Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunscreen for combination skin
Helioplex Technology
Octocrylene
Avobenzone
Oxybenzone
Titanium DioxideSuperior
- SuperiorCombination Skin Fit
- SuperiorEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
One of the best sunscreens for combination skin.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with combination skin: an oily T-zone, enlarged pores, and dry cheeks. For scores and recommendations based on your full skin profile, including your 12D face scan results and any goals or preferences you have, please use the Lovi app.
Page built Nov 8, 2026How the Fit score works
Lovi Assistant explains
- Excellent suitability for your combination skin and oily shine concerns, as silica and dimethicone effectively absorb excess oil for a matte, dry-touch finish. The combination of UV filters like avobenzone and octisalate provides superior sun protection, aligning perfectly with your needs.
- Triethanolamine offers a soothing effect, ensuring comfort for your non-sensitive skin without compromising the mattifying and protective benefits.
- The safety profile is excellent, with no harsh or prohibited ingredients, making it a safe choice for your skin.
How to apply
- Apply this sunscreen during your AM routine every single day. Make sure to reapply ⏱ every two hours if you stay outside.
- Apply this sunscreen as the very last step of your morning routine after your moisturizer. Allow your moisturizer to ⏳ sink in for a minute first.
- Smooth an even layer over your face and gently pat it into the skin without harsh rubbing. Be sure to cover all exposed areas thoroughly.
- For the best finish on your combination skin, apply the sunscreen on completely dry skin over your moisturizer. This helps control any oily shine throughout the day.
- Avoid getting the product directly into your eyes. Do a small patch test before your first full application.
People Say
★4.4Overall rating based on 11.1k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, users frequently praise this sunscreen for its reliable broad-spectrum protection and unique dry-touch matte finish that avoids a greasy residue. However, a significant number of reviewers with darker skin tones report a visible white cast, and others note issues with the formula pilling under makeup or stinging sensitive eyes.
Highlights
Matte finish Mostly Mentioned
- “dries down completely matte”
- “doesn't leave me looking like an oil slick”
- “feels like nothing on my skin”
- “perfect for humid weather”
Reliable sun protection Often Mentioned
- “never burned once in Hawaii”
- “great for fair skin”
- “blocks sun effectively at the beach”
- “trusted by my dermatologist”
Eye irritation Often Mentioned
- “burns my eyes terribly”
- “makes eyes water when sweating”
- “can't use it on my forehead”
- “stings for hours”
Visible white cast Often Mentioned
- “leaves a purple/blue tint”
- “makes me look like a ghost”
- “takes forever to rub in”
- “not sheer on brown skin”
Lightweight texture Sometimes Noted
- “goes on like a lotion”
- “breathable on the face”
- “doesn't clog my pores”
- “easy to spread”
Pilling or flaking Sometimes Noted
- “balls up under foundation”
- “pills if you rub it too much”
- “flakes off like eraser dust”
- “doesn't layer well”
Mild scent Rarely Noted
- “smell is not overpowering”
- “light fresh scent”
- “doesn't smell like chemicals”
- “fragrance fades quickly”
Stains clothing Rarely Noted
- “ruined my white collar”
- “left yellow stains on my swimsuit”
- “transferred onto my car seat”
- “hard to wash out of clothes”
Sources: lovi.care, iherb.com, target.com, walmart.com, makeupalley.com, influenster.com, and more
Questions and answers
What makes Neutrogena Ultra Sheer one of the best fits for combination skin?
Neutrogena Ultra Sheer is one of the best fits for your combination skin because silica and dimethicone absorb excess oil for a matte, dry-touch finish. Its UV filters provide superior sun protection while triethanolamine keeps your skin comfortable.
Which ingredients make this sunscreen a good fit for combination skin?
Silica and dimethicone make this sunscreen a great fit for your combination skin because they absorb excess oil to leave a smooth, matte finish. Additionally, triethanolamine helps soothe your skin while the UV filters provide strong sun protection.
What does Helioplex do for combination skin?
Helioplex keeps sunscreens stable and effective in the sun so they protect combination skin from UV rays without breaking down. Because this is a weak fit for combination skin, it needs to be lightweight, oil-free, and non-greasy with gentle mineral or chemical filters that will not clog pores or cause breakouts.
International Journal of Pharmaceutics, 2006Photochemistry and Photobiology, 2006
What does Octocrylene do for combination skin?
Octocrylene is a UV filter that protects combination skin from sun damage without clogging pores or disrupting the skin's natural balance. It is unlikely to cause irritation or significantly affect the skin's healthy bacteria, though products of this type also benefit from added antioxidants to help reduce environmental stress.
Where does this sunscreen go in a skincare routine for combination skin?
This sunscreen goes as the last step of your morning skincare routine, right after your moisturizer. It is unlikely to irritate your skin or cause breakouts while keeping your face protected and matte all day.
Can I use this sunscreen with retinol, and in what order?
Yes, you can use this sunscreen with your retinol when applied as the final step of your morning routine after your moisturizer. It is unlikely to cause irritation, and the safety profile is excellent.
How often should I use this sunscreen?
You should use this sunscreen every morning as the final step in your daytime skincare routine. Its lightweight formula provides strong sun protection and helps keep oily shine under control throughout the day.
Can this sunscreen clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for combination skin?
This sunscreen is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for combination skin because it has a safe formula with a matte finish. Ingredients like silica and dimethicone help absorb excess oil to keep your skin feeling clean without getting heavy.
Is this sunscreen fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (benzyl alcohol).
What the research says
Encapsulating avobenzone in low-porosity TiO2-embedded mesoporous silica (TiO2/SBA-S) reduced cutaneous avobenzone absorption from 0.76 to 0.50 nmol/mg while providing effective pollutant adsorbability, UVA protection, and a two- to three-fold reduction in photoaged skin cytokines/chemokines compared to the non-treatment control.
European Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2023Combined treatment with aluminium chloride hexahydrate and triethanolamine reduced skin irritation but was also less effective in reducing sweat production compared to treatment with aluminium chloride hexahydrate alone in 30 volunteers with axillary hyperhidrosis.
Acta Dermato-venereologica, 1988Topical application of micronised titanium dioxide results in no dermal absorption, with the particles being deposited solely on the outermost surface of the stratum corneum.
Skin Pharmacology and Applied Skin Physiology, 2001Microfine titanium dioxide does not penetrate human skin when formulated in an oil-in-water emulsion with the pigment dispersed in the aqueous phase, compared to oily dispersions and liposomal encapsulation which allow deeper skin penetration.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2000Sunscreen products formulated with 1-6% oxybenzone yielded a mean rate of dermal irritation or sensitization of 0.26% and a contact allergy rate of 0.07% in participants from the general population.
Photodermatology, Photoimmunology & Photomedicine, 2008Topical application of sunscreen agents in human volunteers resulted in significant skin penetration of all agents and systemic absorption of oxybenzone and its metabolites.
Journal of Chromatography. B, Analytical Technologies in the Biomedical and Life Sciences, 2004Combined use of the insect repellent DEET and the sunscreen oxybenzone significantly enhanced percutaneous penetration percentages by 36% to 108% and increased their in vivo AUCP/MRT compared to separate applications.
Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology, 2007A 21-year-old woman developed an erythematous papulovesicular eruption of photo-exposed sites following oxybenzone-containing sunscreen use, with test findings strongly suggesting oxybenzone photoallergy.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 1994Incorporating rosmarinic acid into sunscreens enhanced the in vivo SPF of octocrylene by over 157% and reduced lipid peroxidation in the human stratum corneum.
Antioxidants, 2025The application of a sunscreen formulation containing ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate, ethylhexyl salicylate, methyl anthranilate, and octocrylene does not significantly affect critical acne-related species such as Cutibacterium acnes and Staphylococcus epidermidis, refuting the induction of facial dysbiosis in men.
Archives of Dermatological Research, 2024Early application of sunscreen after ablative fractional skin resurfacing significantly increased the sensitization rate of the UV-filter, octocrylene, and the sunscreen compared to intact skin.
The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2015Encapsulation of ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate and butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane in lipid microparticles significantly reduced their in vivo human skin penetration compared to nonencapsulated filters.
Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, 2011Microencapsulation of the BMDBM/HP-beta-CD complex in lipid microparticles significantly decreased the percutaneous penetration of the UV filter into the stratum corneum of human volunteers compared to the non-encapsulated sunscreen agent.
Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis, 2011Following human skin application of an O/W emulsion containing 2% BMDBM loaded in lipospheres, 15% of the sunscreen accumulated in the uppermost layers of the stratum corneum without remarkably modifying skin permeation compared to unencapsulated sunscreen.
Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, 2008Daily whole-body topical application of sunscreens benzophenone-3, octyl-methoxycinnamate, and 3-(4-methylbenzylidene) camphor results in systemic absorption in healthy human volunteers but does not alter endogenous reproductive hormone levels.
The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2004Benzophenone-3 loaded starch microsponges provided improved photoprotection, higher sun protection factor, and reduced cutaneous penetration compared to raw benzophenone-3 cream.
Materials Science & Engineering. C, Materials for Biological Applications, 2019Benzophenone-3 applied via commercial sunscreen is percutaneously absorbed and excreted in urine, with an average total excreted amount of 11 mg in eleven volunteers.
Clinical and Experimental Dermatology, 2002Replacing microsized titanium dioxide and zinc oxide with nanoparticles in sunscreens eliminates opaqueness and alters UV protection balance while inducing (photo)cyto- and genotoxicity and penetrating viable skin layers during long-term exposures.
Nanotechnology, Science and Applications, 2011Microfine zinc oxide and titanium dioxide do not penetrate the stratum corneum of porcine skin in vitro, indicating that their use in sunscreens does not pose a health risk from internal exposure.
Toxicology in Vitro, 2006Hyaluronic acid-grafted titanium dioxide nanoparticles increased SPF from 13.3 to 19.1 while demonstrating low photocatalytic activity, exceptional thermal stability with >95% SPF retention, enhanced moisturization with >80% hydration retention, and minimal cytotoxicity with 88.5% cell viability in HaCaT keratinocytes compared to unmodified nanoparticles.
International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2025
Ingredients
Avobenzone, Homosalate, Octisalate, Octocrylene, Oxybenzone, Water, Silica, Dimethicone, Styrene Acrylates Copolymer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Acrylates Dimethicone Copolymer, Benzyl Alcohol, Bht, Disodium Edta, Glyceryl Stearate, Peg-100 Stearate, Polyester-8, Sodium Polyacrylate, Stearic Acid, Triethanolamine
Behind this fit score
Lovi calculates every fit score from the full ingredient list with brand-independent rules our dermatologists and cosmetic chemists build and review, and personalizes every pick with AI trained on the real results of millions of users. Lovi trains its fit score models on a proprietary dataset built from more than 10,000 expert-labeled products and more than 100,000 simulated examples, following an internally consistent methodology presented at Cosmoprof, AMWC, and Skin of Color Update.
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Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
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Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
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Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
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Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
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Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
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