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HAZARD SCORE RANGE
Scoring legend
HOW WE DETERMINE SCORES LEARN MORE ABOUT EWG VERIFIED®

HOME / recreational sunscreens / beach & sport sunscreen


Score

Neutrogena Beach Defense Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 70

WHERE TO BUY

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CATEGORY

recreational sunscreens

BRAND

Neutrogena

DATA LAST UPDATED

June 11, 2024

Health Concerns

  • MODERATE
    Cancer
  • HIGH
    Allergies & Immunotoxicity
  • LOW
    Developmental and Reproductive Toxicity
  • HIGH
    Use Restrictions

Efficacy Concerns

  • Caution We have flagged this product with 3 concerns
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    Find better scoring products

    SPF values above 50 offers a false sense of security. Read more

    Sunscreens can break down while still in the bottle. To be safe dispose of products when the mixture clumps or separates.

    This product contains chemical active ingredient(s) that the FDA does not have enough health safety data to classify as safe and effective: AVOBENZONE , HOMOSALATE, OCTISALATE, OCTOCRYLENE. This product should not be used on kids younger than 3 years old.
  • moderate
    UVA/UVB Balance

Ingredient Scores

Ingredients are scored based on their formulation and concentration in this product. Click on an ingredient for more information.

AVOBENZONE active ingredient 3%
Data Availability: Fair
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CONCERNS Cancer (low), Developmental/reproductive toxicity (low), Allergies/immunotoxicity (low), Use restrictions (moderate), Endocrine disruption (low), Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) (low), Contamination concerns (BENZOIC ACID, 4-T-BUTYLBENZOIC ACID, BENZALDEHYDE, P-ANISIC ACID, ACETOPHENONE, and DIBENZOYLMETHANE)
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT
HOMOSALATE active ingredient 15%
Data Availability: Good
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CONCERNS Enhanced skin absorption, Use restrictions (moderate), Endocrine disruption (low), Non-reproductive organ system toxicity (moderate), Ecotoxicology (low), Contamination concerns (SALICYLIC ACID and TRIMETHYLCYCLOHEXANOL)
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT
OCTISALATE active ingredient 5%
Data Availability: Fair
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CONCERNS Allergies/immunotoxicity (low), Enhanced skin absorption, Use restrictions (moderate), Endocrine disruption (low), Biochemical or cellular level changes (high)
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT
OCTOCRYLENE active ingredient 10%
Data Availability: Good
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CONCERNS Allergies/immunotoxicity (low), Persistence and bioaccumulation (low), Ecotoxicology (low), Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) (low), Contamination concerns (BENZOPHENONE), Biochemical or cellular level changes (high)
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT
WATER
Data Availability: Robust
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CONCERNS
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT
BUTYLOCTYL SALICYLATE
Data Availability: Limited
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CONCERNS Use restrictions (moderate), Endocrine disruption (low), Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) (low), Contamination concerns (SALICYLIC ACID)
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT
Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer
Data Availability: Limited
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CONCERNS Use restrictions (low), Contamination concerns (METHACRYLIC ACID, ACRYLIC ACID, and 2-ETHYLHEXYL ACRYLATE)
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT
POTASSIUM CETYL PHOSPHATE
Data Availability: Limited
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CONCERNS Use restrictions (low), Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) (low)
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT
BENZYL ALCOHOL
Data Availability: Fair
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CONCERNS Allergies/immunotoxicity (high), Non-reproductive organ system toxicity (moderate), Ecotoxicology (low), Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) (low), Occupational hazards (high)
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT
SILICA, AMORPHOUS
Data Availability: Good
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CONCERNS Cancer (moderate), Developmental/reproductive toxicity (low), Use restrictions (low), Persistence and bioaccumulation (high), Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) (low)
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT
GLYCERYL MONOSTEARATE
Data Availability: Fair
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CONCERNS
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT
PEG-100 STEARATE
Data Availability: Fair
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CONCERNS Contamination concerns (ETHYLENE OXIDE and 1,4-DIOXANE)
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT
DIMETHICONE
Data Availability: Fair
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CONCERNS Use restrictions (moderate), Persistence and bioaccumulation (high), Non-reproductive organ system toxicity (moderate), Ecotoxicology (low), Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) (low), Contamination concerns (CYCLOPENTASILOXANE and CYCLOTETRASILOXANE)
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT
CAPRYLYL GLYCOL
Data Availability: Limited
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CONCERNS
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT
SYNTHETIC BEESWAX
Data Availability: Limited
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CONCERNS Contamination concerns (Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs))
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT
ETHYLHEXYLGLYCERIN
Data Availability: Limited
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CONCERNS Allergies/immunotoxicity (low), Non-reproductive organ system toxicity (moderate), Ecotoxicology (low), Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) (high)
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT
ACRYLATES/ C12-22 ALKYLMETHACRYLATE COPOLYMER
Data Availability: Limited
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CONCERNS Use restrictions (low), Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) (low), Contamination concerns (METHACRYLIC ACID, ACRYLIC ACID, and BENZENE)
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT
BEHENYL ALCOHOL
Data Availability: Limited
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CONCERNS Allergies/immunotoxicity (low), Non-reproductive organ system toxicity (low), Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) (low)
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT
FRAGRANCE
Data Availability: Fair
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CONCERNS Allergies/immunotoxicity (high), Endocrine disruption (moderate), Non-reproductive organ system toxicity (moderate), Ecotoxicology (low), Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) (moderate)
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT
XANTHAN GUM
Data Availability: Fair
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CONCERNS
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT
CHLORPHENESIN
Data Availability: Limited
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CONCERNS Allergies/immunotoxicity (moderate), Use restrictions (moderate), Persistence and bioaccumulation (moderate), Non-reproductive organ system toxicity (low), Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) (moderate)
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT
DIMETHICONE PEG 10/ 15 CROSSPOLYMER
Data Availability: None
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CONCERNS Contamination concerns (CYCLOPENTASILOXANE, CYCLOTETRASILOXANE, ETHYLENE OXIDE, and 1,4-DIOXANE)
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT
HYDROLYZED JOJOBA ESTERS
Data Availability: None
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CONCERNS
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT
DISODIUM EDTA
Data Availability: Limited
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CONCERNS Enhanced skin absorption, Non-reproductive organ system toxicity (moderate), Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) (high)
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT
SODIUM POLYACRYLATE
Data Availability: Fair
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CONCERNS Use restrictions (low), Non-reproductive organ system toxicity (moderate), Multiple, additive exposure sources (low), Contamination concerns (ACRYLIC ACID)
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT
ETHYLHEXYL STEARATE
Data Availability: Fair
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CONCERNS Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) (moderate)
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT
BHT
Data Availability: Limited
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CONCERNS Cancer (moderate), Developmental/reproductive toxicity (low), Allergies/immunotoxicity (high), Non-reproductive organ system toxicity (moderate), Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) (moderate)
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT
JOJOBA ESTERS
Data Availability: Limited
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CONCERNS
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT
TRIDECETH-6
Data Availability: Limited
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CONCERNS Use restrictions (low), Non-reproductive organ system toxicity (moderate), Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) (low), Contamination concerns (ETHYLENE OXIDE and 1,4-DIOXANE)
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT

Ingredients from label

Active ingredients: Avobenzone 3.0% Homosalate 15.0% Octisalate 5.0% Octocrylene 10.0% Inactive ingredients: Water, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Benzyl Alcohol, Silica, Glyceryl Stearate, Peg-100 Stearate, Dimethicone, Caprylyl Glycol, Synthetic Beeswax, Ethylhexylglycerin, Acrylates/C12-22 Alkyl Methacrylate Copolymer, Behenyl Alcohol, Fragrance, Xanthan Gum, Chlorphenesin, Dimethicone/Peg-10/15 Crosspolymer, Hydrolyzed Jojoba Esters, Disodium Edta, Sodium Polyacrylate, Ethylhexyl Stearate, Bht, Jojoba Esters, Trideceth-6

PETA: Companies That Do Test on Animals

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, a leading international animal rights advocacy organization, has identified companies that "either test on animals or pay a laboratory to conduct tests on animals."

LEARN MORE ON PETA.ORG


Understanding scores

Not all sunscreen products are the same when it comes to sun protection and ingredient health hazards. The scoring system for EWG’s Guide to Sunscreens is designed to help the public find products that are safer, avoid ingredients of concern, and are more effective in reducing potential health harms from ultraviolet A and B exposure.

Every product in the guide gets a hazard and efficacy rating. The top scoring products have both a low hazard rating and an excellent UVA/UVB balance rating.

HOW WE DETERMINE SCORES

Hazard score

The hazard score, from 1 to 10, reflects known and suspected hazards linked to the ingredients. Beyond this 1 to 10 ranking, the EWG VERIFIED® mark on a sunscreen means a product meets EWG’s strictest criteria for transparency and health.

Scoring legend
WEIGHT-OF-EVIDENCE APPROACH

A product’s hazard score is not an average of the ingredients’ hazard scores. It is calculated using a weight-of-evidence approach that factors in all of the hazards or health impacts associated with the ingredients.

EWG Verified Process

EWG Verified logo
EWG VERIFIED

Beyond the hazard score, the EWG VERIFIED® mark on a sunscreen indicates that a sunscreen company’s ingredient disclosures show the product has met our full criteria to ensure it adheres to our strictest standards for efficacy, ingredient safety and transparency.

A SUNSCREEN CAN BECOME EWG VERIFIED IF IT:
  • Meets EWG's criteria for overall product hazard score
  • Is formulated to provide balanced UVA/ UVB protection
  • Does not contain any ingredients on EWG's "Unacceptable" list
  • Discloses all ingredients, including those in fragrance.

You can review EWG’s full criteria for the EWG VERIFIED mark here.


TIPS

Sunscreen alone
is not enough

VIEW THE LIST

Wear clothes

Shirts, hats, shorts and pants shield your skin from the sun’s UV rays, reducing burn risk.

Plan around the sun

Go outdoors in early morning or late afternoon when the sun is lower in the sky.

Find shade - or make it

Picnic under a tree or take a canopy to the beach. Keep infants in the shade, reducing the risk of multiple burns by 30%.


Don’t get burned

Red, sore, blistered skin means you’ve gotten far too much sun.

Sunglasses are essential

Not just a fashion accessory, sunglasses protect your eyes from UV radiation.

Check UV index

The UV Index provides important information to help you plan your outdoor activities in ways that prevent sun overexposure.







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