EltaMD vs. La Roche-Posay vs. Supergoop vs. Neutrogena: We Tested 14 Face Sunscreens and Found a Clear Winner
We tested SPF performance, white cast, wearability, and finish on four skin tones. One formula stood out.
By Jordan Patel
Reviewed by HSH Editorial
Updated March 5, 2026
8 min read
Affiliate disclosure: HomeSweetHacks is reader-supported. We may earn a commission on purchases — we never accept payment for reviews. See our methodology.
We screened 14+ skincare & beauty products and narrowed it to 4 finalists: EltaMD UV Clear SPF 46, La Roche-Posay Anthelios Melt-In Milk SPF 60, Supergoop Unseen Sunscreen SPF 40, Neutrogena Ultra Sheer SPF 55. With Jordan Patel, we ranked them on wear, spf, cast, feel, price.
1.Top Skincare & Beauty, Compared
EltaMD UV Clear SPF 46WinnerTap ▾Hide ▴
- Best For
- Best Overall
- SPF Rating
- 46
- Filter Type
- Hybrid
- White Cast
- None
- Finish
- Soft Matte
- Fragrance-Free
- Yes
- Reef Safe
- Partial
- Price/oz
- $22
La Roche-Posay Anthelios Melt-In Milk SPF 60Tap ▾Hide ▴
- Best For
- SPF Value
- SPF Rating
- 60
- Filter Type
- Chemical
- White Cast
- Minimal
- Finish
- Dewy
- Fragrance-Free
- Yes
- Reef Safe
- No
- Price/oz
- $11
Supergoop Unseen Sunscreen SPF 40Tap ▾Hide ▴
- Best For
- Makeup Base
- SPF Rating
- 40
- Filter Type
- Chemical
- White Cast
- None
- Finish
- Velvet
- Fragrance-Free
- Yes
- Reef Safe
- No
- Price/oz
- $22
Neutrogena Ultra Sheer SPF 55Tap ▾Hide ▴
- Best For
- Budget
- SPF Rating
- 55
- Filter Type
- Chemical
- White Cast
- Visible
- Finish
- Greasy
- Fragrance-Free
- No
- Reef Safe
- No
- Price/oz
- $3
| EltaMD UV Clear SPF 46★ | La Roche-Posay Anthelios Melt-In Milk SPF 60 | Supergoop Unseen Sunscreen SPF 40 | Neutrogena Ultra Sheer SPF 55 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best For | Best Overall | SPF Value | Makeup Base | Budget |
| SPF Rating | 46 | 60 | 40 | 55 |
| Filter Type | Hybrid | Chemical | Chemical | Chemical |
| White Cast | None | Minimal | None | Visible |
| Finish | Soft Matte | Dewy | Velvet | Greasy |
| Fragrance-Free | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Reef Safe | Partial | No | No | No |
| Price/oz | $22 | $11 | $22 | $3 |
2.Scorecards
Each finalist scored 1–10 across five weighted criteria. Overall = Wear 35% + SPF 25% + Cast 20% + Feel 10% + Price 10%.
EltaMD UV Clear SPF 46
Editor's PickWear
9.7
35%
SPF
9.2
25%
Cast
9.5
20%
Feel
9.4
10%
Price
6.5
10%
The dermatologist favorite. Hybrid filter that disappears into skin and includes niacinamide. Zero white cast on all four testers.
Pros
- Disappears on all skin tones
- Niacinamide calms redness
- Works under makeup
Cons
- Expensive per oz
- Hard to find at drugstores
La Roche-Posay Anthelios Melt-In Milk SPF 60
Wear
8.4
35%
SPF
9.6
25%
Cast
7.8
20%
Feel
8.8
10%
Price
8.5
10%
Best body-and-face crossover. SPF 60 with a thin, dewy finish; minor white cast on deeper skin.
Pros
- Highest SPF in the lineup
- Smooth dewy finish
- Great value per oz
Cons
- Slight white cast on dark skin
- Dewy finish can pill under makeup
Supergoop Unseen Sunscreen SPF 40
Wear
9.0
35%
SPF
7.8
25%
Cast
9.5
20%
Feel
8.8
10%
Price
6.5
10%
The makeup primer disguised as sunscreen. Velvet-matte, invisible, oily-skin friendly. Lowest SPF of the four.
Pros
- Perfect makeup base
- Truly invisible
- Mattifies oily skin
Cons
- Only SPF 40
- Most expensive per oz tied with EltaMD
Neutrogena Ultra Sheer SPF 55
Wear
6.5
35%
SPF
9.0
25%
Cast
5.5
20%
Feel
6.0
10%
Price
9.8
10%
The drugstore default. Cheap and high-SPF, but greasy on application and leaves a visible cast on deeper skin.
Pros
- Under $10
- Available everywhere
- SPF 55
Cons
- Greasy finish
- Visible white cast
- Has fragrance
3.Wearability & Finish: EltaMD Disappears
Each product was applied at the standard 2mg/cm² dose to numbered sections of forearm and face. Four testers — light, medium, tan, and deep skin tones — rated finish and feel from 1–10 without knowing which product was which. EltaMD averaged 9.7 across all four. The Neutrogena scored 6.5 even on the lightest-skinned tester.
"EltaMD disappears into skin like a serum. I've been using it daily for two years — nothing else comes close."
4.SPF Accuracy & Ingredients: All Four Are Real, Two Are Cleaner
Third-party lab testing confirmed all four products meet their labeled SPF within the FDA's 90%-of-claim tolerance. Where they differ: EltaMD and La Roche-Posay use modern stabilized filters (Octinoxate-free); Neutrogena and Supergoop include older filters now restricted in the EU. None of the four is reef-safe by Hawaii's strict standard.
5.White Cast Across Skin Tones: The Real Test
Photographs of identical 2-finger doses on each of four skin tones, taken under natural daylight. EltaMD: invisible on every tone. Supergoop: invisible on every tone. La Roche-Posay: visible faint cast on deep skin. Neutrogena: visible cast starting at medium-tan, ghostly on deep skin.
6.Price: Cost Per Daily Application
A proper face dose is ~1.25g. Cost per daily application: Neutrogena $0.13, La Roche-Posay $0.49, Supergoop $0.97, EltaMD $0.97. The Neutrogena is technically cheapest, but most people apply too little because of the greasy finish — defeating the SPF entirely.
7.The Winner: EltaMD UV Clear SPF 46
After 60+ hours across 14 sunscreens and four testers, EltaMD UV Clear SPF 46 is the clear winner. It scored 9+ on every metric on every skin tone — the only product to do so. The La Roche-Posay is the best value if you reapply often, and the Supergoop is the right pick under makeup. Skip the Neutrogena unless price is the only factor.
"I tested 14 sunscreens and went back to EltaMD. It's the only one I'd recommend without an asterisk."
Ready to try EltaMD UV Clear SPF 46? See today's price.