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CeraVe Skin Renewing Brightening Lotion SPF 30

CeraVe Skin Renewing Brightening Lotion SPF 30

68/100 overall score

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About this sunscreen

CeraVe Skin Renewing Brightening Lotion SPF 30 is a chemical lotion using an older filter set of avobenzone, homosalate, octisalate and octocrylene. It has a balanced, lightweight finish with low white cast and an okay makeup fit, with a medium chance of eye stinging. Pore-clogging risk is generally low. Scoring 67.8/100 with good protection, it is a reasonable everyday SPF 30 moisturizer, though more modern filter blends rate higher.

Ingredient & SPF scores

β˜€οΈ

UV protection

Good 60
  • +30 Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane at #1, UV filter (UVA1 +16)
  • +12 Homosalate at #2, UV filter
  • +8 Ethylhexyl Salicylate at #3, UV filter
  • +15.2 Octocrylene at #4, UV filter
  • Γ—0.9 Limited long-UVA1 coverage
  • +1 Label claims (SPF 30)
How we rate uv protection β†’
☒️

Health safety

Medium 46
  • +100 Starting score
  • βˆ’40 Homosalate at #2 (regulatory/evidence concern)
  • βˆ’10.5 Octocrylene at #4, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
  • βˆ’3.5 Avobenzone at #1, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
How we rate health safety β†’
🀧

Allergens

Low 97
  • +100 Starting score
  • βˆ’3 Photoallergen-tail UV filters (Octocrylene)
How we rate allergens β†’
πŸ‘»

White cast

Low 100
  • +100 Starting score
How we rate white cast β†’
πŸ”₯

Eye sting

Medium 43
  • +100 Starting score
  • βˆ’24 Avobenzone at #1, migrates into eyes with sweat
  • βˆ’15 Octocrylene at #4, migrates into eyes with sweat
  • βˆ’9 Homosalate at #2, migrates into eyes with sweat
  • βˆ’9 Octisalate at #3, migrates into eyes with sweat
How we rate eye sting β†’
πŸͺ¨

Heavy feel

Low 100
  • +100 Starting score
How we rate heavy feel β†’
πŸ”΄

Comedogenic

Low 93
  • +100 Starting score
  • βˆ’7 Isopropyl Isostearate at #10, heavy comedogenic ester
How we rate comedogenic β†’
πŸ„

Fungal acne

Medium 47
  • +100 Starting score
  • βˆ’24 2 polysorbate/sorbitan emulsifiers that feed Malassezia (Polysorbate 80, Sorbitan Oleate)
  • βˆ’27 3 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate)
  • βˆ’2 1 ubiquitous fatty ingredients (Cetearyl Glucoside), weak Malassezia signal
How we rate fungal acne β†’
πŸ‘•

Fabric stains

High 25
  • +100 Starting score
  • βˆ’50 Avobenzone at #1, reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
  • βˆ’15 Octocrylene at #4, co-stains alongside avobenzone
  • βˆ’10 Avobenzone + Octocrylene, the classic staining pair
How we rate fabric stains β†’
πŸ’§

Moisture

Hydrating
LightNourishing
  • ← 4.5 2 sebum-absorbing powders (Aluminium Starch Octenylsuccinate, Boron Nitride)
  • ← 2 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
  • β†’ 10 Glycerin at #6, the anchor humectant
  • β†’ 2 Sodium Hyaluronate at #28, hyaluronic family
  • β†’ 2 1 emollient lipids (Squalane)
  • β†’ 8 Ceramide barrier lipids with cholesterol/phytosphingosine partners
How we rate moisture β†’
✨

Finish

Balanced
MatteDewy
  • ← 4 2 sebum-absorbing powders (Aluminium Starch Octenylsuccinate, Boron Nitride)
  • ← 2 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
  • β†’ 3 1 emollient lipids (Squalane)
  • β†’ 2 1 slippy emollient esters (Isopropyl Isostearate)
How we rate finish β†’
πŸ’„

Makeup base

Okay
PillsPrimer
  • β†’ 1 Primer-style base, volatile silicones and dimethicone slip
  • β†’ 1 Quick-setting carrier, fast, even canvas
  • β†’ 3 1 soft-focus powders in moderation
  • ← 1.5 Gel polymers prone to pilling under friction (Carbomer, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP Copolymer, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer)
  • ← 1.5 Humectant syrup tackiness (partly offset by the base)
How we rate makeup base β†’
🌊

Water resistance

Not resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant

Nothing flagged in the ingredient list.

How we rate water resistance β†’

Skincare extras

Beneficial actives this formula contains. Informational only, not part of the rating: their effect depends on a concentration the label does not disclose.

  • ✨ Niacinamide
  • ✨ Ceramides

Full ingredient list (45)

What each ingredient does and how it moves each rating: green helps, red hurts, ↑ / ↓ give the direction, and ← / β†’ shift a slider toward its ends (finish, moisture, makeup base). Auto-derived from our scoring rules and the ingredient's position.

  1. Legacy UV filter (Avobenzone), high in the list, a primary filter

    • ↑ 30 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
    • ↓ 3.5 stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
    • ↑ 24 migrates into eyes with sweat
    • ↑ 50 reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
  2. 2 Homosalate

    Legacy UV filter (Homosalate), high in the list, a primary filter

    • ↑ 12 UV protection
    • ↑ 9 migrates into eyes with sweat
  3. 3 Ethylhexyl Salicylate

    Legacy UV filter (Octisalate), high in the list, a primary filter

    • ↑ 8 UV protection
    • ↑ 9 migrates into eyes with sweat
  4. 4 Octocrylene

    Legacy UV filter (Octocrylene)

    • ↑ 15.2 UV protection
    • ↓ 10.5 stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
    • ↑ 15 migrates into eyes with sweat
    • ↑ 15 co-stains alongside avobenzone
  5. 5 Water

    Solvent base, the water phase

  6. 6 Glycerin

    Humectant, pulls water into the skin

    • 10 β†’ nourishing the anchor humectant
  7. 7 Niacinamide

    Soothing, skin-conditioning active

  8. 8 Dimethicone

    Emollient, softens and smooths skin

  9. Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish

    • light ← 3 sebum-absorbing powder
    • matte ← 3 sebum-absorbing powder
  10. 10 Isopropyl Isostearate

    Emollient, softens and smooths skin

    • ↑ 7 heavy comedogenic ester
    • 2 β†’ dewy slippy emollient ester
  11. 11 Isohexadecane

    Volatile hydrocarbon, flashes off for a light finish

    • light ← 2 volatile carrier, flashes off
    • matte ← 2 volatile carrier, flashes off
  12. 12 Squalane

    Emollient, softens and smooths skin

    • 2 β†’ nourishing emollient lipid
    • 3 β†’ dewy emollient lipid
  13. 13 Boron Nitride

    Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish

    • light ← 1.5 sebum-absorbing powder
    • matte ← 1 sebum-absorbing powder
  14. 14 Hydroxide K

    pH adjuster

  15. 15 Ceramide NP

    Soothing, skin-conditioning active

  16. 16 Ceramide AP

    Soothing, skin-conditioning active

  17. 17 Ceramide EOP

    Soothing, skin-conditioning active

  18. 18 Carbomer

    Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream

  19. 19 Sorbitan Oleate

    Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended

    • ↑ 12 feeds malassezia
  20. 20 Glyceryl Stearate

    Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended

    • ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
  21. 21 Behenyl Alcohol

    Fatty alcohol, an emollient and thickener, not the drying kind

  22. Protein, peptide or amino acid, conditions and hydrates skin

  23. 23 Cetearyl Alcohol

    Fatty alcohol, an emollient and thickener, not the drying kind

  24. 24 Cetearyl Glucoside

    Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended

    • ↑ 2 minor malassezia feeder
  25. 25 Triethyl Citrate

    Emollient, softens and smooths skin

  26. Supporting ingredient

  27. Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream

  28. 28 Sodium Hyaluronate

    Humectant, pulls water into the skin

    • 2 β†’ nourishing hyaluronic family
  29. 29 Sodium Thiosulfate

    Supporting ingredient

  30. Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended

    • ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
  31. 31 Cholesterol

    Soothing, skin-conditioning active

  32. 32 Phenoxyethanol

    Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling

  33. 33 Carnosine

    Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin

  34. Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream

  35. 35 Tocopherol

    Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin

  36. Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin

  37. 37 Caprylyl Glycol

    Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling

  38. Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable

  39. Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin

  40. 40 Phytosphingosine

    Soothing, skin-conditioning active

  41. 41 Xanthan Gum

    Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream

  42. 42 Cetyl Alcohol

    Fatty alcohol, an emollient and thickener, not the drying kind

  43. 43 Polysorbate 80

    Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended

    • ↑ 12 feeds malassezia
  44. 44 Benzoic Acid

    Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling

  45. 45 PEG-100 Stearate

    Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended

    • ↑ 9 feeds malassezia

Is CeraVe Skin Renewing Brightening Lotion SPF 30 mineral or chemical?

It is a chemical sunscreen on an older filter set of avobenzone, homosalate, octisalate and octocrylene. No mineral filters are used.

Does the CeraVe Skin Renewing Brightening Lotion SPF 30 leave a white cast?

No, white cast is rated low and the finish is balanced and lightweight. It may sting if it gets into the eyes.

Is it good?

It scores 67.8/100 with good protection at SPF 30. It is a reasonable everyday moisturizer, though more modern filter blends rate higher.

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