Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch SPF 55 is the long-running drugstore face-and-body lotion built on Helioplex, an avobenzone-based chemical filter system, with Dry-Touch technology for a fast-absorbing, non-shiny finish. It is water resistant for 80 minutes, oxybenzone-free and non-comedogenic. Press testers describe it as lightweight and quick to absorb, and dermatologists recommend it for its mattifying feel. Caveats: it contains fragrance (testers note a slight floral scent), and white-cast reports are mixed, with one creator calling it a big cast on her skin.

Best for

Outdoor sports, pool and beach days
Budget buyers who want high SPF for face and body
Normal to oily skin that prefers a non-shiny finish

What we love

High SPF 55 with 80-minute water resistance
Fast-drying, non-shiny dry-touch finish
Oxybenzone-free and labeled non-comedogenic
Inexpensive and sold almost everywhere

Worth knowing

Contains fragrance (a slight floral scent)
White-cast reports are mixed on deeper skin tones
Thicker than face-specific fluids; reviewers position it mainly as a body sunscreen

How it scored

The breakdown.

Five factors, weighted for formulas. Here’s our working.

7.6Good

Beauty score out of 10. Brands can’t pay for placement — ever.

Results30%7.6
Reliable high-SPF, 80-minute water-resistant protection; testers found it absorbs fast without greasiness, though one creator reported a big white cast and a tester saw slight run-off under running water.
Formula & ingredients20%7.0
A stable avobenzone-based chemical filter set with a matte-leaning base, but it adds fragrance and benzyl alcohol that sensitive skin may dislike.
Texture & experience15%6.9
Lightweight and quick-drying with a mattifying feel, but the added fragrance and body-lotion thickness make it less elegant on the face than newer serums.
Value20%8.9
A widely discounted drugstore staple that is among the cheapest ways to get SPF 55 with water resistance.
Community love15%7.3
Six experts consulted by The Strategist mentioned it, and it is a familiar beach and pool staple, while one creator's dark-skin review was a firm no.

Beauty profile

Inside the bottle.

Texture

Lightweight, fast-absorbing lotion with a non-shiny, dry-touch finish (brand description)

Format

Sunscreen lotion

Finish

Matte

Sun protection

SPF 55· Chemical

Fragrance

Contains fragrance — Lightly fragranced (fragrance is listed in the ingredients)

Size

3 fl oz / 89 ml

Key ingredients

Ingredient encyclopedia →

What’s in it: Helioplex system: avobenzone 3%, homosalate 10%, octisalate 5%, octocrylene 10%, with silica and styrene/acrylates copolymer for the dry-touch feel and tocopheryl acetate. Water resistant (80 minutes); oxybenzone-free.

How to use

Apply liberally 15 minutes before sun exposure; reapply after 80 minutes of swimming or sweating, immediately after towel drying and at least every 2 hours.

Free from (brand-stated)

oxybenzone
PABA

Claims & certifications

Non-comedogenic

Full ingredient list (INCI)31 ingredients · key actives highlighted · as listed by the brand

Active: Avobenzone (3%),
Homosalate (10%),
Octisalate (5%),
Octocrylene (10%). Inactive: Water,
Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer,
Silica,
Dimethicone,
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate,
Benzyl Alcohol,
Beeswax,
Caprylyl Methicone,
Glyceryl Stearate,
Peg-100 Stearate,
Cetyl Dimethicone,
Caprylyl Glycol,
Ethylhexylglycerin,
Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate,
Behenyl Alcohol,
Acrylates/Dimethicone Copolymer,
Xanthan Gum,
Sodium Polyacrylate,
Chlorphenesin,
Dimethicone/Peg-10/15 Crosspolymer,
Hydrolyzed Jojoba Esters,
Fragrance,
Disodium Edta,
Ethylhexyl Stearate,
Tocopheryl Acetate,
Bht,
Trideceth-6,
Jojoba Esters.

Formulas change. Always check the packaging, and patch-test if your skin is reactive.

Official product page

Creator video reviews

Watch it in action.

Real reviews, try-ons and wear tests from independent creators — verified with TikTok and YouTube and labelled when sponsored.

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Price & value

Is it worth it?

Typical price

—

for 3 fl oz / 89 ml

DrugstoreMid-rangePrestigeLuxury

Price checked November 2026 at a non-Amazon retailer. Prices change — retailers show the current one.

Where to buy

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Community

What members noticed.

Ratings, skin types and the benefits people actually saw — logged on the Benefit Wheel.

No member ratings yet.

Tried it? Your score — and your skin or hair type — helps the next person decide.

Highlighted: what it’s built to do.

Discussion

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FAQ

Good questions.

Is Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch SPF 55 water resistant?

Yes. Neutrogena says it is water resistant for up to 80 minutes; reapply after 80 minutes of swimming or sweating and immediately after towel drying.

Is it fragrance-free?

No. Fragrance is listed among the inactive ingredients, so people with fragrance-sensitive skin may prefer a fragrance-free sunscreen.

Can I use it on my face?

Yes. The brand markets it for face and body and labels it non-comedogenic. Reviewers note it dries to a non-shiny finish, although some find the scent and feel better suited to body use.

Sources we checked (4)