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Neutrogena   Hydro Boost Water Gel Lotion Sunscreen SPF 50
Neutrogena

  Hydro Boost Water Gel Lotion Sunscreen SPF 50

SPF 50
Our score 75.3 / 100

Fragrance, ethanol, menthyl lactate and oxybenzone add tolerance concerns. Light esters, silicones and film formers suggest easy spread; wear and individual reactions remain uncertain.

Invisible No white cast — chemical/hybrid filters that straight-up disappear on skin. United States
03 The facts, at a glance
Protection
Filter type Mineral filters (zinc oxide, titanium dioxide) sit on skin and reflect UV. Chemical filters absorb UV. Hybrid runs both.
Chemical
Broad spectrum Covers both UVA and UVB. UVA drives aging and deeper damage; UVB gives you burns.
Yes
Formulation & feel
Texture How it feels going on — milk, gel, cream, spray, stick, essence, lotion, powder, or cushion.
Gel
Finish How it looks once dry: matte, natural, dewy, or glowy.
Natural
Tinted Adds sheer pigment (iron oxides) that masks the white cast common to mineral filters and gives a skin-tone finish.
No
fragrance-free No synthetic perfume added. Not FDA-defined in the US; the EU requires 'Parfum' + the 26 named allergens on the label. 'Unscented' is different — it can hide masking fragrance. Botanical oils still scent.
No
Alcohol-free No drying short-chain alcohols (alcohol denat., SD alcohol, ethanol). Doesn't mean fatty alcohols like cetyl or stearyl — those are emollients.
No
Where to buy it
Ulta US In stock
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75.3
Composite score · independent
Ranks #1635 of 1759 in the current catalogue. Fragrance, ethanol, menthyl lactate and oxybenzone add tolerance concerns. Light esters, silicones and film formers suggest easy spread; wear and individual reactions remain uncertain.
Composite is a weighted blend: UV 25% · Modernity 10% · Sensitivity 15% · Environment 10% · Elegance 15% · Health 25%. That's the recipe.
The score breakdown
UV protection How hard it blocks UVA + UVB across the spectrum at the stated SPF/PA. 84
Filter modernity Dings legacy filters (octinoxate, oxybenzone); rewards photostable next-gen ones. 50
Sensitivity safety Risk for reactive skin — fragrance, alcohol, and known sensitisers. 58
Reef / env. safety Reef toxicity plus how biodegradable the UV filters and surfactants are. 50
Cosmetic elegance Spread, finish, white-cast, and how it actually feels on skin. 87
Health safety Endocrine concerns and systemic absorption signals across the whole formula. 90
02 Composition · key UV filters 5 filters resolved
UVA-I 340–400nm UVA-I (340–400nm) — covered UVA-II 320–340nm UVA-II (320–340nm) — covered UVB 290–320nm UVB (290–320nm) — covered
Avobenzone Legacy Older organic filter. Photostable in combination; some literature concerns.
Homosalate Legacy Older organic filter. Photostable in combination; some literature concerns.
Octisalate Legacy Older organic filter. Photostable in combination; some literature concerns.
Octocrylene Legacy Older organic filter. Photostable in combination; some literature concerns.
Oxybenzone Legacy Older organic filter. Photostable in combination; some literature concerns.
04 Full ingredient list (INCI) 31 ingredients
MODERN FILTER 0 LEGACY FILTER 4 MINERAL FILTER 0 ADDED FRAGRANCE 1 NATURAL FRAGRANCE 0 ALCOHOL 1 WATCH 1 ACTIVE 2
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane Avobenzone — UVA filter, needs stabilisation. · Homosalate Homosalate — legacy UVB filter; endocrine literature. · Ethylhexyl Salicylate Octisalate — older filter; well-tolerated. · Octocrylene Octocrylene — degrades to benzophenone over time. · Benzophenone-3 Notable endocrine + reef-toxicity literature. ·Water· Glycerin Humectant — the workhorse hydrator. · Alcohol Denat. Drying short-chain alcohol — can compromise the skin barrier and disturb the film if used in high amounts. ·Caprylyl Methicone·Diisopropyl Adipate·Silica·Dicaprylyl Carbonate·Dimethicone·Polyurethane-62·Phenoxyethanol·Hydroxyacetophenone·Pentylene Glycol·Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate·Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP Crosspolymer·Acrylates/Dimethicone Copolymer·Glyceryl Stearate· Fragrance Synthetic fragrance blend — a common irritant. Composition is a trade secret; can include dozens of compounds. Avoid if your skin is reactive. ·Chlorphenesin·Menthyl Lactate·Tocopheryl Acetate·Disodium EDTA·Trideceth-6· Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid Hyaluronic acid — humectant. ·Sodium Hydroxide·CI 60725·Blue 1
Source: brand-published INCI. Last verified 2026. Show in detail
01 Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane LEGACY FILTER Avobenzone — UVA filter, needs stabilisation.
02 Homosalate LEGACY FILTER Homosalate — legacy UVB filter; endocrine literature.
03 Ethylhexyl Salicylate LEGACY FILTER Octisalate — older filter; well-tolerated.
04 Octocrylene LEGACY FILTER Octocrylene — degrades to benzophenone over time.
05 Benzophenone-3 WATCH Notable endocrine + reef-toxicity literature.
06 Water Water
07 Glycerin ACTIVE Humectant — the workhorse hydrator.
08 Alcohol Denat. ALCOHOL Drying short-chain alcohol — can compromise the skin barrier and disturb the film if used in high amounts.
09 Caprylyl Methicone Caprylyl Methicone
10 Diisopropyl Adipate Diisopropyl Adipate
11 Silica Silica
12 Dicaprylyl Carbonate Dicaprylyl Carbonate
13 Dimethicone Dimethicone
14 Polyurethane-62 Polyurethane-62
15 Phenoxyethanol Phenoxyethanol
16 Hydroxyacetophenone Hydroxyacetophenone
17 Pentylene Glycol Pentylene Glycol
18 Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate
19 Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP Crosspolymer Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP Crosspolymer
20 Acrylates/Dimethicone Copolymer Acrylates/Dimethicone Copolymer
21 Glyceryl Stearate Glyceryl Stearate
22 Fragrance ADDED FRAGRANCE Synthetic fragrance blend — a common irritant. Composition is a trade secret; can include dozens of compounds. Avoid if your skin is reactive.
23 Chlorphenesin Chlorphenesin
24 Menthyl Lactate Menthyl Lactate
25 Tocopheryl Acetate Vitamin E Acetate
26 Disodium EDTA Disodium EDTA
27 Trideceth-6 Trideceth-6
28 Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid ACTIVE Hyaluronic acid — humectant.
29 Sodium Hydroxide Sodium Hydroxide
30 CI 60725
31 Blue 1 Blue 1