Cetaphil Sheer Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50
81/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
Cetaphil Sheer Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50 is a pure mineral formula built on Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide. It wears lightweight with a balanced finish and generally does not sting, though like most mineral SPF 50 it carries a medium chance of visible cast. Pore-clogging risk is low. With good protection and a score of 81.3/100, it is one of the stronger gentle mineral options for sensitive skin and daily face use.
Ingredient & SPF scores
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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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Allergens
Low
99
- +100 Starting score
- β1 1 declared fragrance allergens
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White cast
Medium
52
- +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)
- +8.6 Coated minerals (Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Aluminum Hydroxide)
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Heavy feel
Low
66
- +100 Starting score
- β8 Zinc Oxide, 7% declared
- β20 Titanium Dioxide, 9% declared
- β2 Cetyl Palmitate at #14, wax film
- β10 Both minerals in the top 3, dual mineral paste
- +6 Volatile hydrocarbon at #4, flashes off
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Fungal acne
High
27
- +100 Starting score
- β30 2 polysorbate/sorbitan emulsifiers that feed Malassezia (Sorbitan Palmitate, Sorbitan Olivate)
- β41 4 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Cetyl Palmitate, Cetearyl Olivate, Sodium Stearoyl 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 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 2 Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid at #22, hyaluronic family
- β 0.5 1 fatty-alcohol emollients (Cetearyl Alcohol)
- 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
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Makeup base
Okay
PillsPrimer
- β 3 Quick-setting carrier, fast, even canvas
- β 0.5 Gel polymers prone to pilling under friction (Carbomer)
- β 15 High mineral load at #1 greys under foundation
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Water resistance
Resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
- +20 2 film-forming polymers that lock the formula on for water resistance
- +2 1 water-locking waxes
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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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
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3 Water
Solvent base, the water phase
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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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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
- β 13 film former
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 18 feeds malassezia
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 14 feeds malassezia
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Film former, locks the formula onto skin for water resistance
- β 7 film former
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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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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- β 9 feeds malassezia
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- β 2 wax film
- β 9 feeds malassezia
- β 2 wax water lock
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 12 feeds malassezia
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
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17 Ceramide NP
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
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18 Ceramide AP
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
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19 Ceramide EOP
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
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20 Cholesterol
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
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Soothing, skin-conditioning active
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Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 2 β nourishing hyaluronic family
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Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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24 Bisabolol
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
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Soothing, skin-conditioning active
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26 Propanediol
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
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27 Xanthan Gum
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
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Supporting ingredient
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 9 feeds malassezia
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30 Carbomer
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
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Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
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Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
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33 Stearic Acid
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- β 2 minor malassezia feeder
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Supporting ingredient
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35 Citric Acid
pH adjuster
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36 Maltodextrin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
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Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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Protein, peptide or amino acid, conditions and hydrates skin
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Protein, peptide or amino acid, conditions and hydrates skin
Does Cetaphil Sheer Mineral SPF 50 leave a white cast?
There is a medium chance of visible cast, which is common for mineral SPF 50. It wears lightweight with a balanced finish, so careful blending generally helps it settle.
Is the Cetaphil Sheer Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50 good for sensitive or acne-prone skin?
Yes, generally. As a pure mineral formula it tends to suit sensitive skin, does not commonly sting, and is low risk for clogging pores.
Is Cetaphil Sheer Mineral SPF 50 any good?
It scores 81.3/100 with good protection, making it one of the stronger gentle mineral options for daily face use.