Neutrogena is the lighter daily sunscreen. Blue Lizard is the richer, water-resistant SPF 50.
Both are mineral-only, broad spectrum and fragrance-free. Neutrogena Purescreen+ Invisible SPF 30 is a thin liquid with 21.6% zinc oxide and a light ester-and-silicone base that wears well under makeup. It isn’t water resistant. Blue Lizard Sheer Face SPF 50 pairs 10% zinc oxide with 8% titanium dioxide in a richer lotion with shea butter, squalane and plant oils, and it’s water resistant for 80 minutes.
For everyday wear on oily or combination skin, buy Neutrogena. For outdoor days, sweat or dry skin, buy Blue Lizard.
Which mineral sunscreen to buy
What separates them beyond the SPF
SPF 30 vs. SPF 50. Applied at the amount used in testing, SPF 30 blocks about 96.7% of UVB and SPF 50 about 98%. That's a real but small gap. Most people apply far less than the test amount, so a sunscreen you'll use generously beats a higher number you skimp on.
Filters. Both are mineral-only. Neutrogena uses zinc oxide 21.6% with titanium dioxide 4.9%. Blue Lizard uses zinc oxide 10% with titanium dioxide 8%. Zinc oxide covers UVB and the full UVA range; titanium dioxide is strongest on UVB and shorter UVA rays. Both labels say broad spectrum.
Water and sweat. Blue Lizard is labeled Water Resistant (80 Minutes); reapply after 80 minutes of swimming or sweating and right after towel drying. Neutrogena Purescreen+ Invisible isn't labeled water resistant, so it's a sunscreen for everyday wear, not the beach or a workout. The tinted Purescreen+ is water resistant for 80 minutes.
A mineral sunscreen only reaches its SPF when you apply a full layer. Use about two finger-lengths for your face and neck, and reapply at least every two hours outdoors. If a formula looks too white at that amount, switch formulas rather than using less.
Neutrogena Purescreen+ Invisible: a thin, fragrance-free daily mineral SPF 30
Thin, fragrance-free mineral SPF 30 for daily wear.
Purescreen+ is a runny face liquid built on zinc oxide 21.6% and titanium dioxide 4.9%. The base is light esters (isononyl isononanoate, dicaprylyl ether, C12-15 alkyl benzoate) and dimethicone, so it spreads thin and sets without a greasy layer, which is why it sits well under makeup. A small amount of iron oxide pigment helps take the edge off the white.
Ginger root extract, vitamin E and feverfew add antioxidant support. It’s fragrance-free and broad spectrum SPF 30. It isn’t labeled water resistant, so keep it for everyday wear, not swimming or workouts.
The 1.4 fl oz bottle costs less than Blue Lizard.
- High zinc oxide (21.6%) for broad UVA coverage
- Light ester-and-silicone base layers under makeup
- Fragrance-free, with a touch of iron oxide to soften the white
- Costs less than Blue Lizard
- Not water resistant
- SPF 30 rather than 50
Blue Lizard Sheer Face SPF 50: a richer, water-resistant mineral lotion
Moisturizing, water-resistant mineral SPF 50.
Blue Lizard pairs zinc oxide 10% with titanium dioxide 8% for broad spectrum SPF 50. The base is richer than Neutrogena’s: shea butter, squalane, rosehip, marula and soybean oils, glycerin and sodium hyaluronate, plus a long list of amino acids and botanical extracts. That makes it more moisturizing, which suits dry skin and can feel heavy on oily skin.
It’s labeled Water Resistant (80 Minutes), and it’s fragrance-free. With 8% titanium dioxide and no tint, it can leave some white on deeper skin tones, so rub it in well.
The 1.7 fl oz tube holds a bit more than Neutrogena’s bottle and costs more.
- SPF 50, broad spectrum
- Water Resistant (80 Minutes)
- Shea butter, squalane and plant oils for dry skin
- Fragrance-free
- Richer base can feel heavy on oily skin
- Long botanical list, so patch-test if your skin reacts easily
- Costs more than Neutrogena
Neutrogena Purescreen+ Tint in Light: the water-resistant tinted option
Tinted mineral SPF 30 with light, buildable coverage.
The tinted Purescreen+ uses zinc oxide 21.6% with titanium dioxide 3.2%, and iron oxides give it a real tint rather than a hint. Coverage is light and buildable, and the tint cancels the white cast untinted minerals can leave, as long as the Light shade matches your skin.
Unlike the Invisible version, it’s labeled water resistant for 80 minutes. It’s fragrance-free, and the 1.1 fl oz bottle is the smallest of the three.
Choose it if you have fair to light skin and want sunscreen and light coverage in one step. On medium or deeper skin, the Light shade won’t match.
- Tint hides the white cast on a matching skin tone
- Water resistant for 80 minutes
- Fragrance-free
- Light shade only suits fair to light skin
- Smallest bottle at 1.1 fl oz
- SPF 30 rather than 50
| Light daily wear Neutrogena Purescreen+ Invisible Mineral Face Sunscreen SPF 30 | VS | Water-resistant SPF 50 Blue Lizard Sheer Face Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50 |
|---|---|---|
Broad spectrum SPF 30 | SPF |
Broad spectrum SPF 50 |
Zinc oxide 21.6%, titanium dioxide 4.9% | Active ingredients |
Zinc oxide 10%, titanium dioxide 8% |
Light esters and dimethicone | Base |
Shea butter, squalane, plant oils, hyaluronic acid |
Not water resistant | Water resistance |
Water Resistant (80 Minutes) |
1.4 fl oz | Size |
1.7 fl oz |
| View | View |
Choose Neutrogena Purescreen+ Invisible if you want a light, everyday face sunscreen. It’s high in zinc oxide, fragrance-free, sits well under makeup and suits oily or combination skin. It costs less, but it isn’t water resistant.
Choose Blue Lizard Sheer Face SPF 50 for outdoor days or dry skin. It’s water resistant for 80 minutes, gives you SPF 50, and its shea butter and plant oils moisturize while it protects.
If you have fair to light skin and want some coverage, the tinted Purescreen+ in Light does both jobs and is water resistant too. Whichever you choose, apply a full layer and reapply at least every two hours outdoors.
