CeraVe Facial Moisturising Lotion Spf 25
68/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
CeraVe Facial Moisturising Lotion SPF 25 is a daily moisturiser with chemical sun protection from older-generation filters like Homosalate, Octocrylene and Ethylhexyl Salicylate. It wears lightweight with a balanced finish, low white cast, and does not sting, making it an easy everyday face lotion. Scoring 68.1 out of 100 with moderate protection at SPF 25, it works for casual daily wear but the lower SPF and dated filters make it less suited to long sun exposure.
Ingredient & SPF scores
βοΈ
UV protection
Moderate
53
- +12 Homosalate at #2, UV filter
- +15.2 Octocrylene at #4, UV filter
- +7.6 Ethylhexyl Salicylate at #5, UV filter
- +24 Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane at #8, UV filter (UVA1 +12.8)
- Γ0.9 Limited long-UVA1 coverage
β’οΈ
Health safety
Medium
46
- +100 Starting score
- β40 Homosalate at #2 (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β10.5 Octocrylene at #4, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β3.5 Avobenzone at #8, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
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Allergens
Low
97
- +100 Starting score
- β3 Photoallergen-tail UV filters (Octocrylene)
π₯
Eye sting
Low
62
- +100 Starting score
- β8 Avobenzone at #8, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β15 Octocrylene at #4, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β9 Homosalate at #2, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β6 Octisalate at #5, migrates into eyes with sweat
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Comedogenic
Low
98
- +100 Starting score
- β1 Myristic Acid at #23, moderate comedogenic signal
- β1 Palmitic Acid at #17, moderate comedogenic signal
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Fungal acne
Medium
47
- +100 Starting score
- β12 1 free fatty acids that feed Malassezia (Myristic Acid)
- β37 3 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (PEG-100 Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate)
- β4 2 ubiquitous fatty ingredients (Stearic Acid, Palmitic Acid), weak Malassezia signal
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Fabric stains
Medium
37
- +100 Starting score
- β38 Avobenzone at #8, reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
- β15 Octocrylene at #4, co-stains alongside avobenzone
- β10 Avobenzone + Octocrylene, the classic staining pair
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Moisture
Nourishing
LightNourishing
- β 5 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica)
- β 16 Glycerin at #3, the anchor humectant
- β 2 Sodium Hyaluronate at #24, hyaluronic family
- β 0.5 1 fatty-alcohol emollients (Cetearyl Alcohol)
- β 8 Ceramide barrier lipids with cholesterol/phytosphingosine partners
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Makeup base
Okay
PillsPrimer
- β 1 Primer-style base, volatile silicones and dimethicone slip
- β 3 1 soft-focus powders in moderation
- β 1 Gel polymers prone to pilling under friction (Carbomer, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate)
- β 3.5 Humectant syrup tackiness (partly offset by the base)
π
Water resistance
Not resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
Nothing flagged in the ingredient list.
How we rate water resistance βSkincare extras
Beneficial actives this formula contains. Informational only, not part of the rating: their effect depends on a concentration the label does not disclose.
- β¨ Niacinamide
Full ingredient list (31)
What each ingredient does and how it moves each rating: green helps, red hurts, β / β give the direction, and β / β shift a slider toward its ends (finish, moisture, makeup base). Auto-derived from our scoring rules and the ingredient's position.
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1 Water
Solvent base, the water phase
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Legacy UV filter (Homosalate), high in the list, a primary filter
- β 12 UV protection
- β 9 migrates into eyes with sweat
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3 Glycerin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 16 β nourishing the anchor humectant
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Legacy UV filter (Octocrylene)
- β 15.2 UV protection
- β 10.5 stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β 15 migrates into eyes with sweat
- β 15 co-stains alongside avobenzone
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Legacy UV filter (Octisalate)
- β 7.6 UV protection
- β 6 migrates into eyes with sweat
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Soothing, skin-conditioning active
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7 Silica
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light β 5 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte β 6 sebum-absorbing powder
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Legacy UV filter (Avobenzone), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- β 24 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- β 3.5 stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β 8 migrates into eyes with sweat
- β 38 reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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Fatty alcohol, an emollient and thickener, not the drying kind
- 0.5 β nourishing fatty-alcohol emollient
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 14 feeds malassezia
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 14 feeds malassezia
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Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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14 Stearic Acid
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- β 2 minor malassezia feeder
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Supporting ingredient
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- β 1 moderate comedogenic signal
- β 2 minor malassezia feeder
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Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
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19 Xanthan Gum
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
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Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
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21 Tocopherol
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 9 feeds malassezia
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- β 1 moderate comedogenic signal
- β 12 feeds malassezia
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Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 2 β nourishing hyaluronic family
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25 Ceramide NP
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
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26 Ceramide AP
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
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Soothing, skin-conditioning active
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28 Cholesterol
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
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29 Carbomer
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
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Humectant, pulls water into the skin
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31 Ceramide EOP
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
What SPF is CeraVe Facial Moisturising Lotion and is it enough?
It is SPF 25 with moderate protection. That is fine for casual daily wear, but the lower SPF makes it less suited to long or intense sun exposure.
Does the CeraVe Facial Moisturising Lotion Spf 25 leave a white cast?
No, white cast is rated low. It is a chemical formula that absorbs into the skin, so it should not leave a visible film.
Is it good for sensitive skin?
It can be. It does not sting and has a low breakout-trigger rating, and the lightweight moisturiser feel suits everyday face use.