CeraVe Hydrating Sheer Face And Body Sunscreen SPF 30
70/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
CeraVe Hydrating Sheer Face and Body Sunscreen SPF 30 is an older-school chemical-led formula (Homosalate, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Octocrylene) with some Zinc Oxide. It is lightweight with a balanced finish and low white cast, and pore-clogging risk is low, though it can sting moderately. It layers okay under makeup. With good protection it scores 70.0/100, a practical sheer option for face and body.
Ingredient & SPF scores
βοΈ
UV protection
Good
59
- +12 Homosalate at #1, UV filter
- +8 Ethylhexyl Salicylate at #2, UV filter
- +16 Octocrylene at #3, UV filter
- +38.9 Zinc Oxide at #4, UV filter (UVA1 +17.1)
- β10.5 UVB coverage saturated
- Γ0.9 Limited long-UVA1 coverage
- +1 Label claims (SPF 30)
β’οΈ
Health safety
Medium
50
- +100 Starting score
- β40 Homosalate at #1 (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β10.5 Octocrylene at #3, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
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Allergens
Low
97
- +100 Starting score
- β3 Photoallergen-tail UV filters (Octocrylene)
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White cast
Low
88
- +100 Starting score
- β14 Zinc Oxide, 7% declared
- +1.4 PHSA dispersant, fights agglomeration
- +0.9 Coated minerals (Triethoxycaprylylsilane)
π₯
Eye sting
Medium
60
- +100 Starting score
- β22 Octocrylene at #3, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β9 Homosalate at #1, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β9 Octisalate at #2, migrates into eyes with sweat
π
Fungal acne
Medium
58
- +100 Starting score
- β24 2 polysorbate/sorbitan emulsifiers that feed Malassezia (Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan Isostearate)
- β18 2 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Steareth-20, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate)
π
Fabric stains
Low
75
- +100 Starting score
- β15 Octocrylene at #3, co-stains alongside avobenzone
- β10 Zinc Oxide at #4, white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
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Moisture
Nourishing
LightNourishing
- β 2 Zinc Oxide at #4, mild sebum absorbent
- β 10 Glycerin at #6, the anchor humectant
- β 2 Sodium Hyaluronate at #25, hyaluronic family
- β 8 Ceramide barrier lipids with cholesterol/phytosphingosine partners
β¨
Finish
Balanced
MatteDewy
- β 2 1 dry-touch emollients reduce greasy shine (Coco-Caprylate/Caprate)
π
Makeup base
Okay
PillsPrimer
- β 2 Dry-touch esters, smooth fast-absorbing base
- β 3 Gel polymers prone to pilling under friction (Carbomer, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, C12-22 Alkyl Acrylate/Hydroxyethylacrylate Copolymer)
- β 3 Humectant syrup tackiness
- β 6 High mineral load at #4 greys under foundation
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
- β¨ Ceramides
Full ingredient list (39)
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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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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Legacy UV filter (Octisalate), high in the list, a primary filter
- β 8 UV protection
- β 9 migrates into eyes with sweat
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Legacy UV filter (Octocrylene), high in the list, a primary filter
- β 16 UV protection
- β 10.5 stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β 22 migrates into eyes with sweat
- β 15 co-stains alongside avobenzone
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Mineral UV filter (Zinc Oxide)
- β 38.9 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- β 14 7% declared
- β 8 7% declared
- β 10 white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
- light β 2 mild sebum absorbent
- pills β 6 High mineral load greys under foundation
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5 Water
Solvent base, the water phase
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6 Glycerin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 10 β nourishing the anchor humectant
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- matte β 2 dry-touch emollient, anti-shine
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
11 Niacinamide
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
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Filter booster, photostabilizes the UV filters or lifts their SPF
-
Occlusive, seals moisture into the skin
-
14 Steareth-20
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 9 feeds malassezia
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15 Ceramide NP
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
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16 Ceramide AP
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
17 Ceramide EOP
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 12 feeds malassezia
-
19 Carbomer
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Supporting ingredient
-
Fatty alcohol, an emollient and thickener, not the drying kind
-
Supporting ingredient
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 9 feeds malassezia
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 2 β nourishing hyaluronic family
-
26 Cholesterol
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
30 Citric Acid
pH adjuster
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
-
Filter booster, photostabilizes the UV filters or lifts their SPF
-
35 Xanthan Gum
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 12 feeds malassezia
-
39 Benzoic Acid
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
Is the CeraVe Hydrating Sheer Face And Body Sunscreen SPF 30 mineral or chemical?
It is mostly chemical, using Homosalate, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, and Octocrylene, with some Zinc Oxide added. So it is a chemical-led hybrid.
Does the CeraVe Hydrating Sheer Face And Body Sunscreen SPF 30 leave a white cast?
White cast is rated low, so it should blend in well across most skin tones despite the small amount of Zinc Oxide.
What SPF is it?
It is SPF 30, sold for both face and body. Protection is rated good.