CeraVe Sunscreen for Face SPF 30
The CeraVe Sunscreen for Face SPF 30 is a sunscreen. Our analysis of its 49 ingredients (45 low-risk) rates it Excellent (95/100). Based on its ingredients, it looks well-suited to oily / acne-prone and dry skin.
The CeraVe Sunscreen for Face SPF 30 is a sunscreen. Our analysis of its 49 ingredients (45 low-risk) rates it Excellent (95/100). Based on its ingredients, it looks well-suited to oily / acne-prone and dry skin.
Summarised from our ingredient analysis — not brand marketing copy.
The evidence
| EWG | CIR | Ingredient Name & Cosmetic Functions | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
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Titanium/Titanium Dioxide
(Cosmetic Colorant, Opacifying) |
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Zinc Oxide
(Bulking Agent, Cosmetic Colorant, Skin Protecting, Sunscreen Agent) |
Good for Oily Skin
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Butyloctyl Salicylate
(Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Solvent) |
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Cetyl Dimethicone
(Antifoaming Agent, Skin Conditioning Agent Occlusive, Emollient) |
Silicone
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Dimethicone
(Antifoaming Agent, Skin Protecting, Emollient, Skin Conditioning) |
Silicone
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Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer
(Film Forming, Opacifying) |
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Trimethylsiloxysilicate
(Antifoaming Agent, Emollient, Skin Conditioning) |
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Arachidyl Alcohol
(Emulsion Stabilising, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Emollient, Viscosity Controlling) |
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Arachidyl Glucoside
(Emulsifying, Surfactant) |
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Trisiloxane
(Antifoaming Agent, Skin Conditioning) |
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Lauryl PEG-8 Dimethicone
(Surfactant) |
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Isohexadecane
(Skin Conditioning, Emollient, Solvent) |
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Butylene Glycol
(Fragrance, Skin Conditioning, Solvent, Viscositydecreasing Agent, Humectant, Masking, Viscosity Controlling) |
Good for Dry Skin
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Polysorbate 60
(Emulsifying, Surfactant) |
Fungal Acne Trigger
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Polyhydroxystearic Acid
(Suspending Agent Nonsurfactant, Emulsifying) |
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Silica
(Abrasive, Absorbent, Anticaking Agent, Bulking Agent, Opacifying, Viscosity Controlling) |
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Ceramide | |
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Ceramide 6 II
(Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning) |
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Ceramide 1
(Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning) |
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Cholesterol
(Emulsion Stabilising, Skin Conditioning, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Emollient, Emulsifying, Stabilising, Viscosity Controlling) |
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Niacinamide
(Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Smoothing) |
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Phytosphingosine
(Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning) |
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PEG-100 Stearate
(Surfactant) |
Fungal Acne Trigger
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Glyceryl Stearate
(Emollient, Emulsifying) |
Fungal Acne Trigger
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Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C)
(Antioxidant, Fragrance, Ph Adjuster, Skin Conditioning, Buffering Agent, Masking) |
Good for Dry Skin
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Avena Sativa (Oat) Kernel Extract
(Antioxidant, Skin Conditioning, Emollient, Abrasive) |
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Beeswax
(Binding Agent, Emulsion Stabilising, Epilating Agent, Fragrance, Skin Conditioning Agent Miscellaneous, Emulsifying, Surfactant, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Emollient, Film Forming, Perfuming) |
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Behenyl Alcohol
(Binding Agent, Emulsion Stabilising, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Binding, Emollient, Viscosity Controlling) |
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Benzyl Alcohol
(External Analgesic, Fragrance, Oral Health Care Drug, Preservative, Solvent, Viscosity Decreasing Agent, Masking) |
Allergens
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Stearic Acid
(Fragrance, Sufactant, Emulsifying, Surfactantsurfactant Cleansing Agent Is Included As A Function For The Soap Form Of Stearic Acid., Emulsion Stabilising, Masking, Refatting) |
Bad for Oily Skin
Fungal Acne Trigger
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(-)-alpha-isabolol | |
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Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
(Flavoring Agent, Skin Conditioning, Humectant) |
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Ethylhexylglycerin
(Deodorant, Skin Conditioning) |
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Glycerin
(Denaturant, Fragrance, Hair Conditioning, Humectant, Oral Care Agent, Oral Health Care Drug, Skin Protecting, Viscosity Decreasing Agent, Perfuming, Solvent) |
Good for Dry Skin
Fungal Acne Trigger
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Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
(Emulsion Stabilising, Viscosity Controlling) |
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Pantothenic Acid/Yeast Polypeptide
(Skin Conditioning) |
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PEG-8
(Humectant, Solvent) |
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Xanthan Gum
(Binding Agent, Emulsion Stabilising, Skin Conditioning, Surfactant Emulsifying Agent, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Binding, Gel Forming, Viscosity Controlling) |
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Polyaminopropyl Biguanide
(Preservative) |
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Polymethyl Methacrylate
(Film Forming) |
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Potassium Sorbate
(Fragrance, Preservative) |
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Retinyl Palmitate (Vitamin A) |
Good for Dry Skin
Fungal Acne Trigger
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Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate
(Emulsifying, Surfactant) |
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Carbomer
(Emulsion Stabilising, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Gel Forming, Viscosity Controlling) |
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Tocopheryl Acetate
(Antioxidant, Skin Conditioning) |
Bad for Oily Skin
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Disodium EDTA
(Chelating Agent, Viscosity Controlling) |
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Methicone
(Surface Modifier, Antistatic Agent, Emollient, Skin Conditioning) |
Silicone
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Methylisothiazolinone
(Preservative) |
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Triethoxycaprylylsilane
(Binding Agent, Binding) |
No personal ingredient notes yet. Save ingredients to your profile to get good/bad alerts here.
EWG flags hazard, not real-world risk — ratings don't account for how much of an ingredient a product contains. Treat these as things to research, not verdicts. How we score →
How to use
General guidance from this product's category and active ingredients — always follow the directions on the package.
Trust & honesty
Contains ingredients some choose to avoid or double-check while pregnant or nursing.
Topical retinoids (retinol, retinaldehyde, retinyl esters) are widely advised against in pregnancy as a precaution. The strongest evidence is for ORAL retinoids; topical absorption is low, but most clinicians err on the side of caution.
This is general information, not medical advice. Pregnancy guidance varies and depends on concentration and your individual situation — always check with your doctor, midwife or pharmacist. How we flag this.
The concentrations these actives are typically effective at in research — not a measurement of this product.
Most studied between 0.1% and 1%. Higher is not automatically better — irritation climbs with dose, so a well-formulated lower strength is often the sweet spot.
Retinyl Palmitate (Vitamin A)
L-ascorbic acid is usually used at 5–20% (around 10–15% is common). Above ~20% adds little and tends to irritate more; it also needs a low pH to work.
Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C)
Most research uses 2–5%; some formulas go to 10%. Very high levels can cause flushing in sensitive skin.
Niacinamide
INCI lists don't disclose amounts, and we don't claim to know this product's levels — these are the ranges these ingredients are usually effective at, so you can tell a real formula from "fairy-dusting" a marketed active. How we estimate this.
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