NEUTROGENA ULTRA SHEER DRY-TOUCH SUNBLOCK, SPF 55
last updated: 03/15/09 brand: Neutrogena by Johnson & Johnson
PRODUCT USES
sunscreen: SPF greater than 30
COMPANY POLICIES
Compact for Safe Cosmetics
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Animal Testing Policy |
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Sunscreen effectiveness* breakdown
| HIGHEST | UVB sunburn protection |
| MEDIUM | UVA protection |
| HIGH | sunscreen stability |
*Note that the same active ingredient combination may score differently in two different products depending on the concentration of the ingredients and the mixture of inactive ingredients.
Active ingredient UV |
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 Product total |
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| AVOBENZONE (PARSOL 1789 | BUTYL METHOXYDIBENZOYLMETHANE) (3%) |
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| HOMOSALATE (10%) |
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| OCTISALATE (5%) |
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| OCTOCRYLENE (2.8%) |
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| OXYBENZONE (BENZOPHENONE-3) (6%) |
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Given the incomplete information made available by companies and the government, EWG provides additional information on personal care product ingredients from the published scientific literature. The chart below indicates that research studies have found that exposure to one or more ingredients in this product -- not the product itself -- caused the indicated health effect(s) in the studies reviewed by Skin Deep researchers. Actual health risks, if any, will vary based on the level of exposure to the ingredient and individual susceptibility -- information not available in Skin Deep.
Ingredients in this product are linked to: | |
 | Cancer |
 | Developmental/reproductive toxicity |
| Violations, restrictions & warnings |
| Allergies/immunotoxicity |
| Other concerns for ingredients used in this product: Neurotoxicity, Endocrine disruption, Persistence and bioaccumulation, Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), Miscellaneous, Multiple, additive exposure sources, Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs), Enhanced skin absorption, Contamination concerns, Occupational hazards, Biochemical or cellular level changes |
Note from EWG: Unlike many other kinds of personal care products, sunscreen can provide health benefits, protecting against the sun's cancer-causing UV radiation. More than one million cases of skin cancer are diagnosed in the U.S. every year. Health officials recommend wearing sunscreen as one of many important steps to minimize skin cancer risk. (more sun safety tips)
Ingredients from packaging: Active Ingredients: Avobenzone 3.0%, Homosalate 10.0%, Octisalate 5%, Octocrylene 2.8%, Oxybenzone 6%. Inactive Ingredients: Water, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer Silica, Diethylhexyl 2,6 Naphthalate, VP/Hexadecene Copolymer, Dimethicone, Ethylhexyl Glycerin, Caprylyl Methicone, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexyl Stearate, BHT, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG 100 Stearate, Trideceth 6, Behenyl Alcohol, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Sodium Polyacrylate, Xanthan Gum, Disodium EDTA, Methylparaben, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, Propylparaben, Ethylparaben, Fragrance
Directions from packaging: Apply liberally 15 minutes before sun exposure. For added protection, reapply after swimming, excessive perspiration, towel drying or extended sun exposure.
Warnings from packaging: For external use only. Not to be swallowed. Avoid contact with eyes. Discontinue use if signs of irritation or rash appear. Use on children under 6 months of age only with advice pf a physician. Keep this and all drugs out or reach of children. In case of accidental ingestion, seek professional assistance or contact a Poison Control Center immediately.
user reviews & comments
| silverie |  | "Great product for sensitive or oily skin that tends to break out. No greasy feel or clogged pores. The smell is faint and easy to apply. Best part ab ..." | Read more. |
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ingredients
| score | data gap | concerns | |
| BHT | 7 | 61% | Neurotoxicity, Endocrine disruption, Allergies/immunotoxicity, Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs), Occupational hazards, Biochemical or cellular level changes |
| FRAGRANCE | 8 | 100% | Neurotoxicity, Allergies/immunotoxicity, Miscellaneous |
| METHYLPARABEN | 8 | 65% | Violations, restrictions & warnings, Allergies/immunotoxicity, Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs), Biochemical or cellular level changes |
| OXYBENZONE (BENZOPHENONE-3) (Active Ingredient) | 8 | 54% | Developmental/reproductive toxicity, Violations, restrictions & warnings, Allergies/immunotoxicity, Persistence and bioaccumulation, Enhanced skin absorption, Biochemical or cellular level changes |
| SILICA | 1 | 72% | Biochemical or cellular level changes |
| PEG-100 STEARATE | 5 | 68% | Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs), Contamination concerns (ETHYLENE OXIDE, 1,4-DIOXANE, ETHYLENE OXIDE, 1,4-DIOXANE) |
| IODOPROPYNYL BUTYLCARBAMATE | 4 | 72% | Violations, restrictions & warnings, Allergies/immunotoxicity, Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive) |
| HOMOSALATE (Active Ingredient) | 4 | 74% | Violations, restrictions & warnings, Enhanced skin absorption, Contamination concerns (SALICYLIC ACID, TRIMETHYLCYCLOHEXANOL) |
| PROPYLPARABEN | 4 | 82% | Developmental/reproductive toxicity, Endocrine disruption, Allergies/immunotoxicity, Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive) |
| SODIUM POLYACRYLATE | 4 | 73% | Multiple, additive exposure sources, Contamination concerns (METHACRYLIC ACID, ACRYLIC ACID, 2-ETHYLHEXYL ACRYLATE) |
| OCTISALATE (Active Ingredient) | 3 | 68% | Violations, restrictions & warnings, Allergies/immunotoxicity, Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs), Enhanced skin absorption |
| PHENOXYETHANOL | 4 | 66% | Violations, restrictions & warnings, Allergies/immunotoxicity, Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs), Occupational hazards |
| ETHYLPARABEN | 3 | 80% | Allergies/immunotoxicity, Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive) |
| DISODIUM EDTA | 3 | 78% | Neurotoxicity, Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), Enhanced skin absorption |
| STYRENE/ ACRYLATES COPOLYMER | 3 | 75% | Contamination concerns (METHACRYLIC ACID, ACRYLIC ACID, 2-ETHYLHEXYL ACRYLATE) |
| DIMETHICONE | 2 | 74% | Violations, restrictions & warnings |
| OCTOCRYLENE (Active Ingredient) | 3 | 71% | Violations, restrictions & warnings, Biochemical or cellular level changes |
| AVOBENZONE (PARSOL 1789 | BUTYL METHOXYDIBENZOYLMETHANE) (Active Ingredient) | 2 | 73% | Violations, restrictions & warnings, Contamination concerns (BENZOIC ACID, 4-T-BUTYLBENZOIC ACID, BENZALDEHYDE, P-ANISIC ACID, ACETOPHENONE, DIBENZOYLMETHANE) |
| DIETHYLHEXYL 2,6-NAPHTHALATE | 1 | 96% | Developmental/reproductive toxicity, Endocrine disruption |
| ETHYLHEXYLGLYCERIN | 1 | 90% | Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) |
| GLYCERYL MONOSTEARATE GLYCERYL STEARATE | 1 | 88% | none identified |
| TRIDECETH-6 | 1 | 88% | none identified |
| ETHYLHEXYL STEARATE | 1 | 87% | Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) |
| BUTYLOCTYL SALICYLATE | 1 | 76% | none identified |
| CAPRYLYL METHICONE | 0 | 100% | none identified |
| TRIMETHYLSILOXYSILICATE | 0 | 100% | none identified |
| VP/ HEXADECENE COPOLYMER | 0 | 100% | none identified |
| XANTHAN GUM | 0 | 94% | none identified |
| BEHENYL ALCOHOL | 0 | 93% | none identified |
| WATER | 0 | 0% | innocuous |
Cancer*
*This table includes all possible cancer concerns for the ingredients used by this manufacturer. Some categorizations depend on how the product is used or formulated.
| type of concern | product conditions | ingredient(s) |
| One or more in vitro tests non-mammalian cells show positive mutation results | PHENOXYETHANOL, OXYBENZONE (BENZOPHENONE-3) | |
| One or more animal studies show tumor formation at moderate doses | PEG-100 STEARATE | |
| One or more in vitro tests on mammalian cells show positive mutation results | PROPYLPARABEN, METHYLPARABEN, ETHYLPARABEN, DISODIUM EDTA, | |
| One or more in vitro tests on mammalian cells show positive mutation results | AVOBENZONE (PARSOL 1789 | BUTYL METHOXYDIBENZOYLMETHANE) | |
| Cancer - not classifiable/not likely to be human carcinogen | BHT |
Developmental/reproductive toxicity*
*This table includes all possible developmental/reproductive toxicity concerns for the ingredients used by this manufacturer. Some categorizations depend on how the product is used or formulated.
| type of concern | product conditions | ingredient(s) |
| One or more animal studies show reproductive effects at high doses | PEG-100 STEARATE, ETHYLPARABEN, DISODIUM EDTA, BHT | |
| Limited evidence of reproductive toxicity | DIETHYLHEXYL 2,6-NAPHTHALATE, OXYBENZONE (BENZOPHENONE-3) | |
| One or more animal studies show any effects at low doses | PROPYLPARABEN |
Violations, restrictions & warnings*
*This table includes all possible violations, restrictions & warnings concerns for the ingredients used by this manufacturer. Some categorizations depend on how the product is used or formulated.
| type of concern | product conditions | ingredient(s) |
| Determined safe for use in cosmetics, subject to concentration or use limitations - Safe for use in cosmetics with some qualifications | PEG-100 STEARATE, STYRENE/ ACRYLATES COPOLYMER, SODIUM POLYACRYLATE, IODOPROPYNYL BUTYLCARBAMATE, BUTYLOCTYL SALICYLATE | |
| Recommended restricted in cosmetics - use, concentration, or manufacturing restrictions - Product type restrictions or differences noted in safety assessment by industry panel | GLYCERYL MONOSTEARATE, DIMETHICONE | |
| Restricted in cosmetics (recommendations or requirements) - use, concentration, or manufacturing restrictions - Japan - restricted for use in some types of cosmetics (concentration limit) | OXYBENZONE (BENZOPHENONE-3), OCTISALATE, IODOPROPYNYL BUTYLCARBAMATE, PHENOXYETHANOL, OCTOCRYLENE, HOMOSALATE, AVOBENZONE (PARSOL 1789 | BUTYL METHOXYDIBENZOYLMETHANE), IODOPROPYNYL BUTYLCARBAMATE | |
| Violation of government restrictions - Banned or found unsafe for use in cosmetics | METHYLPARABEN |
Neurotoxicity*
*This table includes all possible neurotoxicity concerns for the ingredients used by this manufacturer. Some categorizations depend on how the product is used or formulated.
| type of concern | product conditions | ingredient(s) |
| One or more animal studies show brain and nervous system effects at high doses | OXYBENZONE (BENZOPHENONE-3) | |
| One or more animal studies show brain and nervous system effects at moderate doses | PHENOXYETHANOL, METHYLPARABEN | |
| One or more animal studies show brain and nervous system effects at low doses | DISODIUM EDTA, BHT | |
| Moderate evidence of human neurotoxicity | FRAGRANCE |
Endocrine disruption*
*This table includes all possible endocrine disruption concerns for the ingredients used by this manufacturer. Some categorizations depend on how the product is used or formulated.
| type of concern | product conditions | ingredient(s) |
| One or more animal studies show endocrine system disruption at high doses | PEG-100 STEARATE, PHENOXYETHANOL, DISODIUM EDTA | |
| One or more studies show weak endocrine disruption | OXYBENZONE (BENZOPHENONE-3), HOMOSALATE, METHYLPARABEN, ETHYLPARABEN | |
| Limited evidence of endocrine disruption | DIETHYLHEXYL 2,6-NAPHTHALATE, PROPYLPARABEN | |
| One or more studies show endocrine system disruption at low doses | BHT |
Allergies/immunotoxicity*
*This table includes all possible allergies/immunotoxicity concerns for the ingredients used by this manufacturer. Some categorizations depend on how the product is used or formulated.
| type of concern | product conditions | ingredient(s) |
| Associated with immunotoxicity | AVOBENZONE (PARSOL 1789 | BUTYL METHOXYDIBENZOYLMETHANE) | |
| Limited evidence of skin and immune system toxicity | PHENOXYETHANOL | |
| One or more human case studies show possible immune effects | OCTISALATE | |
| Human skin toxicant - strong evidence | PROPYLPARABEN, METHYLPARABEN, ETHYLPARABEN, IODOPROPYNYL BUTYLCARBAMATE | |
| Possible human photoallergenic toxicant | OXYBENZONE (BENZOPHENONE-3) | |
| Known human immune system toxicant | FRAGRANCE, BHT |
Persistence and bioaccumulation*
*This table includes all possible persistence and bioaccumulation concerns for the ingredients used by this manufacturer. Some categorizations depend on how the product is used or formulated.
| type of concern | product conditions | ingredient(s) |
| Ingredient is suspected or measured to accumulate in people | OXYBENZONE (BENZOPHENONE-3) | |
| Found to be persistent and bioaccumulative in wildlife | OCTOCRYLENE |
Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)*
*This table includes all possible organ system toxicity (non-reproductive) concerns for the ingredients used by this manufacturer. Some categorizations depend on how the product is used or formulated.
| type of concern | product conditions | ingredient(s) |
| One or more animal studies show metabolic effects at high doses (low dose studies may be unavailable for this ingredient) | SILICA, TRIDECETH-6, OCTOCRYLENE | |
| One or more animal studies show gastrointestinal effects at moderate doses (low dose studies may be unavailable for this ingredient) | PHENOXYETHANOL, | |
| One or more animal studies show cardiovascular effects at moderate doses (low dose studies may be unavailable for this ingredient) | OXYBENZONE (BENZOPHENONE-3) | |
| One or more animal studies show broad systemic effects at moderate doses (low dose studies may be unavailable for this ingredient) | OCTISALATE, GLYCERYL MONOSTEARATE | |
| Limited evidence of sense organ toxicity | PEG-100 STEARATE, PROPYLPARABEN, ETHYLPARABEN, IODOPROPYNYL BUTYLCARBAMATE | |
| One or more animal studies show broad systemic effects at low doses | DISODIUM EDTA, BHT | |
| Known human any toxicant | METHYLPARABEN |
Miscellaneous*
*This table includes all possible miscellaneous concerns for the ingredients used by this manufacturer. Some categorizations depend on how the product is used or formulated.
| type of concern | product conditions | ingredient(s) |
| Ingredient not fully labeled - identity unknown | FRAGRANCE |
Multiple, additive exposure sources*
*This table includes all possible multiple, additive exposure sources concerns for the ingredients used by this manufacturer. Some categorizations depend on how the product is used or formulated.
| type of concern | product conditions | ingredient(s) |
| Designated as safe for general or specific, limited use in food | PEG-100 STEARATE, XANTHAN GUM, SODIUM POLYACRYLATE, PROPYLPARABEN, METHYLPARABEN, GLYCERYL MONOSTEARATE, DISODIUM EDTA, DIMETHICONE, BHT | |
| Used in food or as an additive with limited or no toxicity information available | SODIUM POLYACRYLATE |
Ecotoxicology*
*This table includes all possible ecotoxicology concerns for the ingredients used by this manufacturer. Some categorizations depend on how the product is used or formulated.
| type of concern | product conditions | ingredient(s) |
| Wildlife and environmental toxicity | OXYBENZONE (BENZOPHENONE-3), OCTOCRYLENE | |
| Wildlife and environmental toxicity | PROPYLPARABEN |
Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs)*
*This table includes all possible irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) concerns for the ingredients used by this manufacturer. Some categorizations depend on how the product is used or formulated.
| type of concern | product conditions | ingredient(s) |
| Not likely to be a skin irritant in humans | OXYBENZONE (BENZOPHENONE-3) | |
| One or more animal studies show skin irritation at high doses | IODOPROPYNYL BUTYLCARBAMATE | |
| One or more animal studies show skin irritation at moderate doses | TRIDECETH-6 | |
| One or more animal studies show skin irritation at low doses | OCTISALATE, METHYLPARABEN, BHT | |
| One or more animal studies show skin irritation at very low doses | PEG-100 STEARATE | |
| Human any irritant - strong evidence | products for use around the eyes, on the skin, or may be aerosolized (airborne) | GLYCERYL MONOSTEARATE, ETHYLHEXYL STEARATE |
| Classified as irritant | PHENOXYETHANOL, ETHYLHEXYLGLYCERIN |
Data gaps*
*This table includes all possible data gaps concerns for the ingredients used by this manufacturer. Some categorizations depend on how the product is used or formulated.
| type of concern | product conditions | ingredient(s) |
| Safety assessment was based on related chemical | PEG-100 STEARATE, IODOPROPYNYL BUTYLCARBAMATE, GLYCERYL MONOSTEARATE | |
| Missing safety data noted by cosmetic industry review | ETHYLHEXYL STEARATE | |
| Considered safe based on assumption of low absorption | STYRENE/ ACRYLATES COPOLYMER, SODIUM POLYACRYLATE | |
| Risk assessment method deficiencies and data gaps - Maximum reported "as used" concentration is basis of safety assessment by industry safety panel (Cosmetic Ingredient Review, CIR) - implicit safe concentration limit in product | PEG-100 STEARATE, PROPYLPARABEN, PHENOXYETHANOL, OXYBENZONE (BENZOPHENONE-3), METHYLPARABEN, GLYCERYL MONOSTEARATE, ETHYLPARABEN, ETHYLHEXYL STEARATE, DISODIUM EDTA, DIMETHICONE, BHT, BEHENYL ALCOHOL | |
| Not assessed for safety in cosmetics by industry panel | TRIMETHYLSILOXYSILICATE, VP/ HEXADECENE COPOLYMER, XANTHAN GUM, TRIDECETH-6, OCTOCRYLENE, OCTISALATE, HOMOSALATE, FRAGRANCE, ETHYLHEXYLGLYCERIN, DIETHYLHEXYL 2,6-NAPHTHALATE, CAPRYLYL METHICONE, AVOBENZONE (PARSOL 1789 | BUTYL METHOXYDIBENZOYLMETHANE) |
Occupational hazards*
*This table includes all possible occupational hazards concerns for the ingredients used by this manufacturer. Some categorizations depend on how the product is used or formulated.
| type of concern | product conditions | ingredient(s) |
| Allowed workplace exposures restricted to low doses | BHT, | |
| Allowed workplace exposures restricted to low doses | PHENOXYETHANOL |
Biochemical or cellular level changes*
*This table includes all possible biochemical or cellular level changes concerns for the ingredients used by this manufacturer. Some categorizations depend on how the product is used or formulated.
| type of concern | product conditions | ingredient(s) |
| Does not produces excess reactive oxygen species or other harmful biochemical changes. | OCTISALATE | |
| Interferes with gene expresion | METHYLPARABEN | |
| Produces excess reactive oxygen species that can interfere with cellular signaling, cause mutations, lead to cell death and may be implicated in cardiovascular disease. | OCTOCRYLENE, OXYBENZONE (BENZOPHENONE-3) | |
| One or more animal studies show biochemical changes at low doses where the human health implications are not yet well understood | BHT | |
| One or more animal studies show biochemical changes at very low doses where the human health implications are not yet well understood | SILICA |
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