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Neutrogena Sheer Zinc Kids Sunscreen Lotion - SPF 50 - 3 fl oz
Neutrogena

Sheer Zinc Kids Sunscreen Lotion - SPF 50 - 3 fl oz

SPF 50+
Our score 85.1 / 100

No ethanol or added fragrance; feverfew and phenethyl alcohol add modest tolerance concerns. Silicones and dispersants support spread of 21.6% zinc; residue and wear remain uncertain.

Tone-up Brightening veil from mineral & tone-up formulas; evens out your skin tone. Sensitive & baby fragrance-free, low-irritant, baby-safe gentle formulas. 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.
Mineral
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.
Lotion
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.
Yes
Alcohol-free No drying short-chain alcohols (alcohol denat., SD alcohol, ethanol). Doesn't mean fatty alcohols like cetyl or stearyl — those are emollients.
Yes
Where to buy it
Target US In stock
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85.1
Composite score · independent
Ranks #861 of 1759 in the current catalogue. No ethanol or added fragrance; feverfew and phenethyl alcohol add modest tolerance concerns. Silicones and dispersants support spread of 21.6% zinc; residue and wear 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. 83
Filter modernity Dings legacy filters (octinoxate, oxybenzone); rewards photostable next-gen ones. 80
Sensitivity safety Risk for reactive skin — fragrance, alcohol, and known sensitisers. 84
Reef / env. safety Reef toxicity plus how biodegradable the UV filters and surfactants are. 100
Cosmetic elegance Spread, finish, white-cast, and how it actually feels on skin. 75
Health safety Endocrine concerns and systemic absorption signals across the whole formula. 90
02 Composition · key UV filters 1 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
Zinc Oxide Mineral Physical filter — sits on skin and reflects UV. Reef-safer.
04 Full ingredient list (INCI) 23 ingredients
MODERN FILTER 0 LEGACY FILTER 0 MINERAL FILTER 1 ADDED FRAGRANCE 0 NATURAL FRAGRANCE 0 ALCOHOL 0 WATCH 0 ACTIVE 1
Zinc Oxide Mineral UV filter — physical block; reef-safer. ·Water·C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate·Styrene Acrylates Copolymer·Octyldodecyl Citrate Crosspolymer·Phenyl Trimethicone·Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone·Dimethicone· Glycerin Humectant — the workhorse hydrator. ·Polyhydroxystearic Acid·Ethyl Methicone·Silica·Cetyl Dimethicone·Triethoxycaprylylsilane·Phenoxyethanol·Glyceryl Behenate·Sodium Chloride·Acrylates/Dimethicone Copolymer·Chlorphenesin·Phenethyl Alcohol·Caprylyl Glycol·Cetyl Dimethicone/Bis-vinyldimethicone Crosspolymer·Chrysanthemum Parthenium Flower/Leaf/Stem Juice
Source: brand-published INCI. Last verified 2026. Show in detail
01 Zinc Oxide MINERAL FILTER Mineral UV filter — physical block; reef-safer.
02 Water Water
03 C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
04 Styrene Acrylates Copolymer Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer
05 Octyldodecyl Citrate Crosspolymer Octyldodecyl Citrate Crosspolymer
06 Phenyl Trimethicone Phenyl Trimethicone
07 Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone
08 Dimethicone Dimethicone
09 Glycerin ACTIVE Humectant — the workhorse hydrator.
10 Polyhydroxystearic Acid Polyhydroxystearic Acid
11 Ethyl Methicone
12 Silica Silica
13 Cetyl Dimethicone Cetyl Dimethicone
14 Triethoxycaprylylsilane Triethoxycaprylylsilane
15 Phenoxyethanol Phenoxyethanol
16 Glyceryl Behenate Glyceryl Behenate
17 Sodium Chloride Sodium Chloride
18 Acrylates/Dimethicone Copolymer Acrylates/Dimethicone Copolymer
19 Chlorphenesin Chlorphenesin
20 Phenethyl Alcohol Phenethyl Alcohol
21 Caprylyl Glycol Caprylyl Glycol
22 Cetyl Dimethicone/Bis-vinyldimethicone Crosspolymer
23 Chrysanthemum Parthenium Flower/Leaf/Stem Juice Feverfew Juice