Cetaphil Sun SPF 30 Light Gel
86/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
Cetaphil Sun Light Gel is an SPF 30 gel sunscreen with a hybrid set of modern chemical filters, including Uvinul A Plus and Tinosorb S. It has a balanced, lightweight gel finish with a low white cast, does not commonly sting, and is rated as working well under makeup. With excellent protection and a high score of 85.8/100, it is generally a strong everyday choice for those who prefer a light gel texture.
Ingredient & SPF scores
βοΈ
UV protection
Excellent
92
- +18 Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate at #2, UV filter
- +34.2 Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate at #4, UV filter (UVA1 +20.9)
- +45.6 Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine at #5, UV filter (UVA1 +15.2)
- β3.1 UVB coverage saturated
- β3.6 UVA2 coverage saturated
- +1 Label claims (SPF 30)
β’οΈ
Health safety
High
64
- +100 Starting score
- β36 Octinoxate at #2 (regulatory/evidence concern)
π₯
Eye sting
Low
61
- +100 Starting score
- β16 Octinoxate at #2, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β18 Volatile alcohol at #3
- β5 Alcohol high up speeds filter migration
π
Fabric stains
Low
85
- +100 Starting score
- β15 Uvinul A Plus (DHHB) at #4, oil-soluble UVA filter, fabric stains
β¨
Finish
Balanced
MatteDewy
- β 5 Volatile alcohol at #3
- β 1 1 dry-touch emollients reduce greasy shine (Dibutyl Adipate)
- β 3 1 emollient lipids (C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate)
π
Makeup base
Good
PillsPrimer
- β 3 Primer-style base, volatile silicones and dimethicone slip
- β 10 Quick-setting carrier (alcohol at #3), fast, even canvas
- β 2 Dry-touch esters, smooth fast-absorbing base
- β 4 Gel polymers prone to pilling under friction (Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer)
π
Water resistance
Resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
- +13 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.
- β¨ Vitamin E
Full ingredient list (15)
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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Legacy UV filter (Octinoxate), high in the list, a primary filter
- β 18 UV protection
- β 16 migrates into eyes with sweat
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3 Alcohol
Volatile alcohol, a drying solvent that can sting eyes
- β 5 high up speeds filter migration
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Modern UV filter, broad-spectrum and photostable (Uvinul A Plus)
- β 34.2 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- β 15 oil-soluble UVA filter, fabric stains
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Modern UV filter, broad-spectrum and photostable (Tinosorb S)
- β 45.6 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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Film former, locks the formula onto skin for water resistance
- β 13 film former
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- 3 β dewy emollient lipid
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- matte β 1 dry-touch emollient, anti-shine
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10 Cyclodextrin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
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11 Tocopherol
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
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Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
pH adjuster
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
-
Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
Does Cetaphil Sun Light Gel leave a white cast?
No, it is rated low for white cast and applies with a balanced, lightweight gel finish. It is a chemical sunscreen, so there is no mineral residue.
Is the Cetaphil Sun SPF 30 Light Gel good for oily skin and under makeup?
It has a light gel texture, is rated low for pore-clogging, and works well under makeup, so it generally suits oily skin and daily layering. It does not commonly sting.
Is this sunscreen any good?
It scores 85.8/100 with excellent SPF 30 protection from a modern hybrid filter system, so it is generally a strong everyday choice.