Cetaphil Sun Daylong™ Sensitive Gel-Creme SPF 50+
87/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
Cetaphil Sun Daylong Sensitive Gel-Creme SPF 50+ is a hybrid sunscreen that pairs modern filters like bis-ethylhexyloxyphenol methoxyphenyl triazine and ethylhexyl triazone with titanium dioxide. It has a balanced, lightweight feel, low white cast, and a sensitive-skin focus that does not sting. Protection lands in the excellent tier and it works reasonably well under makeup. The high overall rating makes it a strong daily pick for sensitive skin.
Ingredient & SPF scores
☀️
UV protection
Excellent
100
- +18 Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate at #2, UV filter
- +34.2 Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate at #5, UV filter (UVA1 +20.9)
- +45.6 Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine at #6, UV filter (UVA1 +15.2)
- +26.4 Titanium Dioxide at #8, UV filter (UVA1 +4)
- +17.6 Ethylhexyl Triazone at #12, UV filter
- +28.8 Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol at #13, UV filter (UVA1 +10.8)
- −43.1 UVB coverage saturated
- −21.6 UVA2 coverage saturated
- −5.9 UVA1 coverage saturated
- +2 Label claims (SPF 50)
☢️
Health safety
High
64
- +100 Starting score
- −36 Octinoxate at #2 (regulatory/evidence concern)
👻
White cast
Low
90
- +100 Starting score
- −7.5 Titanium Dioxide at #8 (nano)
- −3 Tinosorb M at #13
🔥
Eye sting
Low
61
- +100 Starting score
- −16 Octinoxate at #2, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −18 Volatile alcohol at #3
- −5 Alcohol high up speeds filter migration
🪨
Heavy feel
Low
96
- +100 Starting score
- −6 Titanium Dioxide at #8
- +2.4 Volatile alcohol at #3, evaporating texture
🍄
Fungal acne
Low
91
- +100 Starting score
- −9 1 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Polyglyceryl-2 Dipolyhydroxystearate)
👕
Fabric stains
Low
80
- +100 Starting score
- −15 Uvinul A Plus (DHHB) at #5, oil-soluble UVA filter, fabric stains
- −5 Titanium Dioxide at #8, white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
💧
Moisture
Light
LightNourishing
- ← 22 Volatile alcohol at #3
- ← 1.5 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica)
✨
Finish
Balanced
MatteDewy
- ← 1 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica)
- ← 5 Volatile alcohol at #3
- ← 2 1 dry-touch emollients reduce greasy shine (Dibutyl Adipate)
- → 6 1 emollient lipids (C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate)
💄
Makeup base
Good
PillsPrimer
- → 1 Primer-style base, volatile silicones and dimethicone slip
- → 10 Quick-setting carrier (alcohol at #3), fast, even canvas
- → 4 Dry-touch esters, smooth fast-absorbing base
- ← 0.5 Gel polymers prone to pilling under friction (Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer)
🌊
Water resistance
Not resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
- +7 1 film-forming polymers that lock the formula on for water resistance
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.
- ✨ Vitamin E
Full ingredient list (24)
What each ingredient does and how it moves each rating: green helps, red hurts, ↑ / ↓ give the direction, and ← / → 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
-
Legacy UV filter (Octinoxate), high in the list, a primary filter
- ↑ 18 UV protection
- ↑ 16 migrates into eyes with sweat
-
3 Alcohol
Volatile alcohol, a drying solvent that can sting eyes
- ↑ 5 high up speeds filter migration
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- 6 → dewy emollient lipid
-
Modern UV filter, broad-spectrum and photostable (Uvinul A Plus)
- ↑ 34.2 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- ↑ 15 oil-soluble UVA filter, fabric stains
-
Modern UV filter, broad-spectrum and photostable (Tinosorb S)
- ↑ 45.6 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- matte ← 2 dry-touch emollient, anti-shine
-
Mineral UV filter (Titanium Dioxide), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- ↑ 26.4 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- ↑ 5 white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Film former, locks the formula onto skin for water resistance
- ↑ 7 film former
-
11 Cyclodextrin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Modern UV filter, broad-spectrum and photostable (Uvinul T 150), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- ↑ 17.6 UV protection
-
Modern UV filter, broad-spectrum and photostable (Tinosorb M), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- ↑ 28.8 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
-
14 Tocopherol
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
-
16 Silica
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light ← 1.5 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte ← 1 sebum-absorbing powder
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
-
pH adjuster
-
19 Xanthan Gum
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
-
23 BHT
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
Is the Cetaphil Sun Daylong™ Sensitive Gel-Creme SPF 50+ mineral or chemical?
It is a hybrid, pairing modern chemical filters with titanium dioxide. It is not a pure mineral sunscreen.
Is the Cetaphil Sun Daylong™ Sensitive Gel-Creme SPF 50+ good for sensitive skin?
It is designed with sensitive skin in mind, does not sting, and is low on the pore-clogging scale. The gel-creme texture stays lightweight.
Is it any good?
Yes. It lands in the excellent protection tier with a high overall rating, making it a strong daily sunscreen for sensitive skin.