CeraVe Sunscreen Stick Spf 50
75/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
CeraVe Sunscreen Stick SPF 50 is a pure mineral sunscreen using Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide. As an all-mineral stick it tends to feel heavier on skin and carries a higher chance of a visible white cast, with a dewy finish and a poor fit under makeup. It is generally low on pore-clogging concern and does not commonly sting, which suits sensitive skin. With good protection and a score of 74.6/100, it is a sturdy mineral pick best for touch-ups rather than makeup wear.
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
High
24
- +100 Starting score
- β55 Zinc Oxide at #2
- β50 Titanium Dioxide at #1
- β10 Zinc Oxide + Titanium Dioxide together
- β15 Pure mineral formula
- +30 Penalties exceed the scale, floored at 0
- +10 PHSA dispersant, fights agglomeration
- +13.5 Coated minerals (Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Aluminum Hydroxide)
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Heavy feel
High
0
- +100 Starting score
- β40 Zinc Oxide at #2
- β30 Titanium Dioxide at #1
- β6 Cera Alba at #10, wax film
- β6 Polyethylene at #11, wax film
- β6 Ozokerite at #8, wax film
- β12 Paraffin at #6, wax film
- β10 Both minerals in the top 3, dual mineral paste
- β10 Mineral suspended in a dense emollient base (basic)
- β12 Stick/balm format with a wax skeleton
- +32 Penalties exceed the scale, floored at 0
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Fungal acne
Low
89
- +100 Starting score
- β9 1 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate)
- β2 1 ubiquitous fatty ingredients (Stearic Acid), weak Malassezia signal
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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
Balanced
LightNourishing
- β 5 Zinc Oxide at #2, mild sebum absorbent
- β 2 Titanium Dioxide at #1, mild sebum absorbent
- β 2 Sodium Hyaluronate at #18, hyaluronic family
- β 0.5 1 fatty-alcohol emollients (Cetyl Alcohol)
- β 8 Ceramide barrier lipids with cholesterol/phytosphingosine partners
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Makeup base
Poor
PillsPrimer
- β 1 Primer-style base, volatile silicones and dimethicone slip
- β 3 Dry-touch esters, smooth fast-absorbing base
- β 0.5 Gel polymers prone to pilling under friction (Carbomer)
- β 10 Occlusives/waxes float the foundation
- β 15 High mineral load at #1 greys under foundation
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Water resistance
Resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
- +19 4 water-locking waxes
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.
- β¨ Ceramides
Full ingredient list (27)
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 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)
- light β 5 mild sebum absorbent
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- 9 β dewy emollient lipid
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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6 Paraffin
Occlusive, seals moisture into the skin
- β 12 wax film
- β 7 wax water lock
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Occlusive, seals moisture into the skin
-
Occlusive, seals moisture into the skin
- β 6 wax film
- β 4 wax water lock
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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10 Cera Alba
Occlusive, seals moisture into the skin
- β 6 wax film
- β 4 wax water lock
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11 Polyethylene
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- β 6 wax film
- β 4 wax water lock
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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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13 Ceramide NP
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
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14 Ceramide AP
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
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15 Ceramide EOP
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
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16 Cholesterol
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
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Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 2 β nourishing hyaluronic family
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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Supporting ingredient
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21 Stearic Acid
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- β 2 minor malassezia feeder
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22 BHT
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
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23 Carbomer
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
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Supporting ingredient
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 9 feeds malassezia
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27 Xanthan Gum
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
Does CeraVe Sunscreen Stick SPF 50 leave a white cast?
It can. As an all-mineral stick its white-cast risk rates high, so it may look visible on deeper skin tones without thorough blending.
Is the CeraVe Sunscreen Stick Spf 50 good under makeup?
Not really. It rates a poor makeup base and tends to feel heavier, so it is better for touch-ups than layering under foundation.
Is CeraVe Sunscreen Stick mineral or chemical?
It is a pure mineral sunscreen, using only Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide, which suits sensitive skin.