Neutrogena Sensitive Skin Mineral Sunscreen SPF 60+ Versus Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Water-Light Daily Face Sunscreen SPF 60
Updated on October 13, 2025
Overview
What they are
These products are both sunscreens. They have a total of 15 ingredients in common
Cool Features
They both contain exfoliants, retinoid, SPF, Vitamin C and Vitamin E
Suited For
They're both likely to be good for fighting acne, anti aging, dry skin, brightening skin, sensitive skin, oily skin, reducing pores, scar healing, dark spots and better texture
Free From
They both do not contain any oils, parabens or sulfates
What's Inside
They both contain fragrances and silicones
We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that needs an update? Let us know.
Ingredient Info
Neutrogena Sensitive Skin Mineral Sunscreen SPF 60+ 41 ingredients
Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Water-Light Daily Face Sunscreen SPF 60 35 ingredients
What's inside
What's inside
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
Neutrogena Sensitive Skin Mineral Sunscreen SPF 60+ 41 ingredients
Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Water-Light Daily Face Sunscreen SPF 60 35 ingredients
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Titanium Dioxide 4.9%
Cosmetic Colorant
Zinc Oxide 4.7%
Cosmetic Colorant
Water
Skin ConditioningButyloctyl Salicylate
Skin Conditioning
Beeswax
Emulsion Stabilising
Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer
Silica
Abrasive
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
PEG-8
HumectantGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Cetyl Dimethicone
Emollient
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Dimethicone
Emollient
Methicone
Emollient
Arachidyl Alcohol
EmollientPolyhydroxystearic Acid
Emulsifying
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPEG-8 Laurate
Emulsifying
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingIsohexadecane
EmollientBehenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Trisiloxane
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Trimethylsiloxysilicate
Emollient
Arachidyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingBisabolol
Masking
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Triethoxycaprylylsilane
BHT
Antioxidant
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Methylisothiazolinone
Preservative
Polyaminopropyl Biguanide
Preservative
Polymethyl Methacrylate
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Pantothenic Acid
Skin ConditioningRetinyl Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Alumina
Abrasive
Titanium Dioxide 4.9%, Zinc Oxide 4.7%, Water, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Beeswax, Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer, Silica, Butylene Glycol, PEG-8, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Cetyl Dimethicone, Benzyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Methicone, Arachidyl Alcohol, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, PEG-8 Laurate, Xanthan Gum, Isohexadecane, Behenyl Alcohol, Trisiloxane, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Arachidyl Glucoside, Bisabolol, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, BHT, Polysorbate 60, Stearic Acid, Methylisothiazolinone, Polyaminopropyl Biguanide, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ascorbic Acid, Pantothenic Acid, Retinyl Palmitate, Alumina
Homosalate 10%
Skin Conditioning
Octocrylene 7.5%
UV Absorber
Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%
UV Absorber
Benzophenone-3 5%
UV Absorber
Acrylates/Dimethicone Methacrylate Copolymer 3%
Emollient
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
BHT
Antioxidant
Bisabolol
Masking
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialCamellia Oleifera Leaf Extract
AstringentCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Cetyl Dimethicone
Emollient
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Diethylhexyl 2,6-Naphthalate
EmollientDisodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningMannan
Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate
EmollientPantothenic Acid
Skin ConditioningParfum
Masking
Pentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Polyester-7
Skin ConditioningPolymethyl Methacrylate
Portulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin Conditioning
Retinyl Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Silica
Abrasive
Steareth-100
Gel FormingSteareth-2
EmulsifyingStyrene/Acrylates Copolymer
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Water
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingHomosalate 10%, Octocrylene 7.5%, Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%, Benzophenone-3 5%, Acrylates/Dimethicone Methacrylate Copolymer 3%, Ascorbic Acid, BHT, Bisabolol, Butylene Glycol, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Camellia Oleifera Leaf Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, Cetyl Dimethicone, Chlorphenesin, Cyclopentasiloxane, Diethylhexyl 2,6-Naphthalate, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Mannan, Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate, Pantothenic Acid, Parfum, Pentylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Polyester-7, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Retinyl Palmitate, Silica, Steareth-100, Steareth-2, Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer, Tocopheryl Acetate, Water, Xanthan Gum
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ascorbic Acid is is pure Vitamin C. This form makes up the largest amount of vitamin C found naturally in our skin.
Not only is vitamin C great for your overall health and immune system, it also has plenty of benefits on your skin.
Vitamin C is best used for brightening skin. It improves dark spots, acne scars, and hyperpigmentation. This is because it blocks the process of skin darkening when exposed to UV.
Remember: Vitamin C should not replace sunscreen!
Your skin uses vitamin C to build collagen. Collagen is one key component in having a strong skin barrier and plump skin. Vitamin C also plays a role in regulating collagen, thus making it effective in improving wrinkles and fine lines.
Ascorbic acid shows potent antioxidant activity. As an antioxidant, it helps fight free-radicals. Free-radicals are molecules that may damage your skin cells. These antioxidants also protect skin against UV damage.
The best formulations include Vitamin E and/or ferulic acid. These two ingredients help stabilize and provide a boost in the benefits of ascorbic acid. This is because ascorbic acid becomes unstable when exposed to UV and air. In fact, you can tell your ascorbic acid has oxidized when it turns an orange-yellow color.
Ascorbic acid is generally compatible with other ingredients. However, using ascorbic acid with other active ingredients might cause irritation. Two ingredients: copper ions and benzoyl peroxide, will inactivate ascorbic acid completely.
Read more about other types of Vitamin C:
Foods rich with vitamin C include oranges, strawberries, broccoli, bell peppers, and more. When consuming Vitamin C, your skin receives a portion of the nutrients.
Learn more about Ascorbic AcidBHT is a synthetic antioxidant and preservative.
As an antioxidant, it helps your body fight off free-radicals. Free-radicals are molecules that may damage your skin cells.
As a preservative, it is used to stabilize products and prevent them from degrading. Specifically, BHT prevents degradation from oxidation.
The concerns related to BHT come from oral studies; this ingredient is currently allowed for use by both the FDA and EU.
However, it was recently restricted for use in the UK as of April 2024.
Learn more about BHTBisabolol is famous for its skin soothing properties. It does this by blocking inflammatory signals, helping to reduce your body's reaction to irritation.
This ingredient also interferes with the process of hyperpigmentation. This can help with reducing dark spots and uneven tone.
Bisabolol is an antioxidant. Antioxidants help fight free-radicals. Free-radicals are molecules that may damage your skin cells. By fighting these free-radicals, Bisabolol may slow down signs of aging.
Studies have shown Bisabolol to have antimicrobial properties and may be a fungicide. These properties help preserve a product's shelf life.
All these properties makes bisabolol a great skin barrier helper ingredient.
Bisabolol also helps the absorption of other ingredients.
Note: Synthetic Bisabolol has been shown to be less effective.
Learn more about BisabololButylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolCetyl Dimethicone is a type of silicone.
Disodium EDTA plays a role in making products more stable by aiding other preservatives.
It is a chelating agent, meaning it neutralizes metal ions that may be found in a product.
Disodium EDTA is a salt of edetic acid and is found to be safe in cosmetic ingredients.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAEthylhexylglycerin (we can't pronounce this either) is commonly used as a preservative and skin softener. It is derived from glyceryl.
You might see Ethylhexylglycerin often paired with other preservatives such as phenoxyethanol. Ethylhexylglycerin has been found to increase the effectiveness of these other preservatives.
Pantothenic Acid is an essential vitamin. Our bodies use it for metabolizing fatty acids, proteins, carbohydrates, and fats.
This ingredient is also known as PMMA. It is a polymer microsphere, composed of tiny, perfectly spherical particles formed from repeating units.
In cosmetics, PMMA is mainly used to give a soft or blurring effect. The transparent particles are able to scatter light and help reduce the appearance of fine-lines and imperfections.
PMMA is also able to enhance the texture of products by add a smooth feel.
Learn more about Polymethyl MethacrylateRetinyl palmitate is a form of retinoid. Retinoids are the superstar class of anti-aging ingredients that include tretinoin and retinol.
This particular ingredient has had a bumpy year with its rise and fall in popularity.
First, Retinyl palmitate is created from palmitic acid and retinol. It is a retinol ester and considered one of the weaker forms of retinoid.
This is because all retinoids have to be converted to Tretinoin, AKA retinoic acid. Retinyl Palmitate is pretty far down the line and has to go through multiple conversions before its effects are seen.
Due to this long and ineffective conversion line, the benefits of Retinyl Palmitate are debated.
Studies show Retinyl Palmitate to help:
Dermatologists say this ingredient is ineffective because it isn't used in high enough concentrations in cosmetics.
This ingredient used to be found in sunscreens to boost the efficacy of sunscreen filters.
The downfall of Retinyl Palmitate was due to released reports about the ingredient being correlated to sun damage and skin tumors.
While there is a study showing this ingredient to cause DNA damage when exposed to UV-A, there is no concrete proof of it being linked to skin cancer. It is safe to use when used correctly.
All retinoids increase your skin's sensitivity to the sun in the first few months of usage. Be especially careful with reapplying sunscreen when using any form of retinoid.
Currently, this ingredient is still allowed in cosmetics all over the world. In Canada, cosmetics must have a warning label stating the product to contain Retinyl Palmitate
Fun fact: This ingredient is often added to low-fat milk to increase the levels of Vitamin A.
Learn more about Retinyl PalmitateSilica, also known as silicon dioxide, is a naturally occurring mineral. It is used as a fine, spherical, and porous powder in cosmetics.
The unique structure of silica enhances the spreadability and smoothness of textures. It also works as an active carrier, emulsifier, and mattifier due to its ability to absorb excess oil.
We don't have a description for Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer yet.
Tocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateWater. It's the most common cosmetic ingredient of all. You'll usually see it at the top of ingredient lists, meaning that it makes up the largest part of the product.
So why is it so popular? Water most often acts as a solvent - this means that it helps dissolve other ingredients into the formulation.
You'll also recognize water as that liquid we all need to stay alive. If you see this, drink a glass of water. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan GumIngredient Ratings
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When to use
Neutrogena Sensitive Skin Mineral Sunscreen SPF 60+ 41 ingredients
Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Water-Light Daily Face Sunscreen SPF 60 35 ingredients
