Sunscreen Ranker Independent ranker
NE
Neutrogena

Clear Face Oil-Free Sunscreen SPF 50

SPF 50+ Invisible No white cast — chemical/hybrid filters that disappear on skin. US United States us-fda Formulation variant: us-fda. Region-specific reformulations are tracked as separate products.

No alcohol or fragrance, but BHT, chlorphenesin, and propylene glycol with high-conc homosalate keep both scores middling.

CHEM Chemical filters Chemical filters — Organic filters absorb UV. Cosmetically elegant; filter selection matters. F F-FREE Fragrance-free Fragrance-free — No added fragrance or perfume — lower irritation risk for reactive skin. A A-FREE Alcohol-free Alcohol-free — No drying short-chain alcohols (denatured / SD alcohol).
60.5
Composite
Composite score · independent
Ranks #1334 of 1558 in the current catalogue. No alcohol or fragrance, but BHT, chlorphenesin, and propylene glycol with high-conc homosalate keep both scores middling.
Composite is a weighted blend: UV 25% · Modernity 10% · Sensitivity 15% · Environment 10% · Elegance 15% · Health 25%.
Verdict Should you buy it?

An oil-free, fragrance-free facial cream with silica and starch for a matte feel. The avobenzone-led chemical stack performs to spec, though BHT, chlorphenesin, and 10% homosalate keep the safety profile only middling.

Pros
  • Fragrance-free and free of denatured alcohol
  • Silica and aluminum starch deliver a non-greasy finish
  • Bisabolol added as a soothing adjunct
  • Tight preservative system without MI or parabens
Cons
  • Contains BHT, an unnecessary synthetic antioxidant
  • 10% homosalate raises systemic-exposure concern
  • Chlorphenesin can sensitize reactive skin
  • UVA protection rests on avobenzone alone

Who it's for: Oily or combination skin wanting a matte facial chemical sunscreen without fragrance or ethanol, and who tolerate BHT.

01 Score breakdown
UV protection How well the product blocks UVA + UVB across the spectrum at the stated SPF/PA. 60
Filter modernity Penalises legacy filters (octinoxate, oxybenzone); rewards photostable next-gen filters. 50
Sensitivity safety Risk for reactive skin — fragrance, alcohol, known sensitisers. 50
Reef / env. safety Reef toxicity, biodegradability of UV filters and surfactants. 100
Cosmetic elegance Spread, finish, white-cast, comfort on skin. 62
Health safety Endocrine concerns, systemic absorption signals across the formula. 55
03 At-a-glance facts
Protection
Filter type Mineral filters (zinc oxide, titanium dioxide) sit on skin and reflect UV. Chemical filters absorb UV. Hybrid blends both.
Chemical
Broad spectrum Protects across both UVA and UVB ranges. UVA causes aging and deeper damage; UVB causes burns.
No
Formulation & feel
Texture How the formula feels at application — milk, gel, cream, spray, stick, essence, lotion, powder, or cushion.
Cream
Finish How the formula looks on skin 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' differs — may contain masking fragrance. Botanical oils still scent.
Yes
Alcohol-free No drying short-chain alcohols (alcohol denat., SD alcohol, ethanol). Does not refer to fatty alcohols like cetyl or stearyl alcohol, which are emollients.
Yes
04 Full ingredient list (INCI) 32 ingredients
MODERN FILTER 0 LEGACY FILTER 1 MINERAL FILTER 0 ADDED FRAGRANCE 0 NATURAL FRAGRANCE 2 ALCOHOL 0 WATCH 1 ACTIVE 1
Avobenzone (3%), Homosalate (10%), Octisalate (5%), Octocrylene Avobenzone — UVA filter, needs stabilisation. ·Water·Silica·Cetyl Dimethicone·Styrene Acrylates Copolymer·C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate·Steareth-100· Ethylhexylglycerin Humectant — the workhorse hydrator. ·Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate·Phenoxyethanol·Caprylyl Glycol·Sodium Polyacrylate·Dimethicone·Steareth-2·Polyester-7·Chlorphenesin·Ethylhexyl Stearate·Disodium Edta·Propylene Glycol·Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate·Bisabolol·Acrylates/Dimethicone Copolymer·Butylene Glycol·Mannan·Xanthan Gum· Bht Antioxidant preservative; trace concern. ·Capryloyl Glycine·Trideceth-6·Sarcosine· Cedrus Atlantica Bark Extract Essential / botanical oil — releases scent compounds (terpenes, aldehydes) naturally. Marketed as "natural" but still a recognised source of contact sensitivity. · Cinnamomum Zeylanicum Bark Extract Essential / botanical oil — releases scent compounds (terpenes, aldehydes) naturally. Marketed as "natural" but still a recognised source of contact sensitivity. ·Portulaca Oleracea Extract
Source: brand-published INCI. Last verified 19 Jun 2026. Show in detail
01 Avobenzone (3%), Homosalate (10%), Octisalate (5%), Octocrylene LEGACY FILTER Avobenzone — UVA filter, needs stabilisation.
02 Water Water
03 Silica Silica
04 Cetyl Dimethicone Cetyl Dimethicone
05 Styrene Acrylates Copolymer Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer
06 C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
07 Steareth-100 Steareth-100
08 Ethylhexylglycerin ACTIVE Humectant — the workhorse hydrator.
09 Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate
10 Phenoxyethanol Phenoxyethanol
11 Caprylyl Glycol Caprylyl Glycol
12 Sodium Polyacrylate Sodium Polyacrylate
13 Dimethicone Dimethicone
14 Steareth-2 Steareth-2
16 Chlorphenesin Chlorphenesin
17 Ethylhexyl Stearate Ethylhexyl Stearate
18 Disodium Edta Disodium EDTA
19 Propylene Glycol Propylene Glycol
20 Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate
21 Bisabolol Bisabolol
22 Acrylates/Dimethicone Copolymer Acrylates/Dimethicone Copolymer
23 Butylene Glycol Butylene Glycol
24 Mannan Mannan
25 Xanthan Gum Xanthan Gum
26 Bht WATCH Antioxidant preservative; trace concern.
27 Capryloyl Glycine Capryloyl Glycine
28 Trideceth-6 Trideceth-6
29 Sarcosine Sarcosine
30 Cedrus Atlantica Bark Extract NATURAL FRAGRANCE Essential / botanical oil — releases scent compounds (terpenes, aldehydes) naturally. Marketed as "natural" but still a recognised source of contact sensitivity.
31 Cinnamomum Zeylanicum Bark Extract NATURAL FRAGRANCE Essential / botanical oil — releases scent compounds (terpenes, aldehydes) naturally. Marketed as "natural" but still a recognised source of contact sensitivity.