I've used this strength and other SPFs from Neutrogena with great results.As for another reviewer's caution, this is from the American Academy of Dermatology' web site:
1. What is oxybenzone and how is it used in sunscreen and personal care products?
Oxybenzone (also known as benzophenone-3 or BP-3) is one of 16 sunscreen active ingredients (compounds that absorb, scatter, or reflect ultraviolet (UV) radiation) regulated as over-the-counter (OTC) drugs by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).1 Oxybenzone provides broad-spectrum protection from harmful UVA and UVB rays. It was approved by the FDA in 1978 and is one of the oldest active ingredients in use today.
The FDA has approved the use of oxybenzone in sunscreen in concentrations of up to 6 percent, which is less than what is allowed in both Europe and Australia (10 percent).2 Oxybenzone also is used to protect cosmetics and other personal care products from deterioration by UV exposure.
2. I've heard oxybenzone called a hormone disruptor. What does this mean and are there any data to support this?
Concerns have been raised that oxybenzone may be capable of altering/disrupting normal hormonal (endocrine) balance. Specifically, oxybenzone is suspected of having estrogenic activity, which is the ability to exhibit properties similar to the hormone estrogen.
There have been some published observations using in vitro (test tube) cell lines, as well as studies in rats fed oxybenzone, and in fish, where oxybenzone was added to the water, which have indicated oxybenzone or its byproducts can demonstrate some estrogenic activity.4-9 However, the observed estrogenic effects of oxybenzone often are considerably weaker when compared to the estrogen (estradiol) used in these experiments. In some studies, a much higher concentration of oxybenzone (1,000 to 1 million times higher than that of estradiol) was needed to achieve a comparable result.
Importantly, available literature does not support a link between oxybenzone use and estrogen or other hormonal alterations in humans to date.10-12
3. Are there any studies in humans that demonstrate hormone disruption or other potential to affect human health?
Similar to many topically applied agents, oxybenzone has been shown to be absorbed by human skin10, and can be detected in the blood and urine of sunscreen users and the population at large.13-15 However, results from multiple studies do not support a link between oxybenzone and any shortor long-term health problems, or the increased risk of adverse health effects.
Specifically, when oxybenzone was repeatedly applied to the skin of human volunteers, it has been determined that:
No biologically significant alterations in reproductive hormones (testosterone, follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, or estradiol) have been detected;11
The concentrations of oxybenzone absorbed are not capable of disrupting normal thyroid hormone levels12, and;
The concentration of oxybenzone penetrating the skin is too low to cause epidermal cell damage.10
It should be noted that oxybenzone has been used as sunscreen ingredient since 1978, and aside from allergic or irritant reactions, such as photocontact and contact dermatitis, there has not been any report of systemic side effects of oxybenzone use.
Therefore, the proven benefits of sunscreen to prevent sunburn and reduce the risk of skin cancer outweigh any concerns of oxybenzone toxicity or health hazard.
4. What do the FDA or other agencies have to say about oxybenzone?
The safety of oxybenzone was originally reviewed and approved by the FDA in 1978, and it is one of the oldest active ingredients in use today.17
Since then, there have been additional reviews of oxybenzone by other regulatory agencies and expert panels with similar conclusions regarding its safety for use in consumer products. For example, in 2001 and again in 2006, the Scientific Committee on Consumer Products (SCCP) of the European Union (EU) developed an opinion paper based on a review of current scientific knowledge and stated "the organic UV filters used in cosmetic sunscreen products allowed in the EU market today have no estrogenic effects that could potentially affect human health."18
Also, the safety of oxybenzone for use in cosmetics and personal care products was also reviewed in 1983 and confirmed in 2002 by the Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) expert panel, which is an independent panel of scientific and medical experts who assess the safety of cosmetic ingredients in the United States.19-20
Read the AAD paper with references: oxybenzone_questions_aad
I have to wear sunscreen every day and this it by far the best that I have tried.
The sunscreens that I have tried before leave either a white mask or a super greasy face. This product makes my skin look smooth and without grease! looove it!
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Oh, how happy I was when I found this product a few years ago.Pricey, perhaps, but SO worth it.High SPF, non-greasy, UVA and UVB blocking, what wasn't there to love?My entire family of fair redheads depended on it for year-round protection.
This year, though, things were different.I eagerly stocked up on eight bottles of the SPF 45 before the start of the sunny season -in previous years we used SPF 85 or 100 but I had faith in the claims that anything over SPF 30 was of negligible benefit -and slathered it on the first time I was in the sun for an extended period.Even with wearing long sleeves and a wide-brimmed sun hat I ended up with what (I thought) was a painful burn all over my face and neck.It took a couple of weeks to clear and often resembled a rash, with raised, red bumps that itched like nobody's business.I didn't make the connection until the next time I used it and had the same result within hours.I don't wear makeup and I don't use cleansers on my face; the only moisturizer I use is specifically for sensitive skin and I've been using for a long time with no issue.
After doing some research I discovered that what I have is a photoallergic reaction to this sunblock, which means the sunblock itself doesn't cause a reaction, but once it comes into exposure with sunlight it does.Which completely nullifies the point of sunblock in the first place.I also read that Neutrogena had changed its formula and the older "blue label" bottles were different than the new "black label" ones checking a leftover bottle from last year with the new ones from this year proved that the formula does appear significantly different, with this year's sunblock containing a number of new complicated chemical names I can't pronounce.One or more of them no longer jives with my extremely sensitive skin.
So now I've spent upwards of a month suffering from red, itchy, oozing, tight, dry, skin, which is now starting to peel and looks a fright.I haven't wanted to leave my house and I can't even count the number of times I've been asked if I'm all right/too hot/contagious.Horrifying.I am so very disappointed that I can't even properly express it.I guess it's back to the drawing board looking for a new sunblock that can protect myself and my family without giving us chemical burns.
A real bummer.
Read Best Reviews of Neutrogena Ultra Sheer SPF 45 Twin Pack 3.0 Ounce Here
Love this sunscreen.I have purchased more expensive sunscreen, but it was really greasy.No greasy mess here!Does leave some white streaks, but if you rub it in it will go away. :)
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The Neutrogena Sunblock delivers on all the promises. It doesn't leave behind the oily skin which is one of the prime reason I selected it.
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This is what it is, its chapstick and a necessity for the cold winter months.I dont really see any benefit going with this chapstick over a competitor besides the price.
