Neutrogena

Neutrogena Sheer Zinc Mineral Sunscreen.

Sunscreen

About this product

Neutrogena Sheer Zinc is a zinc oxide-based mineral sunscreen intended to provide daily sun protection.

Full ingredients

Zinc Oxide (21.6%), Water, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer, Octyldodecyl Citrate Crosspolymer, Phenyl Trimethicone, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Dimethicone, Glycerin, 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 (Feverfew) Flower/Leaf/Stem Juice

Guru Score

62%

Mixed

5 experts · Moderate agreement

What the gurus are saying

The very white cast defines this sunscreen, a trade-off that gurus view differently based on what matters most to them. It's notably gentler on the eyes during sweating and water exposure compared to other active sunscreens, a meaningful advantage if eye sensitivity is your main concern. However, better mineral options now exist, so it's primarily for those who specifically need eye-friendly protection and don't mind the white finish.

Synthesized from 5 expert reviews · most recent take August 2025

What they liked

Gentle around the eyes when sweating or in water

What they flagged

Very noticeable white cast on skin

Type

SunscreenLotion

Key actives

SPF

Formula notes

Fragrance-freeNo drying alcohol

Where to buy

Ulta → Amazon → Google → iHerb →

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Scan it in the shopFree iPhone app. Scores in the aisle.

What the gurus are saying.

Every take we've logged from this product's reviews across YouTube. Click any row to watch the moment they said it.

All takes Yay takes Nay takes Mixed takes Hide sponsored

Dr. Vanita Rattan

1.23M subs

~Yay

"Neutrogena Sheer Zinc. It's the OG of mineral sunscreens. It's the one that I wore before I even made our own. I've actually made so many videos with Neutrogena Sheer Zinc. It leaves you a white cast on your face. But if you're running in the sun and you are sweating like crazy, that is the one that you want to wear. So it doesn't matter that you look white because if you get melasma, you don't care. You just want to protect your skin. So I really like that product."

All 3 takes from Dr. Vanita Rattan

BEST & WORST MINERAL SPF50 2024

"The problem is it's very, very white. [...] Even though now there are better offerings and I would give this a pretty low rating out of 10, we're looking at about two or three, just for the nostalgia alone I'm going to give it a five."

WATCH if your HYPERPIGMENTATION is getting worse- Dr Vanita Rattan

HOW TO LAYER SKINCARE FOR BEGINNERS

"The physical sunscreen the one I'm wearing right now is Sheer Zinc Neutrogena and if you've used this and you've applied it four times during the day you will understand my pain when it comes to the evening and I have to remove all that oil."

No BS Beauty

89k subs

~Nay

"Neutrogena had a zinc dry touch sunscreen that was SPF 50 that came in at 24."

Dr. Mamina

282k subs

~Yay

"To protect your entire body I love Neutrogena Sheer Zinc kids mineral sunscreen."

Dr Dray

2.69M subs

~Nay

"Walgreens has a generic for Neutrogena's Sheer Zinc Mineral Sunscreen, but this leaves a pretty intense white cast, it's actually very notable. [...] If you have oily skin I don't think you're going to care for that."

Doctorly

3.59M subs

~Yay

"This is just if you don't care if you have a white cast, this one's for you. [...] Super thick, ultra effective. [...] The reason I love it, I find it to be a lot less irritating on my eyes than a lot of other active sunscreens. Like when you're outside and you're doing active things, you're going to sweat and it's going to run. If you're in the water, it's going to run. Doesn't irritate my eyes like a lot of other active sunscreens."

What the evidence says.

Independent of what the gurus think, this is what the published research supports about the main active ingredients here.

Sunscreen filters

Sun protection is the best evidenced way to slow visible ageing, and the filters are what does the work. Mineral and chemical filters both protect when a product is applied thickly enough and often enough, which is where most people fall short rather than on the choice of filter.

Source: DermNet

Frequently asked.

What is Neutrogena Sheer Zinc Mineral Sunscreen?

Neutrogena Sheer Zinc is a zinc oxide-based mineral sunscreen intended to provide daily sun protection.

Is Neutrogena Sheer Zinc Mineral Sunscreen worth it?

The gurus are split. 3 of the 5 gurus give it their stamp of approval while 2 would skip it, which lands it in the middle at a Guru Score of 62%.

What is Neutrogena Sheer Zinc Mineral Sunscreen's Guru Score?

Neutrogena Sheer Zinc Mineral Sunscreen holds a Guru Score of 62%. That is our read on how warmly the experts talk about it, based on the verdicts of 5 expert reviewers we have collected.