Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunscreen SPF60 Versus Cetaphil Sheer Mineral Sunscreen Lotion Broad Spectrum SPF 50
Updated on August 25, 2023
Overview
What they are
These products are both sunscreens. They have a total of 8 ingredients in common
Cool Features
They both contain SPF and Vitamin E
Suited For
They're both likely to be good for dry skin
Free From
They both do not contain any parabens or sulfates
What's Inside
They both contain harsh alcohols, common allergens, 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 Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunscreen SPF60 33 ingredients
Cetaphil Sheer Mineral Sunscreen Lotion Broad Spectrum SPF 50 39 ingredients
What's inside (and what isn't)
What's inside (and what isn't)
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunscreen SPF60 33 ingredients
Cetaphil Sheer Mineral Sunscreen Lotion Broad Spectrum SPF 50 39 ingredients
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Homosalate 15%
Skin Conditioning
Octocrylene 10%
UV Absorber
Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%
UV Absorber
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%
UV Absorber
Acrylates/Dimethicone Copolymer
Skin ConditioningAluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate
Absorbent
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
BHT
Antioxidant
Butyloctyl Salicylate
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
EmollientCaprylyl Methicone
Skin Conditioning
Cera Alba
Emollient
Cetyl Dimethicone
Emollient
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Dimethicone
Emollient
Dimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer
Disodium EDTA
Ethylhexyl Stearate
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Hydrolyzed Jojoba Esters
Skin Conditioning
Jojoba Esters
Emollient
Parfum
Masking
PEG-100 Stearate
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingSilica
Abrasive
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Trideceth-6
EmulsifyingWater
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingHomosalate 15%, Octocrylene 10%, Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%, Acrylates/Dimethicone Copolymer, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Behenyl Alcohol, Benzyl Alcohol, BHT, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Caprylyl Glycol, Caprylyl Methicone, Cera Alba, Cetyl Dimethicone, Chlorphenesin, Dimethicone, Dimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexyl Stearate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glyceryl Stearate, Hydrolyzed Jojoba Esters, Jojoba Esters, Parfum, PEG-100 Stearate, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Silica, Sodium Polyacrylate, Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer, Tocopheryl Acetate, Trideceth-6, Water, Xanthan Gum
Titanium Dioxide 9%
Cosmetic Colorant
Zinc Oxide 7%
Cosmetic Colorant
Water
Skin ConditioningIsohexadecane
EmollientButyloctyl Salicylate
Skin Conditioning
Cetyl Dimethicone
Emollient
Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer
Olive Oil Polyglyceryl-6 Esters
Emollient
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingVp/Eicosene Copolymer
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cetearyl Olivate
Cetyl Palmitate
Emollient
Sorbitan Palmitate
Emulsifying
Dimethicone PEG-8 Laurate
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Cholesterol
Emollient
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Bisabolol
Masking
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAluminum Hydroxide
EmollientSodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Disodium EDTA
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Triethoxycaprylylsilane
Citric Acid
Buffering
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Capryloyl Glycine
CleansingUndecylenoyl Glycine
CleansingTitanium Dioxide 9%, Zinc Oxide 7%, Water, Isohexadecane, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Cetyl Dimethicone, Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer, Olive Oil Polyglyceryl-6 Esters, Sorbitan Olivate, Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate, Vp/Eicosene Copolymer, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Olivate, Cetyl Palmitate, Sorbitan Palmitate, Dimethicone PEG-8 Laurate, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Cholesterol, Phytosphingosine, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Benzyl Alcohol, Bisabolol, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Propanediol, Xanthan Gum, Aluminum Hydroxide, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Carbomer, Tocopheryl Acetate, Disodium EDTA, Stearic Acid, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Citric Acid, Maltodextrin, Phenoxyethanol, Capryloyl Glycine, Undecylenoyl Glycine
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Benzyl Alcohol is most commonly used as a preservative. It also has a subtle, sweet smell. Small amounts of Benzyl Alcohol is not irritating and safe to use in skincare products. Most Benzyl Alcohol is derived from fruits such as apricots.
Benzyl Alcohol has both antibacterial and antioxidant properties. These properties help lengthen the shelf life of products. Benzyl Alcohol is a solvent and helps dissolve other ingredients. It can also improve the texture and spreadability.
Alcohol comes in many different forms. Different types of alcohol will have different effects on skin. This ingredient is an astringent alcohol.
Using high concentrations of these alcohols are drying on the skin. They may strip away your skin's natural oils and even damage your skin barrier. Astringent alcohols may also irritate skin.
Other types of astringent alcohols include:
According to the National Rosacea Society based in the US, you should be mindful of products with these alcohols in the top half of ingredients.
Any type of sanitizing product will have high amounts of alcohol to help kill bacteria and viruses.
Learn more about Benzyl AlcoholButyloctyl Salicylate is similar to octisalate. It a photostabilizer, SPF booster, emollient and solvent. Its main purpose is to evenly spread out ingredients.
This ingredient is a common sunscreen ingredient carrier and photostabilizer. According to a manufacturer, it is suitable for carrying micro Titanium Dioxide, Zinc Oxide, and pigments.
Photostabilizers help stabilize UV-filters and prevents them from degrading quickly.
Due to regulation loopholes, this ingredient is not required to be labeled as an active chemical filter like other UV ingredients. This is why you'll likely find this ingredient in mineral sunscreens from the US.
According to EU regulation, this ingredient can cause harmful effects to aquatic life.
Learn more about Butyloctyl SalicylateCetyl 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 EDTAWe 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
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these products.
When to use
Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunscreen SPF60 33 ingredients
Cetaphil Sheer Mineral Sunscreen Lotion Broad Spectrum SPF 50 39 ingredients
Reviews
Here's what our community thinks
Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunscreen SPF60 33 ingredients
This is the best sunscreen I’ve found so far for my oily skin, the 3 pack from Costco makes it quite cheap.
I mostly use it on my face but also use it on my body if I don’t cover my skin with clothing.
The only issue is that it burns the crap out of my eyes but I haven’t found a chemical sunscreen that doesn’t do that.
A very good, lightweight sunscreen that works best for oily skin. It doesn't feel greasy on the skin and is quite spreadable. I do think it could be a little cheaper bad just a tad more spreadable so I'm not using as much product.
Cetaphil Sheer Mineral Sunscreen Lotion Broad Spectrum SPF 50 39 ingredients
I usually use Korean sunscreen for daily wear, but wanted something with a stated water resistance for wearing to the pool, that I could grab at a local store. I settled on this one because it has ceramides. If you apply the recommended amount, it's going to leave a white cast, which I'm fine with. I want high protection, I don't really care how it looks. I do not love how it feels (not elegant) Show more
The most god awful sunscreen ever. Try it if you can't find white face paint for halloween - its even got the same greasy texture. Somehow oily and drying at the same time? Nothing "sheer" about this.
