Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunscreen for dry skin
Helioplex Technology
Octocrylene
Avobenzone
Oxybenzone
Titanium DioxideAverage
- AverageDry Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- Low RiskSafety
Works for dry skin; other sunscreens fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with dry skin: flakiness, tightness, dehydration, fine lines, and wrinkles. 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
- Offers moderate protection against UV rays due to avobenzone, homosalate, octisalate, octocrylene, and oxybenzone, but lacks sufficient humectants and occlusives for optimal hydration for your dry skin.
- Dimethicone and silica provide some emollient action, but the formula does not contain specialized ingredients to address dryness or flakiness.
- The product is generally safe for your dry skin, though oxybenzone carries a slight risk of irritation.
How to apply
- Apply this sunscreen during your AM routine every morning. Reapply every two hours when exposed to the sun.
- Apply the sunscreen as the final step in your morning routine after your moisturizer.
- Gently smooth a nickel-sized amount over your face and neck, avoiding harsh rubbing.
- Apply the sunscreen on clean, dry skin to ensure even protection and absorption.
- Avoid the immediate eye area and do a patch test before first use.
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
How well does Neutrogena Ultra Sheer work for dry skin?
This sunscreen works for dry skin, though other products fit it better because it lacks rich moisturizing ingredients to properly address dryness and flakiness. While it provides sun protection, it may occasionally cause irritation for dry skin due to containing oxybenzone. A sunscreen for dry skin needs extra hydrating ingredients like petrolatum or ceramides to keep skin soft and smooth.
Which ingredients make this sunscreen a good fit for dry skin?
Dimethicone and silica help smooth dry skin, though this sunscreen lacks sufficient moisturizing and trapping ingredients for optimal hydration. A sunscreen for dry skin needs rich moisturizing agents and skin-softening ingredients to address dryness and flakiness while protecting against UV rays.
What does Helioplex do for dry skin?
Helioplex provides broad-spectrum sun protection while helping keep dry skin shielded from UV rays without feeling overly heavy. This ingredient technology is unlikely to cause irritation when used as part of your daily routine.
What does Octocrylene do for dry skin?
Octocrylene is a sunscreen ingredient that protects dry skin from UV rays without causing irritation, though it may occasionally trigger allergies in sensitive individuals. Because this type of product can sometimes feel heavy or drying, dry skin needs sunscreens that combine UV filters with rich, hydrating ingredients like plant extracts or nourishing creams to keep skin soft and smooth.
Where does this sunscreen go in a skincare routine for dry skin?
This sunscreen goes as the last step in your morning routine, right after your moisturizer. While it offers moderate sun protection, dry skin needs a product with extra hydrators and barrier-protecting ingredients to keep it feeling soft and comfortable.
Can I use it with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this sunscreen in the morning after applying your retinol, moisturizer, and other daytime routine steps. This sunscreen is generally safe for your dry skin, though oxybenzone carries a slight risk of irritation. A sunscreen for dry skin needs extra hydrating ingredients and skin-softening oils to prevent flakiness and keep skin smooth.
How often should I use this sunscreen?
You can use this sunscreen every morning as the final step of your daytime routine to protect against UV rays. A sunscreen for dry skin of this type needs rich hydrators and moisture-locking ingredients to keep skin soft and comfortable all day.
Can it clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for dry skin?
Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunscreen is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts on dry skin, though oxybenzone carries a slight risk of irritation. A sunscreen for dry skin of this type needs rich moisturizing ingredients like petrolatum and extra hydrating agents to keep the skin soft and comfortable.
Photodermatology, Photoimmunology & Photomedicine, 2008Ostomy/wound Management, 2005
Is it fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (benzyl alcohol).
What the research says
Petrolatum-based skin protectants demonstrated protection against irritants and maceration while providing skin hydration, whereas dimethicone and zinc oxide products showed varying or limited performance across parameters among 18 healthy volunteers compared to positive and negative controls.
Ostomy/wound Management, 2005Sunscreen 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, 2002Microfine 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, 2000Replacing 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, 2006
Why other sunscreens fit dry skin better
Hydrogels containing vitamin E-loaded nanostructured lipid carriers exhibited better occlusive properties and long-lasting effects, while vitamin E-loaded nanoemulsions performed a faster skin hydration effect and were selected as more attractive for skin application.
Colloids and Surfaces. B, Biointerfaces, 2019
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
How does it fit your skin?
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