CVS Health SPF 55 Clear Face Lotion
62/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
CVS Health SPF 55 Clear Face Lotion is a chemical sunscreen built on older-generation filters including avobenzone, homosalate, octocrylene and oxybenzone. It wears with a balanced finish and low white cast, and stays lightweight on the face, though the reformulated filter set is dated by current standards. Pore-clogging risk is rated low, so it should sit reasonably under makeup. With a score of 61.5/100 and good UV protection, it is a serviceable everyday face option rather than a standout.
Ingredient & SPF scores
βοΈ
UV protection
Good
66
- +30 Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane at #1, UV filter (UVA1 +16)
- +12 Homosalate at #2, UV filter
- +8 Ethylhexyl Salicylate at #3, UV filter
- +15.2 Octocrylene at #4, UV filter
- +20.9 Benzophenone-3 at #5, UV filter
- β8.9 UVB coverage saturated
- β6.2 UVA2 coverage saturated
- Γ0.9 Limited long-UVA1 coverage
- +2 Label claims (SPF 55)
β’οΈ
Health safety
Low
2
- +100 Starting score
- β70 Oxybenzone at #5 (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β14 Homosalate at #2, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β10.5 Octocrylene at #4, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β3.5 Avobenzone at #1, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- +0 2 endocrine-scrutinized filters together
π€§
Allergens
Low
91
- +100 Starting score
- β9 Photoallergen-tail UV filters (Benzophenone-3, Octocrylene)
π₯
Eye sting
Medium
32
- +100 Starting score
- β24 Avobenzone at #1, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β15 Octocrylene at #4, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β11 Oxybenzone at #5, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β9 Homosalate at #2, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β9 Octisalate at #3, migrates into eyes with sweat
π
Fungal acne
Medium
73
- +100 Starting score
- β27 3 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Steareth-100, Steareth-2, Trideceth-6)
π
Fabric stains
High
5
- +100 Starting score
- β50 Avobenzone at #1, reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
- β20 Oxybenzone at #5, yellow stains on white cotton
- β15 Octocrylene at #4, co-stains alongside avobenzone
- β10 Avobenzone + Octocrylene, the classic staining pair
π§
Moisture
Balanced
LightNourishing
- β 1.5 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica)
- β 1 Glycerin at #21, the anchor humectant
β¨
Finish
Balanced
MatteDewy
- β 1 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica)
- β 3 1 emollient lipids (C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate)
- β 1 1 slippy emollient esters (Ethylhexyl Stearate)
π
Makeup base
Okay
PillsPrimer
- β 1 Dry-touch esters, smooth fast-absorbing base
- β 0.5 Gel polymers prone to pilling under friction (Sodium Polyacrylate)
π
Water resistance
Resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
- +19 3 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¨ Bisabolol
Full ingredient list (36)
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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Legacy UV filter (Avobenzone), high in the list, a primary filter
- β 30 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- β 3.5 stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β 24 migrates into eyes with sweat
- β 50 reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
-
Legacy UV filter (Homosalate), high in the list, a primary filter
- β 12 UV protection
- β 14 stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β 9 migrates into eyes with sweat
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Legacy UV filter (Octisalate), high in the list, a primary filter
- β 8 UV protection
- β 9 migrates into eyes with sweat
-
Legacy UV filter (Octocrylene)
- β 15.2 UV protection
- β 10.5 stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β 15 migrates into eyes with sweat
- β 15 co-stains alongside avobenzone
-
Legacy UV filter (Oxybenzone)
- β 20.9 UV protection
- β 11 migrates into eyes with sweat
- β 20 yellow stains on white cotton
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
- β 13 film former
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7 BHT
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- 3 β dewy emollient lipid
-
Protein, peptide or amino acid, conditions and hydrates skin
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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Botanical extract
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Botanical extract
-
17 Dimethicone
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- 1 β dewy slippy emollient ester
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
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21 Glycerin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 1 β nourishing the anchor humectant
-
22 Mannan
Supporting ingredient
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
25 Polyester-7
Film former, locks the formula onto skin for water resistance
- β 3 film former
-
Botanical extract
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
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28 Sarcosine
Protein, peptide or amino acid, conditions and hydrates skin
-
29 Silica
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light β 1.5 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte β 1 sebum-absorbing powder
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
31 Steareth-100
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 9 feeds malassezia
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32 Steareth-2
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 9 feeds malassezia
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
- β 3 film former
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34 Trideceth-6
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 9 feeds malassezia
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35 Water
Solvent base, the water phase
-
36 Xanthan Gum
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
Does CVS Health SPF 55 Clear Face Lotion leave a white cast?
No, white cast is rated low, so it should apply clear on most skin tones. The finish is balanced and the formula stays lightweight on the face.
Is the CVS Health SPF 55 Clear Face Lotion mineral or chemical?
It is a chemical sunscreen. It uses older-generation filters including avobenzone, homosalate, octocrylene and oxybenzone, with no mineral filters.
Is CVS Health SPF 55 Clear Face Lotion any good?
It scores 61.5/100 with good UV protection, making it a serviceable everyday face option. Breakout risk is low so it suits most skin, though its dated filter set keeps the overall rating modest.