Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry Touch Sunscreen Lotion, Max SPF 100+, 3 fl. oz

Why it's worth it

Neutrogena's Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch in SPF 100+ costs a fraction of the boutique options and dries down to a genuinely matte finish. It's the practical choice if you have oily skin or you're buying sunscreen for a whole household.

The Dry-Touch finish is the reason to buy this one. It absorbs fast and leaves your skin feeling powdery rather than slick, which is a relief if you've spent summers hating how sunscreen feels. Owners with oily skin report it holding up without turning into a shine slick by noon. It's also formulated without oxybenzone, parabens, phthalates or dyes.

SPF 100+ sounds like a big jump from 50, and the marketing leans on that. The honest math: SPF 50 filters about 98% of UVB and SPF 100 gets you to roughly 99%. That last percentage point is real but small. Where a very high SPF actually helps is that most people underapply — if you're only putting on half the recommended amount, starting from a higher number leaves you with more cushion.

From our review of 8 sunscreens for every skin type, by Sarah Wright, Editorial Associate

What we like

• +The Dry-Touch finish is the reason to buy this one
• +SPF 100+ sounds like a big jump from 50, and the marketing leans on that
• +At a drugstore price, this is the one to buy in bulk and leave everywhere
• +It's dermatologist tested and includes antioxidants alongside the UV filters, which the brand pitches against blue light exposure

What to know

• –It can sting if it migrates into your eyes, and owners mention this often
• –Applied heavily, it can leave some white residue — one owner with reddish-brown skin noted it shows up if you lay it on thick
• –The 3-ounce travel bottle is small for body coverage