Is Neutrogena Hydro Boost City Shield Water Gel SPF 25 Reef Safe?
Not everywhere. Allowed in 4 of 9 places we track. See why
- Allowed: Hawaii
- Not allowed: Maui County
- Not allowed: Hawaiʻi County
- Not allowed: U.S. Virgin Islands
- Not allowed: Palau
- Allowed: Aruba
- Not allowed: Guam
- Allowed: Northern Mariana Islands
- Allowed: Thailand
Neutrogena Hydro Boost City Shield Water Gel SPF 25 is allowed under the sunscreen laws of Hawaii statewide, Aruba, the Northern Mariana Islands and Thailand's national parks, but not in Maui County, Hawaiʻi County (Big Island), the U.S. Virgin Islands, Palau and Guam. It uses four chemical UV filters: avobenzone 2%, homosalate 4%, octisalate 4% and octocrylene 2%. It is a broad-spectrum facial sunscreen gel made by Neutrogena (Kenvue Brands LLC). Its FDA National Drug Code (NDC) is 69968-0397.
Sizes: 1.7 oz
SPF 25 is below SPF 30, the minimum the American Academy of Dermatology recommends when choosing a sunscreen.
Where Neutrogena Hydro Boost City Shield Water Gel SPF 25 is allowed
| Location | Verdict | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Maui County (Maui, Molokaʻi, Lānaʻi) | Not allowed | Avobenzone, homosalate, octisalate and octocrylene: not permitted actives (mineral only). |
| Hawaiʻi County (Big Island) | Not allowed | Avobenzone, homosalate, octisalate and octocrylene: not permitted actives (mineral only). |
| U.S. Virgin Islands | Not allowed | Octocrylene: banned by name. |
| Palau | Not allowed | Octocrylene, avobenzone, homosalate, octisalate and phenoxyethanol: banned by name. |
| Guam | Not allowed | Octocrylene: banned by name. |
| Hawaii (statewide) | Allowed | No restricted ingredients found. |
| Aruba | Allowed | No restricted ingredients found. |
| Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) | Allowed | No restricted ingredients found. |
| Thailand (all national parks) | Allowed | No restricted ingredients found. |
Guidance and repealed rules (4)
| Mexico: federal marine protected areas (e.g., Isla Mujeres, Punta Cancún & Punta Nizuc) | Against guidance | Avobenzone, homosalate, octisalate and octocrylene: not mineral actives. |
| Bonaire (Bonaire National Marine Park) | Meets guidance | |
| U.S. National Parks with coral reefs (NPS guidance) | Against guidance | Avobenzone: on the avoid list. Homosalate, octisalate and octocrylene: not mineral actives. |
| Key West, Florida | No rule in force |
Neutrogena Hydro Boost City Shield Water Gel SPF 25 active ingredients
| Ingredient | Amount | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Avobenzone | 2% | Chemical |
| Homosalate | 4% | Chemical |
| Octisalate | 4% | Chemical |
| Octocrylene | 2% | Chemical |
Neutrogena Hydro Boost City Shield Water Gel SPF 25 inactive ingredients
Water, Glycerin, Caprylyl Methicone, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Pentylene Glycol, Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Crosspolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Glyceryl Stearate, Chlorphenesin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Disodium Edta, Ethylhexylglycerin, Fragrance, Sodium Hydroxide, Blue 1, Red 40
Highlighted ingredients are regulated somewhere; red ones are restricted in at least one location we track. Dotted ones are listed below.
Fragrance allergens, essential oils and alcohol
- Fragrance: listed as “Fragrance”. US labels don’t have to name the allergens inside a fragrance, so there may be more than this list shows.
The EU requires these allergens to be named on cosmetic labels above 0.001% in leave-on products (Regulation 1223/2009, Annex III). They can cause skin reactions in people who are sensitized; they don’t affect whether a sunscreen is legal anywhere we track.
Note: SPF face moisturizer sold in the skincare range.
Common questions about Neutrogena Hydro Boost City Shield Water Gel SPF 25
Is Neutrogena Hydro Boost City Shield Water Gel SPF 25 reef safe?
“Reef safe” isn’t a regulated label claim, so we answer by law instead. It is allowed under the sunscreen laws of Hawaii statewide, Aruba, the Northern Mariana Islands and Thailand's national parks, but not in Maui County, Hawaiʻi County (Big Island), the U.S. Virgin Islands, Palau and Guam. Labels like “Hawaii Act 104 compliant” only mean a product has no oxybenzone or octinoxate; they don’t make a chemical sunscreen legal on Maui or the Big Island.
Is Neutrogena Hydro Boost City Shield Water Gel SPF 25 legal in Hawaii?
Under Hawaii’s statewide law (Act 104, which bans oxybenzone and octinoxate) it is allowed. In Maui County (Maui, Molokaʻi, Lānaʻi), which allows only mineral sunscreens, it is not allowed because it contains avobenzone, homosalate, octisalate and octocrylene, and Maui’s rule covers using it there, not just selling it. In Hawaiʻi County (the Big Island), which has a mineral-only rule for sales, it is not allowed. Oʻahu and Kauaʻi have no county rule, so only the statewide law applies there.
Where is Neutrogena Hydro Boost City Shield Water Gel SPF 25 not allowed?
Maui County: it contains avobenzone, homosalate, octisalate and octocrylene, which are not allowed there. Hawaiʻi County (Big Island): it contains avobenzone, homosalate, octisalate and octocrylene, which are not allowed there. The U.S. Virgin Islands: it contains octocrylene, which is not allowed there. Palau: it contains octocrylene, avobenzone, homosalate, octisalate and phenoxyethanol, which are not allowed there. Guam: it contains octocrylene, which is not allowed there.
Does Neutrogena Hydro Boost City Shield Water Gel SPF 25 contain oxybenzone?
No. It contains neither oxybenzone nor octinoxate, the two chemicals banned under Hawaii’s statewide law. Being oxybenzone-free does not make it mineral: it still uses chemical UV filters.
Is Neutrogena Hydro Boost City Shield Water Gel SPF 25 a mineral or chemical sunscreen?
Chemical. Its UV filters are avobenzone 2%, homosalate 4%, octisalate 4% and octocrylene 2%.
What is the NDC and UPC for Neutrogena Hydro Boost City Shield Water Gel SPF 25?
Neutrogena Hydro Boost City Shield Water Gel SPF 25 is listed with the FDA under National Drug Code 69968-0397, and its UPC barcode is 086800113478. The NDC identifies this sunscreen on its FDA drug label (DailyMed); package sizes carry longer package NDCs.
Alternatives to Neutrogena Hydro Boost City Shield Water Gel SPF 25 for Maui County, Hawaiʻi County (Big Island), the U.S. Virgin Islands, Palau and Guam
Mineral sunscreens from other brands, allowed in all 5 places, ranked by label: water resistance, SPF 30–50, broad spectrum, no listed fragrance. How we rank
