenyl alcohol, Benzyl alcohol, Bht, Caprylyl glycol, Caprylyl methicone, Cera alba, Cetyl dimethicone, Chlorphenesin, Dimethicone, Dimethicone/peg-10/15 crosspolymer, Disodium edta, Ethylhexyl stearate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glyceryl stearate, Hydrolyzed jojoba esters, Jojoba esters, Parfum, Peg-100 stearate, Potassium cetyl phosphate, Silica, Sodium polyacrylate, Styrene/acrylates copolymer, Tocopheryl acetate, Trideceth-6, Water, Xanthan gum