Inactive ingredients: water, c12-15 alkyl benzoate, styrene/acrylates copolymer, octyldodecyl citrate crosspolymer, phenyl trimethicone, cetyl peg/ppg- 10⁄ 1 dimethicone, dimethicone, polyhydroxystearic acid, glycerin, ethyl methicone, silica, cetyl dimethicone, triethoxycaprylylsilane, phenoxyethanol, glyceryl behenate, sodium chloride, acrylates/dimethicone copolymer, chlorphenesin, phenethyl alcohol, avena sativa (oat) kernel flour, caprylyl glycol, cetyl dimethicone/bis-vinyldimethicone crosspolymer, chrysanthemum parthenium (feverfew) flower/leaf/stem juice We updated this article in July 2023 to add more information about each featured product, based on extensive research done by our team. Our favorite water-resistant formulas include Neutrogena Sheer Zinc Dry-Touch Sunscreen SPF 50 for the face and Hawaiian Tropic Mineral Milk Sunscreen SPF 50 for the body—both of which are good for up to 80 minutes of splashing or sweating.

Although this product is fragrance-free, its natural odor is virtually identical to the one I remember from Aveeno Positively Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50. I think it’s probably the chrysanthemum parthenium (feverfew) flower/leaf/stem juice. To me, it smells slightly like baby powder. Not my favorite smell in the world, but not terrible, either. Final thoughts on Neutrogena Sheer Zinc Face Sunscreen SPF 50it stays on nicely even when I sweat. I’ve found that other sunscreens can start melting off and don’t stay in place when I’m jogging (for example, this is a problem I’ve noticed with Coppertone Pure & Simple Sunscreen SPF 50). To ensure you are protected from harmful sunbeams at all times, choose a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30, and then keep these things in mind when you’re specifically looking for a mineral-based formula in the sunscreen aisle. Take a look at the following series of pictures to see how it looks when I initially apply Neutrogena Sheer Zinc Sunscreen SPF 50 to my hand:

this risk, regularly use a sunscreen with a Broad Spectrum SPF value of 15 or higher and other sun protection measuresI’ve noticed certain brands like Thinksport label their zinc oxide as “non-nano” so I wondered if there were only two types of zinc oxide: nano-sized and non-nano. According to my dad, most products are probably using non-nano zinc oxide, even if they don’t state this explicitly on the label. It’s much less oily than Coppertone Pure & Simple Sunscreen SPF 50 (reviewed here), but that also makes it a bit more time-consuming to rub in. New York City board-certified dermatologist Dr. Debra Jaliman also counts this as one of her favorites, noting that the niacinamide can help combat dark spots and any redness, as well. What’s more, she says the formula’s ceramides restore and repair the skin’s natural barrier, and hyaluronic acid helps skin retain moisture—all without the lotion feeling too heavy. It’s no wonder the Skin Cancer Foundation awarded this affordable drugstore gem its Daily Use Seal of Approval, and the National Eczema Foundation endorsed it.

For reference, let’s take a look at how similar this list is to the Aveeno Positively Mineral Sunscreen (also SPF 50). The only difference I noticed was that polyhydroxystearic acid and glycerin swapped places in these lists. Aveeno Positively Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50 ingredients The Neutrogena ® Norwegian Formula range was inspired by the harsh climate of Scandinavia and provides solutions for dry and chapped skin on both hand and body. Despite these shortcomings, I think I’ll continue using this product enthusiastically and will definitely be trying out the non-face version to see if I notice any difference in terms of white cast and ease of application. I’m hoping that the non-face version will perform just as well, so I can save a little money and just spring for that product instead, since it’s not quite as pricey. Related reading One thing to note is that it has a light pink tint that leaves a subtle glow on the surface of the skin, but it also lightens it too. The downside to this is that on darker skin tones this could leave behind a white cast, so we’d advise testing this out before purchasing a full-size bottle.Consider technology-based or micro-sized formulas. Many people, especially those with darker skin tones, are turned off by the white cast that some mineral sunscreens leave behind. However, there’s a method you can use to gauge a sunscreen’s blending ability. Under a sunscreen’s formula, look for words like “technology” or “micro-sized,” Dr. David says. They mean the ingredients have been turned into “ultra-fine nanoparticles that make the sunscreen less opaque but are just as effective,” she explains. “These formulas blend into the skin much better and don’t leave behind a chalky look.”