Cetaphil Daily Defence Moisturiser Spf50+
79/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
Cetaphil Daily Defence Moisturiser is an SPF 50+ chemical sunscreen with a hybrid filter system that pairs avobenzone, octocrylene and ethylhexyl salicylate with modern Tinosorb S, Mexoryl XL and mineral titanium dioxide. It has a balanced, lightweight finish with low white cast and is low on sting and breakout risk. With excellent protection and a score of 79.1/100, it is a dependable everyday moisturizer with strong sun cover.
Ingredient & SPF scores
βοΈ
UV protection
Excellent
100
- +7.6 Ethylhexyl Salicylate at #4, UV filter
- +31.4 Titanium Dioxide at #5, UV filter (UVA1 +4.8)
- +28.5 Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane at #6, UV filter (UVA1 +15.2)
- +38.4 Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine at #8, UV filter (UVA1 +12.8)
- +12.8 Octocrylene at #9, UV filter
- +24 Drometrizole Trisiloxane at #19, UV filter (UVA1 +8.4)
- +13.2 Ethylhexyl Triazone at #20, UV filter
- +8.4 Terephthalylidene Dicamphor Sulfonic Acid at #33, UV filter (UVA1 +3)
- β35.2 UVB coverage saturated
- β29.9 UVA2 coverage saturated
- +2 Label claims (SPF 50)
β’οΈ
Health safety
Medium
57
- +100 Starting score
- β30 Octocrylene at #9 (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β3.5 Avobenzone at #6, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β10 Propylparaben at #30, endocrine-scrutinized preservative
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Allergens
Low
97
- +100 Starting score
- β3 Photoallergen-tail UV filters (Octocrylene)
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White cast
Low
67
- +100 Starting score
- β35 Titanium Dioxide at #5
- +2.4 Coated minerals (Aluminum Hydroxide)
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Eye sting
Low
71
- +100 Starting score
- β16 Avobenzone at #6, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β7 Octocrylene at #9, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β6 Octisalate at #4, migrates into eyes with sweat
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Heavy feel
Low
82
- +100 Starting score
- β16 Titanium Dioxide at #5
- β2 Petrolatum at #15, heaviest occlusive
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Comedogenic
Low
97
- +100 Starting score
- β2 Myristyl Myristate at #26, heavy comedogenic ester
- β1 Hydrogenated Soybean Oil at #23, moderate comedogenic signal
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Fungal acne
Medium
68
- +100 Starting score
- β27 3 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Myristyl Myristate, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate)
- β5 1 ubiquitous fatty ingredients (Stearic Acid), weak Malassezia signal
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Fabric stains
High
10
- +100 Starting score
- β45 Avobenzone at #6, reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
- β15 Octocrylene at #9, co-stains alongside avobenzone
- β10 Mexoryl XL at #19, oil-soluble UVA filter, fabric stains
- β10 Avobenzone + Octocrylene, the classic staining pair
- β10 Titanium Dioxide at #5, white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
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Moisture
Hydrating
LightNourishing
- β 3 2 sebum-absorbing powders (Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Nylon-12)
- β 2 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
- β 16 Glycerin at #3, the anchor humectant
- β 1 Humectant polyols
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Finish
Balanced
MatteDewy
- β 2 2 sebum-absorbing powders (Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Nylon-12)
- β 2 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
- β 9 1 emollient lipids (C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate)
- β 1 Occlusives seal moisture in (Petrolatum)
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Makeup base
Okay
PillsPrimer
- β 3 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 (Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate)
- β 1 Occlusives/waxes float the foundation
- β 7 Humectant syrup tackiness
- β 6 High mineral load at #5 greys under foundation
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Water resistance
Not resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
Nothing flagged in the ingredient list.
How we rate water resistance βFull ingredient list (35)
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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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- 9 β dewy emollient lipid
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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 (Octisalate)
- β 7.6 UV protection
- β 6 migrates into eyes with sweat
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Mineral UV filter (Titanium Dioxide)
- β 31.4 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- β 10 white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
- pills β 6 High mineral load greys under foundation
-
Legacy UV filter (Avobenzone)
- β 28.5 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- β 3.5 stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β 16 migrates into eyes with sweat
- β 45 reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 1 β nourishing humectant polyol
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Modern UV filter, broad-spectrum and photostable (Tinosorb S), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- β 38.4 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
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Legacy UV filter (Octocrylene), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- β 12.8 UV protection
- β 7 migrates into eyes with sweat
- β 15 co-stains alongside avobenzone
-
Volatile silicone, flashes off for a light finish
- light β 2 volatile carrier, flashes off
- matte β 2 volatile carrier, flashes off
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11 Stearic Acid
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- β 5 minor malassezia feeder
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12 Dimethicone
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light β 1.5 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte β 1 sebum-absorbing powder
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14 Nylon-12
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light β 1.5 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte β 1 sebum-absorbing powder
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15 Petrolatum
Occlusive, seals moisture into the skin
- β 2 heaviest occlusive
- 1 β dewy occlusive
-
Supporting ingredient
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
-
Modern UV filter, broad-spectrum and photostable (Mexoryl XL), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- β 24 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- β 10 oil-soluble UVA filter, fabric stains
-
Modern UV filter, broad-spectrum and photostable (Uvinul T 150), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- β 13.2 UV protection
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21 Ethylparaben
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 9 feeds malassezia
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Plant oil, an emollient
- β 1 moderate comedogenic signal
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Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- β 2 heavy comedogenic ester
- β 9 feeds malassezia
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 9 feeds malassezia
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
- β 10 endocrine-scrutinized preservative
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Fatty alcohol, an emollient and thickener, not the drying kind
-
Modern UV filter, broad-spectrum and photostable (Mexoryl SX), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- β 8.4 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
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34 Tocopherol
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
pH adjuster
Is the Cetaphil Daily Defence Moisturiser Spf50+ any good?
Yes, it scores 79.1/100 with excellent protection. The hybrid filter system is modern and well-rounded, making it a dependable everyday moisturizer with strong sun cover.
Does the Cetaphil Daily Defence Moisturiser Spf50+ leave a white cast?
No, white cast is rated low even though it includes mineral titanium dioxide, so it tends to apply clear.
Is it good for sensitive or acne-prone skin?
It is rated low on sting and low on pore-clogging risk with a balanced, lightweight finish, which generally suits sensitive and acne-prone skin.