Cetaphil UVA/UVB Defence Spf 50+
75/100 overall score
Sign in to see this product's score for your skin.
About this sunscreen
Cetaphil UVA/UVB Defence SPF 50+ is a hybrid sunscreen blending titanium dioxide with ethylhexyl salicylate, avobenzone, terephthalylidene dicamphor sulfonic acid (Mexoryl SX), bis-ethylhexyloxyphenol methoxyphenyl triazine and octocrylene. It wears with a balanced finish, low white cast and a lightweight feel, and is generally gentle with low sting. With good protection and a score of 75.4/100, it is a well-rounded high-SPF daily option.
Ingredient & SPF scores
βοΈ
UV protection
Good
70
- +2.4 Ethylhexyl Salicylate at #28, UV filter
- +9.9 Titanium Dioxide at #29, UV filter (UVA1 +1.5)
- +9 Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane at #30, UV filter (UVA1 +4.8)
- +8.4 Terephthalylidene Dicamphor Sulfonic Acid at #31, UV filter (UVA1 +3)
- +14.4 Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine at #32, UV filter (UVA1 +4.8)
- +4.8 Octocrylene at #33, UV filter
- +6.6 Ethylhexyl Triazone at #34, UV filter
- +12 Drometrizole Trisiloxane at #35, UV filter (UVA1 +4.2)
- +2 Label claims (SPF 50)
β’οΈ
Health safety
Medium
57
- +100 Starting score
- β30 Octocrylene at #33 (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β3.5 Avobenzone at #30, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β10 Propylparaben at #27, endocrine-scrutinized preservative
π€§
Allergens
Low
97
- +100 Starting score
- β3 Photoallergen-tail UV filters (Octocrylene)
π»
White cast
Low
94
- +100 Starting score
- β6 Titanium Dioxide at #29
- +0.4 Coated minerals (Aluminum Hydroxide)
π₯
Eye sting
Low
94
- +100 Starting score
- β3 Avobenzone at #30, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β2 Octocrylene at #33, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β1 Octisalate at #28, migrates into eyes with sweat
πͺ¨
Heavy feel
Low
93
- +100 Starting score
- β2 Titanium Dioxide at #29
- β3 Paraffinum Liquidum at #11, heavy oil
- β5 Stearic Acid at #6, rich gel-network thickener
- +2.5 Volatile silicone at #5, flashes off
π΄
Comedogenic
Low
92
- +100 Starting score
- β7 Myristyl Myristate at #12, heavy comedogenic ester
- β1 Hydrogenated Soybean Oil at #20, moderate comedogenic signal
π
Fungal acne
High
40
- +100 Starting score
- β50 3 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Myristyl Myristate, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate)
- β10 1 ubiquitous fatty ingredients (Stearic Acid), weak Malassezia signal
π
Fabric stains
Medium
35
- +100 Starting score
- β28 Avobenzone at #30, reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
- β15 Octocrylene at #33, co-stains alongside avobenzone
- β10 Mexoryl XL at #35, oil-soluble UVA filter, fabric stains
- β10 Avobenzone + Octocrylene, the classic staining pair
- β2 Titanium Dioxide at #29, white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
π§
Moisture
Hydrating
LightNourishing
- β 3 2 sebum-absorbing powders (Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Nylon-12)
- β 5 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
- β 16 Glycerin at #3, the anchor humectant
- β 1 Humectant polyols
β¨
Finish
Balanced
MatteDewy
- β 2 2 sebum-absorbing powders (Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Nylon-12)
- β 4 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
- β 9 1 emollient lipids (C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate)
- β 3 Occlusives seal moisture in (Paraffinum Liquidum)
π
Makeup base
Okay
PillsPrimer
- β 6 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 4 Occlusives/waxes float the foundation
- β 7 Humectant syrup tackiness
π
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.
-
1 Water
Solvent base, the water phase
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- 9 β dewy emollient lipid
-
3 Glycerin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 16 β nourishing the anchor humectant
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 1 β nourishing humectant polyol
-
Volatile silicone, flashes off for a light finish
- light β 5 volatile carrier, flashes off
- matte β 4 volatile carrier, flashes off
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- β 5 rich gel-network thickener
- β 10 minor malassezia feeder
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 24 feeds malassezia
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 14 feeds malassezia
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
-
10 Dimethicone
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Occlusive, seals moisture into the skin
- β 3 heavy oil
- 3 β dewy occlusive
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- β 7 heavy comedogenic ester
- β 14 feeds malassezia
-
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light β 1.5 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte β 1 sebum-absorbing powder
-
14 Nylon-12
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light β 1.5 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte β 1 sebum-absorbing powder
-
pH adjuster
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Supporting ingredient
-
Fatty alcohol, an emollient and thickener, not the drying kind
-
19 Tocopherol
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Plant oil, an emollient
- β 1 moderate comedogenic signal
-
Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
26 Ethylparaben
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
- β 10 endocrine-scrutinized preservative
-
Legacy UV filter (Octisalate), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- β 2.4 UV protection
- β 1 migrates into eyes with sweat
-
Mineral UV filter (Titanium Dioxide), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- β 9.9 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- β 2 white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
-
Legacy UV filter (Avobenzone), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- β 9 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- β 3.5 stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β 3 migrates into eyes with sweat
- β 28 reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
-
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)
-
Modern UV filter, broad-spectrum and photostable (Tinosorb S), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- β 14.4 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
-
33 Octocrylene
Legacy UV filter (Octocrylene), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- β 4.8 UV protection
- β 2 migrates into eyes with sweat
- β 15 co-stains alongside avobenzone
-
Modern UV filter, broad-spectrum and photostable (Uvinul T 150), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- β 6.6 UV protection
-
Modern UV filter, broad-spectrum and photostable (Mexoryl XL), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- β 12 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- β 10 oil-soluble UVA filter, fabric stains
Does Cetaphil UVA/UVB Defence leave a white cast?
No, white cast is rated low despite the titanium dioxide content. It wears with a balanced, lightweight finish.
Is the Cetaphil UVA/UVB Defence Spf 50+ mineral or chemical?
It is a hybrid, blending mineral titanium dioxide with chemical filters including Mexoryl SX (terephthalylidene dicamphor sulfonic acid), avobenzone and bis-ethylhexyloxyphenol methoxyphenyl triazine.
Is Cetaphil UVA/UVB Defence SPF 50+ a good sunscreen?
Yes, it scores 75.4/100 with good protection and is generally gentle with low sting, making it a well-rounded high-SPF daily option.