NE
Neutrogena
Ultra Sheer Invisible Gel SPF 40 Facial Sunscreen
SPF 40 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.
Anhydrous gel with no fragrance, alcohol, or harsh preservatives; 15% homosalate is the main health caveat.
◐ 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).
61.0
Composite
Composite score · independent
Ranks #1316 of 1558 in the current catalogue. Anhydrous gel with no fragrance, alcohol, or harsh preservatives; 15% homosalate is the main health caveat.
Verdict Should you buy it?
An anhydrous, alcohol-free silicone-isododecane gel with the brand's standard four-filter chemical stack. The pared-down base avoids fragrance and harsh preservatives, with 15% homosalate as the chief caveat.
Pros
- Anhydrous gel with no water or preservative system
- Fragrance-free and free of denatured alcohol
- Silicones plus silica give a matte, invisible finish
- Includes ethylhexyl methoxycrylene to stabilize avobenzone
Cons
- 15% homosalate raises systemic-exposure concern
- Filter set is older, not modern long-UVA filters
- SPF 40 is lower than other formulas in the lineup
- Silicone-heavy base can pill under some makeup
Who it's for: Oily skin types seeking an invisible, fragrance- and alcohol-free facial gel who accept legacy chemical filters.
01 Score breakdown
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.
Gel
Finish How the formula looks on skin once dry: matte, natural, dewy, or glowy.
Matte
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) 11 ingredients
MODERN FILTER 0 LEGACY FILTER 1 MINERAL FILTER 0 ADDED FRAGRANCE 0 NATURAL FRAGRANCE 0 ALCOHOL 0 WATCH 0
Avobenzone (3%), Homosalate (15%), Octisalate (5%), Octocrylene Avobenzone — UVA filter, needs stabilisation. ·Isododecane·Dimethicone·Hydrogenated Castor Oil·Coco-caprylate/Caprate·Silica·Dimethicone Crosspolymer·Polyester-7·Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate·Ethylhexyl Methoxycrylene·Tocopheryl Acetate
Source: brand-published INCI. Last verified 19 Jun 2026. Show in detail
01 Avobenzone (3%), Homosalate (15%), Octisalate (5%), Octocrylene LEGACY FILTER Avobenzone — UVA filter, needs stabilisation.
08 Polyester-7