Neutrogena Sport Face Sunscreen for acne-prone skin
Avobenzone
Oxybenzone-Free Formula
Helioplex
Dimethicone
Ethylhexylglycerin
High
- HighCombination Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- HighSafety
A great choice for acne-prone skin; a few sunscreens fit it even 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
- Highly suitable for your combination skin, this sunscreen utilizes dimethicone and silica to effectively control texture and provide a matte finish, while its broad-spectrum UV protection is a key benefit.
- The inclusion of ingredients like oxybenzone and avobenzone offers moderate benefits for your acne and blemishes by shielding against UV damage, though it lacks specific acne-fighting agents.
- The safety profile is excellent, with no risks of irritation for your combination skin due to the absence of prohibited or harsh ingredients.
How to apply
- Apply this sunscreen every morning as the final step of your skincare routine. Reapply every two hours if you are outdoors for best protection against breakouts.
- Apply the sunscreen after your moisturizer and before applying any makeup. Let it absorb completely ⏱ before going outside.
- Take a nickel-sized amount and gently pat it evenly across your face and neck. Avoid rubbing aggressively to keep your combination skin calm.
- Apply the sunscreen on clean, dry skin to ensure an even protective layer. This helps manage excess shine without clogging your pores.
- Avoid the immediate eye area and do a quick patch test before first use. Stop using it if you notice any irritation and consult a specialist.
People Say
★4.4Overall rating based on 1.5k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, this sunscreen is highly praised for its sweat-resistant, non-greasy formula that works well for active individuals and those with oily or combination skin. Some users with sensitive or acne-prone skin reported that it can clog pores and cause breakouts, and a few noted a slight white cast.
Highlights
Lightweight and non-greasy Mostly Mentioned
- “did NOT leave my skin feeling oily or greasy”
- “feels light, completely non-greasy”
- “doesn't leave a greasy residue”
- “super lightweight and has very good coverage”
Sweat and water resistant Mostly Mentioned
- “stayed on through sweat and water”
- “does not budge, even through an intense hour-long run”
- “stays on better than most I've tried”
- “resists wear off from water, rubbing, sweating”
Blends well Sometimes Noted
- “Goes on easily under makeup”
- “blends well into my skin”
- “layers well underneath makeup”
- “does not leave any residue behind”
Causes breakouts Sometimes Noted
- “tends to clog my pores”
- “sunscreens clog my pores and cause breakouts”
- “loved everything about it except the fact it somehow broke me out”
- “Non Greasy, But Breaks me out?”
Leaves white cast Rarely Noted
- “some users noted a slight white cast”
- “issues with white cast and uneven blending”
- “uneven blending on the skin”
- “noted a slight white cast”
Skin irritation Rarely Noted
- “Allergic reaction”
- “experienced irritation”
- “doesn't agree with my sensitive skin”
- “react to certain sunscreens that contain harsh chemicals”
Sources: lovi.care, neutrogena.com, target.com, walmart.com, homedepot.com, bakersplus.com, and more
Questions and answers
What makes Neutrogena Sport Face Sunscreen a great fit for acne-prone skin?
Neutrogena Sport Face Sunscreen is a great fit for acne-prone skin because it uses dimethicone and silica to help control texture and leave a matte finish while providing broad-spectrum sun protection. Its formula is very safe and unlikely to cause irritation.
International Journal of Pharmaceutics, 2019Photodermatology, Photoimmunology & Photomedicine, 2008
Which ingredients make this sunscreen a good fit for acne-prone skin?
This sunscreen is a great fit for your acne-prone skin because it uses dimethicone and silica to help control oil and leave a smooth, matte finish. It also features a safe formula that is unlikely to cause irritation.
International Journal of Pharmaceutics, 2019European Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2023
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 Oxybenzone do for acne-prone skin?
Oxybenzone is a chemical sunscreen filter that helps protect skin from UV rays, but it does not treat or prevent acne. Because acne-prone skin needs lightweight, non-greasy sun protection that does not clog pores, a product of this type needs non-comedogenic ingredients and soothing agents to keep skin calm and clear.
Where does this sunscreen go in a skincare routine for acne-prone skin?
This sunscreen goes as the last step in your morning routine, right after your moisturizer. It uses dimethicone and silica to help control texture and leave a matte finish while protecting your skin from the sun.
Can I use this sunscreen with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this sunscreen in the morning as the final step before makeup, well after applying your nighttime retinol. It is unlikely to cause irritation on acne-prone skin, as it feels light and gives a matte finish without clogging pores.
How often should I use this sunscreen?
You should use this sunscreen every morning as the final step in your daytime routine. It is very unlikely to cause irritation or breakouts on your acne-prone skin.
Can this sunscreen clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for acne-prone skin?
Yes, this sunscreen may cause breakouts for acne-prone skin, as some reviewers note. While it uses dimethicone and silica to help keep your skin matte and protected, it lacks specific acne-fighting agents and contains ingredients that can occasionally clog pores.
Is this sunscreen fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol. Behenyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol, which soften the skin.
What the research says
Incorporation of avobenzone and oxybenzone into ordered mesoporous silica SBA-15 significantly reduced their cutaneous penetration and transdermal permeation in porcine skin compared to free filters, while enhancing the sun protection factor by 94%.
International Journal of Pharmaceutics, 2019Encapsulating 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, 2023Solid lipid nanoparticles bearing 5% oxybenzone incorporated into a cream base showed slower drug release, enhanced sun protection factor above 25, and prolonged retention in the stratum corneum compared to a plain cream base containing 5% oxybenzone.
Journal of Microencapsulation, 2010Sunscreen 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, 2008The BZ-3-HPCD complex formulation reduced percutaneous penetration and adverse skin effects while improving the photoprotective profile of benzophenone-3 compared to the uncomplexed sunscreen.
European Journal of Pharmaceutics and Biopharmaceutics, 2011Encapsulation 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, 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, 1994Wearing an N95 mask alone compared to using dimethicone cream or hydrocolloid dressing caused more adverse skin reactions among 73 military health care workers, with no significant differences in fit test failure rates between groups.
Military Medicine, 2024Treatment with a moisturizer containing dimethicone and glycerine increased epidermal thickness by 0.019 mm, improved barrier function by decreasing transepidermal water loss by 13%, decreased melanin intensity, and induced keratins 6 and 16 in fifteen women with moderately photoaged forearms.
Clinical and Experimental Dermatology, 2007
Ingredients
Avobenzone, Homosalate, Octisalate, Octocrylene, Oxybenzone, Water, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Styrene Acrylates Copolymer, Silica, Dimethicone, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Acrylates Dimethicone Copolymer, Acrylates C12-22 Alkyl Methacrylate Copolymer, Behenyl Alcohol, Cetyl Dimethicone, Disodium Edta, Ethylhexyl Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Peg-100 Stearate, Polyester-8, Sodium Polyacrylate, Steareth-21, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Trimethylsiloxysilicate
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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