Cetaphil Sheer Mineral Sunscreen Stick Broad Spectrum SPF 50
80/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
Cetaphil Sheer Mineral Sunscreen Stick is an SPF 50 broad-spectrum pure mineral stick using Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide. The stick format keeps white cast low and does not sting, with a balanced finish, but it feels heavy and is poor as a makeup base. It is low on pore-clogging risk. With good protection and a score of 79.7/100, it is a convenient mineral option for on-the-go reapplication.
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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White cast
Low
64
- +100 Starting score
- β6 Zinc Oxide, 4.7% declared
- β18 Titanium Dioxide, 6% declared
- β10 Zinc Oxide + Titanium Dioxide together
- β8 Pure mineral formula (10.7% total declared)
- +6.3 Coated minerals (Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Aluminum Hydroxide)
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Heavy feel
High
24
- +100 Starting score
- β8 Zinc Oxide, 4.7% declared
- β10 Titanium Dioxide, 6% declared
- β12 Cera Alba at #4, wax film
- β2 Polyethylene at #15, wax film
- β2 Ozokerite at #13, wax film
- β2 Paraffin at #14, wax film
- β10 Both minerals in the top 3, dual mineral paste
- β18 Mineral suspended in a dense emollient base (strong)
- β12 Stick/balm format with a wax skeleton
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Fungal acne
Safe
98
- +100 Starting score
- 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
Light
LightNourishing
- β 5 Zinc Oxide at #2, mild sebum absorbent
- β 2 Titanium Dioxide at #1, mild sebum absorbent
- β 0.5 1 fatty-alcohol emollients (Cetyl Alcohol)
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Finish
Balanced
MatteDewy
- β 6 1 emollient lipids (C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate)
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Makeup base
Poor
PillsPrimer
- β 1 Primer-style base, volatile silicones and dimethicone slip
- β 2 Dry-touch esters, smooth fast-absorbing base
- β 4 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
- +13 4 water-locking waxes
Full ingredient list (18)
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 6% declared
- β 10 6% 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 6 4.7% declared
- β 8 4.7% declared
- light β 5 mild sebum absorbent
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Supporting ingredient
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Occlusive, seals moisture into the skin
- β 12 wax film
- β 7 wax water lock
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5 BHT
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- 6 β dewy emollient lipid
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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
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Occlusive, seals moisture into the skin
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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13 Ozokerite
Occlusive, seals moisture into the skin
- β 2 wax film
- β 2 wax water lock
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14 Paraffin
Occlusive, seals moisture into the skin
- β 2 wax film
- β 2 wax water lock
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15 Polyethylene
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- β 2 wax film
- β 2 wax water lock
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16 Stearic Acid
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- β 2 minor malassezia feeder
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Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
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Supporting ingredient
Does Cetaphil Sheer Mineral Sunscreen Stick leave a white cast?
It keeps white cast low for a mineral stick and does not sting. It has a balanced finish but feels heavy on the skin.
Is the Cetaphil Sheer Mineral Sunscreen Stick Broad Spectrum SPF 50 mineral or chemical, and what SPF?
It is a pure mineral SPF 50 broad-spectrum stick using Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide. There are no chemical UV filters.
Does Cetaphil Sheer Mineral Stick work under makeup?
It is rated poor as a makeup base, so it is better used on its own or for touch-ups. It scores 79.7/100 with good protection.