CeraVe Hydrating Sunscreen Face Lotion Broad Spectrum Spf 50
82/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
CeraVe Hydrating Sunscreen Face Lotion Broad Spectrum SPF 50 is a pure mineral sunscreen using titanium dioxide and zinc oxide, so it suits sensitive skin and does not sting the eyes. The finish is balanced and lightweight with a medium white cast that can show on deeper tones, common with mineral filters. Breakout risk is generally low and the makeup fit is okay. At 81.9/100 with good protection, it is a dependable everyday mineral face option.
Ingredient & SPF scores
βοΈ
UV protection
Good
75
- +33 Titanium Dioxide at #1, UV filter (UVA1 +5)
- +41 Zinc Oxide at #2, UV filter (UVA1 +18)
- β1 UVA2 coverage saturated
- +2 Label claims (SPF 50)
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White cast
Medium
56
- +100 Starting score
- β14 Zinc Oxide, 7% declared
- β18 Titanium Dioxide, 9% declared
- β10 Zinc Oxide + Titanium Dioxide together
- β15 Pure mineral formula (16% total declared)
- +5.7 PHSA dispersant, fights agglomeration
- +7.7 Coated minerals (Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Aluminum Hydroxide)
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Heavy feel
Low
68
- +100 Starting score
- β8 Zinc Oxide, 7% declared
- β20 Titanium Dioxide, 9% declared
- β10 Both minerals in the top 3, dual mineral paste
- +5.7 Volatile hydrocarbon at #7, flashes off
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Comedogenic
Low
98
- +100 Starting score
- β1 Myristic Acid at #31, moderate comedogenic signal
- β1 Palmitic Acid at #34, moderate comedogenic signal
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Fungal acne
High
0
- +100 Starting score
- β12 1 free fatty acids that feed Malassezia (Myristic Acid)
- β36 3 polysorbate/sorbitan emulsifiers that feed Malassezia (Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan Stearate, Sorbitan Isostearate)
- β50 5 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, PEG-8 Laurate)
- β4 2 ubiquitous fatty ingredients (Stearic Acid, Palmitic Acid), weak Malassezia signal
- +2 Penalties exceed the scale, floored at 0
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Fabric stains
Low
80
- +100 Starting score
- β15 Titanium Dioxide at #1, white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
- β5 Both minerals present, heavier deposit
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Moisture
Hydrating
LightNourishing
- β 4 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
- β 5 Zinc Oxide at #2, mild sebum absorbent
- β 2 Titanium Dioxide at #1, mild sebum absorbent
- β 10 Glycerin at #4, the anchor humectant
- β 2 Sodium Hyaluronate at #32, hyaluronic family
- β 1 1 strong humectants (Panthenol)
- β 8 Ceramide barrier lipids with cholesterol/phytosphingosine partners
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Finish
Balanced
MatteDewy
- β 4 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
- β 1 1 dry-touch emollients reduce greasy shine (Dicaprylyl Carbonate)
- β 6 1 emollient lipids (C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate)
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Makeup base
Okay
PillsPrimer
- β 3 Primer-style base, volatile silicones and dimethicone slip
- β 3 Quick-setting carrier, fast, even canvas
- β 3 Dry-touch esters, smooth fast-absorbing base
- β 1 Gel polymers prone to pilling under friction (Carbomer, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer)
- β 1.5 Humectant syrup tackiness (partly offset by the base)
- β 15 High mineral load at #1 greys under foundation
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Water resistance
Not resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
- +7 1 film-forming polymers that lock the formula on for water resistance
Full ingredient list (46)
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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Mineral UV filter (Titanium Dioxide), high in the list, a primary filter
- β 33 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- β 18 9% declared
- β 20 9% declared
- β 15 white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
- light β 2 mild sebum absorbent
- pills β 15 High mineral load greys under foundation
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Mineral UV filter (Zinc Oxide), high in the list, a primary filter
- β 41 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- β 14 7% declared
- β 8 7% declared
- light β 5 mild sebum absorbent
-
3 Water
Solvent base, the water phase
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4 Glycerin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 10 β nourishing the anchor humectant
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- 6 β dewy emollient lipid
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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Volatile hydrocarbon, flashes off for a light finish
- light β 4 volatile carrier, flashes off
- matte β 4 volatile carrier, flashes off
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Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
- β 7 film former
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 14 feeds malassezia
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- matte β 1 dry-touch emollient, anti-shine
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12 Propanediol
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
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13 Stearic Acid
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- β 2 minor malassezia feeder
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Supporting ingredient
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 9 feeds malassezia
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 12 feeds malassezia
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17 Niacinamide
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 9 feeds malassezia
-
19 Ceramide NP
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
20 Ceramide AP
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
21 Ceramide EOP
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 12 feeds malassezia
-
23 Carbomer
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Fatty alcohol, an emollient and thickener, not the drying kind
-
25 Ceteareth-20
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 9 feeds malassezia
-
Supporting ingredient
-
27 Dimethiconol
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
pH adjuster
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 9 feeds malassezia
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- β 1 moderate comedogenic signal
- β 12 feeds malassezia
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 2 β nourishing hyaluronic family
-
33 Cholesterol
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- β 1 moderate comedogenic signal
- β 2 minor malassezia feeder
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
37 Tocopherol
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
40 Citric Acid
pH adjuster
-
41 Panthenol
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
- 1 β nourishing humectant
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42 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
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
Is CeraVe Hydrating Sunscreen Face Lotion mineral or chemical?
It is a pure mineral sunscreen, using only titanium dioxide and zinc oxide. That makes it a good fit for sensitive skin.
Does the CeraVe Hydrating Sunscreen Face Lotion Broad Spectrum Spf 50 leave a white cast?
White cast is rated medium, which is common for mineral formulas, so it can show on deeper skin tones. The finish itself is balanced.
Is it good?
It scores 81.9/100 with good protection at SPF 50. It is a dependable everyday mineral face sunscreen that does not sting the eyes.