NEOGEN Dermalogy Day-Light Protection Airy Sunscreen for acne-prone skin
Avobenzone
Octocrylene
Homosalate
Sodium Hyaluronate
Coptis Japonica ExtractAverage
- AverageCombination Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for acne-prone skin; other sunscreens fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with acne-prone skin: breakouts, blackheads, and post-acne marks. 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 suitability for your combination skin, as Tocopheryl Acetate and Glycerin provide antioxidant activity and humectant action, respectively, while the sunscreen agents offer excellent UV protection.
- While Glycerin and Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract offer supportive hydration and soothing benefits for acne and blemishes, the formula lacks specialized ingredients to directly target these concerns.
- The product is safe for your combination skin, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the inclusion of soothing agents like Tocopheryl Acetate and Beta-Glucan.
How to apply
- Apply this moisturizing sunscreen AM every morning as the final step of your daily routine.
- Layer the moisturizing sunscreen after your moisturizer has fully absorbed, right before heading out into the sun .
- Smooth a nickel-sized amount of the moisturizing sunscreen evenly over your face, avoiding harsh rubbing.
- Apply the moisturizing sunscreen onto clean, dry skin to ensure even coverage and protection.
- Perform a patch test before first use and avoid direct contact with the eyes.
People Say
★4.2Overall rating based on 500+ reviewsUsers with oily and combination skin frequently praise this sunscreen for its very high frequency of a lightweight, airy texture that absorbs quickly without leaving a white cast or greasy residue. It is also noted for being great under makeup. However, a high frequency of users report a strong citrus fragrance that can be overpowering, and a moderate frequency of users experience eye irritation.
Highlights
Lightweight & Airy Texture Mostly Mentioned
- “feels like a moisturizer”
- “absorbs instantly”
- “lightweight mousse-like consistency”
No White Cast Often Mentioned
- “completely transparent”
- “great for dark skin”
- “invisible on my face”
Non-Greasy Finish Often Mentioned
- “natural matte finish”
- “doesn't make me shiny”
- “powdery soft feel”
Strong fragrance Often Mentioned
- “smells like lemon pledge”
- “scent is too overpowering”
- “strong citrus odor”
Great Under Makeup Sometimes Noted
- “no pilling under foundation”
- “acts like a primer”
- “makeup glides right on”
Eye irritation Sometimes Noted
- “stings my eyes badly”
- “burns when I sweat”
- “makes my eyes water”
High price point Sometimes Noted
- “expensive for the size”
- “tube is too small”
- “pricey for daily use”
Potential irritation Rarely Noted
- “caused breakouts”
- “essential oils stung my face”
Sources: lovi.care, sokoglam.com, reddit.com, yesstyle.com, stylevana.com, iherb.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Neogen Airy Sunscreen work for acne-prone skin?
This sunscreen works moderately well for acne-prone skin, providing safe sun protection and hydration without clogging pores. Because it lacks specialized blemish-fighting ingredients, an acne-friendly moisturizing sunscreen of this type needs soothing components like centella asiatica and niacinamide to better manage breakouts.
Contemporary Clinical Trials Communications, 2021Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
Which ingredients make this sunscreen a good fit for acne-prone skin?
This sunscreen works for acne-prone skin because Glycerin and Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract provide supportive hydration and soothing benefits. A product of this type for this skin needs ingredients like Niacinamide and Centella Asiatica to effectively address blemishes and provide hydration without heaviness.
Clinical Pharmacology, 2018Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
What does Avobenzone do for acne-prone skin?
Avobenzone protects acne-prone skin from UV rays that can worsen dark spots and inflammation, though it does not directly treat breakouts. To properly care for acne-prone skin, sunscreens should also feel light, clog-free, and non-greasy.
What does Octocrylene do for acne-prone skin?
Octocrylene is a sunscreen ingredient that protects acne-prone skin from UV rays without disturbing the balance of bacteria living on the face. It is unlikely to trigger breakouts, but a sunscreen for this skin type still needs a lightweight, non-greasy texture and ingredients that do not clog pores.
Where does this sunscreen go in a skincare routine for acne-prone skin?
This sunscreen goes as the last step of your morning skincare routine, right after your moisturizer. Acne-prone skin needs products with specialized ingredients to directly target blemishes.
Can I use this sunscreen with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this sunscreen in the morning as the final step of your skincare routine after applying your moisturizer and before sun exposure. It is safe to use alongside a retinol routine used at night, though acne-prone skin needs a sunscreen with specialized blemish-fighting ingredients to work best for this skin type.
How often should I use this sunscreen?
Apply this sunscreen every morning as the final step in your daytime routine. To maintain effective UV protection, reapply it throughout the day if you are exposed to direct sunlight.
Can this sunscreen clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for acne-prone skin?
This sunscreen works for acne-prone skin, though other products fit it better because it lacks specialized ingredients to directly target breakouts. Sunscreens for this skin need soothing ingredients and light moisturizers to keep pores clear.
Is this sunscreen fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (citral, citronellol, limonene, geraniol, and linalool).
What the research says
A single application of a moisturizing fluid containing hyaluronic acid 1%, glycerin 5%, and Centella asiatica stem cells extract significantly increased skin hydration by 29% and reduced transepidermal water loss at 24 hours compared to baseline and an untreated control site in twenty healthy women.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017A cream combining propolis, tea tree oil, and Aloe vera reduced erythema scars, acne severity index, and total lesion count better than erythromycin cream in sixty patients with mild to moderate acne vulgaris compared to placebo.
Clinical Pharmacology, 2018Dermatological products containing d-alpha tocopheryl acetate showed non-comedogenic potential with less than a 50% increase in microcomedones in 12 healthy male subjects compared to octyl palmitate.
Contemporary Clinical Trials Communications, 2021Encapsulation 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, 2008Incorporating 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, 2015Dermal application of a sunscreen containing 10% homosalate in four volunteers resulted in delayed elimination with terminal half-times around 24 h and a bioavailability of cis-homosalate a factor of 2 lower than trans-homosalate, while metabolite ratios supported using oral-route urinary excretion fractions for dermal exposure assessments.
Archives of Toxicology, 2024Chemical sunscreens containing avobenzone, octocrylene, homosalate, and octisalate showed no to minimal risks of dermal irritation, sensitization, photo-allergy, and photo-irritation in human subjects.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2025Homosalate exhibited the highest permeation among tested filters with a relative permeability rate of 4.2% and a depth of 60 um, and specific thickeners and emulsifiers successfully reduced its permeation without inhibiting the skin permeation of niacinamide.
Photodermatology, Photoimmunology & Photomedicine, 2026Topical application of 0.1% hyaluronic acid formulations of different molecular weights led to significant improvements in skin hydration and elasticity, with low-molecular-weight formulations also significantly reducing wrinkle depth in seventy-six female subjects compared to a vehicle control.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2011Topical application of hyaluronic acid in conjunction with free gingival graft significantly reduced donor site postoperative pain until day 7 compared to normal saline, with no significant differences in graft dimensions or patient satisfaction.
Clinical Oral Investigations, 2022Treatment with a hyaluronic acid-containing mouth rinse or topical gel led to significant lesion reduction, pain relief, and normalization of lesion color in adult patients with minor recurrent aphthous stomatitis, with the gel formulation showing an earlier healing onset at 3 days.
BMC Oral Health, 2019Topical steroid withdrawal is driven by excess mitochondrial NAD+ metabolism that can be successfully targeted using complex I-inhibiting interventions such as metformin and berberine.
The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2025Topical steroid withdrawal presents as a distinct dermatopathology characterized by burning, flushing, thermodysregulation, and elevated mitochondrial NAD+ oxidation, which can be improved by targeting complex I with metformin or berberine.
MedRxiv, 2024Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose hydrogel formulations of berberine chloride-loaded escinosomes increased skin residence time and transdermal permeability while maintaining high safety and biocompatibility without skin irritation.
International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2020
Why other sunscreens fit acne-prone skin better
Co-delivery of paeonol and madecassoside via nanoemulsions improved transdermal delivery, promoted barrier repair proteins, inhibited inflammatory cytokine secretion in cellular and 3D models, and reduced transepidermal water loss and acne in human facial skin compared to free components.
Molecules, 2023
Ingredients
Water, Octocrylene, Homosalate, Isododecane, Dipropylene Glycol, Silica, Avobenzone, 1,2-Hexanediol, Octyldodeceth-16, Acrylates C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Tromethamine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Coptis Japonica Extract, Butylene Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Litsea Cubeba Oil Fruit, Bergamot Oil Fruit, Pelargonium Graveolens Oil Flower, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil Lavender Oil, Melaleuca Alternifolia Tree Oil Leaf, Citrus Aurantifolia Oil, Clove Oil Leaf, Camphor Oil Bark, Maltodextrin, Persea Gratissima Fruit Extract Avocado Fruit Extract, Oenothera Biennis Flower Extract, Pinus Palustris Leaf Extract, Ulmus Davidiana Root Extract, Pueraria Lobata Root Extract, Lemon Fruit Extract, Glycerin, Rosa Damascena Extract, Lippia Citriodora Leaf Extract, Adansonia Digitata Leaf Extract, Rubus Idaeus Fruit Extract Raspberry Fruit Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Blueberry Fruit Extract, Achillea Millefolium Extract, Arnica Montana Flower Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Artemisia Capillaris Extract, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract, Phellinus Linteus Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Extract, Beta-Glucan, Citral, Citronellol, Limonene, Geraniol, Linalool
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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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
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Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
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Victoria Derkova, MS
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