Review: CeraVe Hydrating Sunscreen Face Lotion Broad Spectrum Mineral Sunscreen SPF 30

This review will be a brief yet unfiltered (no pun intended) account of my experience with the ever-so-popular CeraVe Hydrating Sunscreen Face Lotion Broad Spectrum Mineral Sunscreen SPF 30. At the time, I was looking for a sunscreen that was safe to use after having peels and resurfacing treatments. After seeing it all over social media, I decided to give it a chance.

As you can see by the title, CeraVe markets this product as hydrating. While it does include some ingredients that are meant to hydrate the skin in this formula, I found that this clung to dry patches and was difficult to blend. Moisturizing beforehand is mandatory.

Ingredients

ACTIVE INGREDIENTS: TITANIUM DIOXIDE (6%), ZINC OXIDE (5%)

INACTIVE INGREDIENTS: WATER, GLYCERIN, C12-15 ALKYL BENZOATE, DIMETHICONE, GLYCERYL STEARATE, ISODODECANE, BUTYLOCTYL SALICYLATE, STYRENE/ACRYLATES COPOLYMER, PROPANEDIOL, STEARIC ACID, PEG-100 STEARATE, SORBITAN STEARATE, NIACINAMIDE, PEG-8 LAURATE, CERAMIDE NP, CERAMIDE AP, CERAMIDE EOP, SORBITAN ISOSTEARATE, CARBOMER, CETEARYL ALCOHOL, CETEARETH-20, TRIETHOXYCAPRYLYLSILANE, DIMETHICONOL, SODIUM CITRATE, SODIUM LAUROYL LACTYLATE, SODIUM DODECYLBENZENESULFONATE, MYRISTIC ACID, SODIUM HYALURONATE, CHOLESTEROL,ALUMINUM HYDROXIDE, PALMITIC ACID, PHENOXYETHANOL, CHLORPHENESIN, HYDROXYETHYL ACRYLATE/SODIUM ACRYLOYLDIMETHYL TAURATE COPOLYMER, CAPRYLYL GLYCOL, CITRIC ACID, PANTHENOL, XANTHAN GUM, PHYTOSPHINGOSINE, POLYHYDROXYSTEARIC ACID, POLYSORBATE 60, ETHYLHEXYLGLYCERIN

CeraVe.com

This sunscreen features mineral sunscreen filters zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. I prefer to use mineral sunscreen when I know I’ll have prolonged sun exposure or when I’m going swimming.

It contains niacinamide, ceramides and hyaluronic acid, all of which reinforce the lipid barrier. As mentioned in other posts, niacinamide can also reduce redness. Glycerin is near the top of the list, so you would think that would promote the supposed hydrating qualities of this sunscreen, but nope.

Results

I do not find this formula to be hydrating or moisturizing in any way. It leaves a lot to be desired in this regard and I feel the brand misleads customers by labeling it “hydrating.” The white cast is strong with this one, especially if you have dry skin. Despite having pale skin, I’m not completely immune to white cast from sunscreen. Spending extra time on blending is required. I do not recommend that any BIPOC bother with this product. It would be a waste of your money. That said, this formula does not feel greasy or heavy. I can say that it does offer adequate sun protection. I did not get sunburned while using it. The good news is there are other mineral sunscreens on the market with more blendability.

CeraVe, please go back to the drawing board.