Neutrogena Sport Face Sunscreen for combination skin
Avobenzone
Oxybenzone-Free Formula
Helioplex
Dimethicone
Ethylhexylglycerin
Superior
- 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, as silica and dimethicone effectively absorb excess oil and mattify, addressing your oily shine concern. The combination of UV filters like avobenzone and octocrylene provides superior sun protection.
- Phenoxyethanol offers a gentle finish, ensuring comfort for your combination skin without irritation.
- The product is safe for your skin, containing no harsh ingredients and featuring soothing components.
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 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 one of the best fits for combination skin?
Neutrogena Sport Face Sunscreen is an excellent fit for your combination skin because silica and dimethicone absorb excess oil and keep your shiny spots matte. The blend of UV filters gives you strong sun protection, while soothing components help keep your skin comfortable and free from irritation.
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 and stop oily shine. At the same time, avobenzone and octocrylene offer strong sun protection, while gentle ingredients keep your face comfortable without irritation.
What does Avobenzone do for combination skin?
Avobenzone helps protect combination skin from sun damage, but it is best used in a stable formulation because it can break down under sunlight. Encapsulating this ingredient or combining it with photostability boosters may reduce skin irritation and improve safety.
European Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2023Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology. B, Biology, 2015
What does Oxybenzone do for combination skin?
Oxybenzone acts as a sunscreen filter in this product to shield combination skin from UV rays. It helps protect both oily and dry areas from sun damage, though it may occasionally irritate sensitive spots.
Where does this sunscreen go in a skincare routine for combination skin?
This sunscreen goes as the last step in your morning skincare routine, right after your moisturizer. It is well-suited for combination skin because silica and dimethicone absorb excess oil and mattify your oily shine.
Can I use this sunscreen with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this sunscreen in the morning after applying your retinol and moisturizer. It is unlikely to irritate your skin and helps protect your face while keeping your oily shine under control.
How often should I use this sunscreen?
You should use this sunscreen every morning as the final step of your daytime skincare routine. Applying it daily helps protect your combination skin from UV rays while keeping excess shine under control.
Can this sunscreen clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for combination skin?
Yes, this sunscreen may occasionally cause breakouts, as some reviewers note. However, it features silica and dimethicone to help absorb excess oil and keep your skin comfortable.
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
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, 2023Incorporating 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, 2024Encapsulation 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, 2008Sunscreen 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, 2007Wearing 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, 2007Externally applied substances such as ceramides, hyaluronic acid, licorice extracts, dimethicone, petrolatum, and paraffin wax treat skin disease resulting from damage to the skin barrier.
Clinics in Dermatology, 2012
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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