Is Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunscreen Lotion SPF 70 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 Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunscreen Lotion SPF 70 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 3%, homosalate 15%, octisalate 5% and octocrylene 10%. It is a broad-spectrum body sunscreen lotion made by Neutrogena (Kenvue Brands LLC) and is water resistant for up to 80 minutes. Its FDA National Drug Code (NDC) is 10637-7005 and 69968-0654.
Sizes: 5 fl oz
Where Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunscreen Lotion SPF 70 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 and octisalate: 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Guidance and repealed rules (4)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 Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunscreen Lotion SPF 70 active ingredients
| Ingredient | Amount | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Avobenzone | 3% | Chemical |
| Homosalate | 15% | Chemical |
| Octisalate | 5% | Chemical |
| Octocrylene | 10% | Chemical |
Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunscreen Lotion SPF 70 inactive ingredients
Water, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer, Silica, Dimethicone, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Benzyl Alcohol, Beeswax, Caprylyl Methicone, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Glyceryl Stearate, Peg-100 Stearate, Cetyl Dimethicone, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Behenyl Alcohol, Acrylates/Dimethicone Copolymer, Xanthan Gum, Chlorphenesin, Dimethicone/Peg-10/15 Crosspolymer, Sodium Polyacrylate, Hydrolyzed Jojoba Esters, Fragrance, Disodium Edta, Ethylhexyl Stearate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Bht, Jojoba Esters, Trideceth-6
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 allergens on the EU list: Benzyl Alcohol (Benzyl Alcohol: The EU label rule applies when it is used as a fragrance. In sunscreens it is often a preservative.)
- 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.
Common questions about Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunscreen Lotion SPF 70
Is Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunscreen Lotion SPF 70 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 Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunscreen Lotion SPF 70 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 Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunscreen Lotion SPF 70 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 and octisalate, which are not allowed there. Guam: it contains octocrylene, which is not allowed there.
Does Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunscreen Lotion SPF 70 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 Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunscreen Lotion SPF 70 a mineral or chemical sunscreen?
Chemical. Its UV filters are avobenzone 3%, homosalate 15%, octisalate 5% and octocrylene 10%.
Is Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunscreen Lotion SPF 70 water resistant?
Yes, for up to 80 minutes of swimming or sweating, according to its label. Reapply after 80 minutes in the water, immediately after towel drying, and at least every 2 hours.
What is the NDC and UPC for Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunscreen Lotion SPF 70?
Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunscreen Lotion SPF 70 is listed with the FDA under National Drug Code 10637-7005 and 69968-0654, and its UPC barcode is 086800687702. The NDC identifies this sunscreen on its FDA drug label (DailyMed); package sizes carry longer package NDCs.
Alternatives to Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunscreen Lotion SPF 70 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
Face + Body SPF 30 Mineral Sunscreen Lotion
Every Day Active Mineral Sunscreen SPF 45
Hawaiian Natural Zinc Sunscreen SPF 50 (Beach/Sport/Baby), 3 oz
UV Pure Broad Spectrum SPF 47