NEOGEN Dermalogy Day-Light Protection Airy Sunscreen for oily acne-prone skin
Avobenzone
Octocrylene
Homosalate
Sodium Hyaluronate
Coptis Japonica ExtractAverage
- AverageOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for oily acne-prone skin; other sunscreens fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with oily acne-prone skin: shine, breakouts, blemishes, and enlarged pores. 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 oily skin due to the presence of silica which can absorb excess sebum, but lacks sufficient mattifying ingredients for optimal results.
- The sunscreen effect is excellent thanks to octocrylene, homosalate, and avobenzone, though the formula does not directly target your acne, blemishes, and breakouts or oiliness.
- The safety profile is good, with no risks of irritation for your oily skin due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the presence of soothing components like Tocopheryl Acetate and Glycerin.
How to apply
- Use your moisturizing sunscreen every morning. Reapply throughout the day if you are outside.
- Apply this moisturizing sunscreen as the final step of your morning routine after your moisturizer.
- Gently smooth a nickel-sized amount over your face and neck, avoiding harsh rubbing to keep oily areas calm.
- Apply this moisturizing sunscreen on clean, dry skin to ensure even coverage and protection.
- Avoid getting the product into your eyes and do a patch test before your first use.
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 oily acne-prone skin?
This sunscreen works moderately well for oily skin because silica helps soak up excess oil, but it lacks enough mattifying ingredients to control shine completely and does not target breakouts. Sunscreens of this type work best for this skin when they include ingredients like niacinamide and centella asiatica to help manage blemishes without feeling heavy.
Contemporary Clinical Trials Communications, 2021Archives of Dermatological Research, 2024
Which ingredients make this sunscreen a good fit for oily acne-prone skin?
This sunscreen works for oily acne-prone skin because silica absorbs excess oil while Tocopheryl Acetate and Glycerin keep skin calm without causing irritation. Products of this type for this skin need ingredients like niacinamide and centella asiatica to tackle breakouts, along with lightweight, non-greasy hydrators.
Contemporary Clinical Trials Communications, 2021Scientific Reports, 2025
What does Avobenzone do for oily acne-prone skin?
Avobenzone helps protect your skin from sun damage, but it does not treat oily or acne-prone skin on its own. Sunscreens for this skin type need ingredients that feel light, absorb excess oil, and won't clog your pores.
What does Octocrylene do for oily acne-prone skin?
Octocrylene helps protect oily acne-prone skin from the sun without worsening breakouts or causing facial dysbiosis. However, because it may act as a contact allergen for some people, products for this skin type also need soothing ingredients and a lightweight, oil-free formula to keep skin calm and clear.
Where does this sunscreen go in a skincare routine for oily acne-prone skin?
This sunscreen goes as the last step of your morning routine, right after your moisturizer. It offers moderate sun protection and helps absorb some shine, but an oily acne-prone skin type needs stronger mattifying ingredients and blemish-fighting actives for optimal results.
Can I use this sunscreen with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this sunscreen in the morning after your moisturizer, following your nighttime retinol step. Sunscreen is essential during the day when using retinol, as retinol makes your skin more sensitive to the sun.
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. Oily acne-prone skin needs a sunscreen with strong mattifying ingredients and blemish-targeting actives to control excess oil and breakouts best.
Can this sunscreen clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily acne-prone skin?
This sunscreen is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts on oily acne-prone skin, as it contains soothing components like Tocopheryl Acetate and Glycerin that have a good safety profile. However, because it works for this skin at an average level, an ideal sunscreen for this skin type needs stronger mattifying ingredients to absorb excess sebum and targeted ingredients to help manage oiliness and blemishes.
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
The 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, 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, 2025Dermatological 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, 2021Co-encapsulation of alpha-tocopherol and alpha-tocopheryl acetate in nanostructured lipid carrier gel formulations significantly enhanced moisture retention up to 68% and improved skin elasticity in human volunteers compared to a solution gel.
Scientific Reports, 2025Encapsulation 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, 2025Early 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 sunscreen exposure in 20 healthy volunteers led to plasma concentrations of avobenzone, octocrylene, and its metabolite CDAA reaching up to 11 μg/L, 25 μg/L, and 1352 μg/L, respectively.
Environment International, 2019Dermal 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, 2024Homosalate 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, 2026An online-SPE-LC-MS/MS method successfully quantified specific urinary homosalate metabolites for up to 96 hours after dermal sunscreen application in a volunteer and detected metabolites exclusively in three German pilot participants who had used sunscreen within five days.
Analytica Chimica Acta, 2021Topical 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 oily 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, 2023Cosmetic formulations containing 5% Centella asiatica extract showed the best efficacy in improving skin moisture and decreasing transepidermal water loss, while also exhibiting antiinflammatory properties in 25 volunteers compared to baseline measurements.
Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2016
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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