CeraVe
CeraVe Ultra-Light Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30
face sunscreen
CeraVe
face sunscreen
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Fit by skin type
General, ingredient-based — not your personalized match.
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Take the skin testConcentrations
| Avobenzone | 3% |
| HOMOSALATE | 10% |
| ETHYLHEXYL SALICYLATE | 5% |
| OCTOCRYLENE | 2.7% |
CeraVe Ultra-Light Moisturizing Lotion for normal to oily skin includes broad spectrum SPF 30 sunscreen to help protect skin from sun damage, which can lead to premature signs of aging and skin cancer (when used as directed with other sun protection measures) plus hyaluronic acid and three essential ceramides to hydrate and help restore the skin’s barrier all while leaving a matte finish.
CeraVe Ultra-Light Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30 is a lightweight sunscreen from CeraVe, a brand based in USA. It is rated SPF 30. Its job is UV protection, with the rest of the formula working on hydration. The ingredient list runs to 26 ingredients, each broken down in full below.
By its ingredient list the formula reads as light: water and humectants lead, with emollients kept lower in the order. Hydration is handled by Glycerin, Sodium Hyaluronate and Ethylhexylglycerin, humectants that pull water into the upper layers of skin rather than sealing it there.
It is a chemical (organic-filter) sunscreen, using Avobenzone, Homosalate, Octisalate and Octocrylene. Between them those filters cover UVB, UVA II and UVA I, so the formula is broad-spectrum in the meaningful sense: it reaches past 340 nm, where the ageing wavelengths sit. The formula contains a photounstable filter alongside a stabiliser, which is the standard and effective way to keep it from degrading in sunlight.
Hydration: High. Ingredients that pull and hold water in the upper layers of skin, and here that comes from Glycerin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ethylhexylglycerin and Water.
On richness alone it suits Balanced skin best, and is the least natural fit for Dry and Combination (dry) skin. Nothing in the list is flagged as a common irritant, which is a reasonable starting point for reactive skin — though a patch test is still the only way to know.
The formula contributes little or nothing on antioxidant protection, oil control, brightening and tone and cell renewal. That is not a fault — most products are not meant to do everything — but if one of those is your priority, this is not the product that will address it.
Reading the full list, the formula is fragrance-free, essential-oil-free, no drying alcohol, paraben-free, silicone-free and sulfate-free. Those claims come from the ingredient list itself, not from the packaging.
Use it in the morning. In a routine it goes final morning step, before makeup. Apply about two finger-lengths for the face and neck — under-application is the single most common reason sunscreen underperforms. Reapply every two hours of sun exposure, and after swimming or towelling off. Let it set for a couple of minutes before makeup so it does not pill.
This summary is generated from the product's ingredient list. It is not a review, it is not the brand's own marketing claims, and it does not replace advice from a dermatologist.
Drawn purely from the ingredient list
Scored on how rich or light the formula reads from its INCI order.
No ingredient in this formula carries a common-irritant flag, making it a reasonable option for reactive skin. A patch test is still recommended, as individual skin reactivity varies.
Based on the curated benefits documented for this product's ingredients.
Attracts and locks in moisture to keep skin plump and dewy
Boosts collagen and cell turnover to reduce fine lines and wrinkles
Calms redness, irritation, and inflammation for sensitive skin
None of the ingredients in this formula are associated with these benefits. This is not unusual, as most products are designed to target a limited number of concerns.
Chemical (organic) filter system · broad-spectrum through UVA I
The workhorse UVA filter, and the fragile one: it loses a large share of its protection within an hour of sun unless the formula pairs it with a stabiliser such as octocrylene or Tinosorb S.
Another solvent-filter: modest UVB coverage, mostly there to carry other filters.
A weak filter used mainly as a solvent — it dissolves the crystalline filters (avobenzone, oxybenzone) so they can be formulated at all.
Mostly present to stabilise avobenzone rather than for its own modest UVB coverage. Degrades slowly into benzophenone over a product's shelf life.
The actives, UV filters and benefit-carrying ingredients in this formula, in the order they are listed.
1st on the list. Regulation caps it at 5%, so it is present at roughly 2.5–5%.
1-[4-(1,1-Dimethylethyl)phenyl]-3-(4-methoxyphenyl)propane-1,3-dione
2nd on the list. Regulation caps it at 7.34%, so it is present at roughly 3.67–7.34%.
Benzoic acid, 2-hydroxy-, 3,3,5-trimethylcyclohexyl ester
3rd on the list. Regulation caps it at 5%, so it is present at roughly 2.5–5%.
2-Ethylhexyl salicylate
4th on the list, which puts it at an estimated 2–10% of the formula.
2-Cyano-3,3-Diphenyl Acrylic Acid 2-Ethylhexyl Ester
5th on the list, which puts it at an estimated 2–10% of the formula.
Aqua (EU),Deionized Water,Distilled Water,Micromatrix Fractile AN,Onsen-Sui (JPN),Purified Water
6th on the list, which puts it at an estimated 2–10% of the formula.
Benzoic acid, C12-15 alkyl esters
7th on the list, which puts it at an estimated 1–5% of the formula.
Octadecanoic acid, reaction products with 1,2,3-propanetriol (1:1), neutralized
9th on the list, which puts it at an estimated 1–5% of the formula.
Glycerine ;Glycerol (INN); Glycerol (RIFM); Glycerolum (EP); Glycyl Alcohol; 1,2,3-Propanetriol; 1,2,3-Trihydroxypropane
10th on the list, which puts it at an estimated 1–5% of the formula.
1,2-Dihydroxypentane
11th on the list, which puts it at an estimated 1–3% of the formula.
Ceramide NP,1,3,4-Octadecanetriol, 2-Octadecanamide,Stearoyl-C18-Phytosphingosine,Stearoyl-4-Hydroxysphinganine
12th on the list, which puts it at an estimated 1–3% of the formula.
1,3,4-Octadecanetriol, 2-(2-Hydroxy) Stearamide
13th on the list, which puts it at an estimated 1–3% of the formula.
Ceramide EOP,1,3,4-Octadecanetriol, 2-Stearoyloxyheptacosamide,Stearoyloxyheptacosanoyl-C18-Phytosphingosine,Stearoyloxyheptacosanoyl-4-Hydroxysphinganine
Each axis is scored from the ingredients present and how high up the list they sit.
Ingredients that pull and hold water in the upper layers of skin
Lipids and repair signals that support skin barrier integrity
Ingredients that mop up free radicals from UV and pollution
Ingredients that moderate sebum or absorb shine
Ingredients that act on uneven tone and post-inflammatory marks
Ingredients aimed at visible redness and reactivity
Retinoids, acids and enzymes that speed surface turnover
Peptides and growth factors that signal for collagen support
A photounstable filter is present, paired with a stabiliser
"Active" here means an ingredient carrying a recorded active type or a recognised UV filter.
Solvents, emollients, texture agents and preservatives — the formula that carries the actives.
Read from the full ingredient list. A brand's own claim may differ.
Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Judged by the same curated rules our routine checker uses. It reads the ingredients, not the label.
Nothing in this formula belongs to a group our rules can put in conflict, so it layers freely. Order still matters — thinnest texture first.
This product is the "Protect" step.
Flags to check, not verdicts. None of this is medical advice — if you are pregnant, breastfeeding or treating a skin condition, ask a doctor.
Most ingredients do more than one job, so these counts add up to more than the 26 ingredients on the label.
Sets the thickness, spread and stability of the formula
Changes how skin behaves rather than how it feels
Dissolves and carries everything else
Lifts oil and dirt, or holds oil and water together
Absorbs or scatters ultraviolet light
Draws water into the upper layers of skin
Softens and smooths by filling gaps between skin cells
Binds trace metals that would otherwise spoil the formula
Forms a film that slows water loss
Keeps the product free of microbial growth
Neutralises free radicals from UV and pollution
Sets the acidity the formula needs to work
Every ingredient on the label, in order, with what it does and roughly how much of it is likely to be there.
1st on the list. Regulation caps it at 5%, so it is present at roughly 2.5–5%.
1-[4-(1,1-Dimethylethyl)phenyl]-3-(4-methoxyphenyl)propane-1,3-dione
2nd on the list. Regulation caps it at 7.34%, so it is present at roughly 3.67–7.34%.
Benzoic acid, 2-hydroxy-, 3,3,5-trimethylcyclohexyl ester
3rd on the list. Regulation caps it at 5%, so it is present at roughly 2.5–5%.
2-Ethylhexyl salicylate
4th on the list, which puts it at an estimated 2–10% of the formula.
2-Cyano-3,3-Diphenyl Acrylic Acid 2-Ethylhexyl Ester
5th on the list, which puts it at an estimated 2–10% of the formula.
Aqua (EU),Deionized Water,Distilled Water,Micromatrix Fractile AN,Onsen-Sui (JPN),Purified Water
6th on the list, which puts it at an estimated 2–10% of the formula.
Benzoic acid, C12-15 alkyl esters
7th on the list, which puts it at an estimated 1–5% of the formula.
Octadecanoic acid, reaction products with 1,2,3-propanetriol (1:1), neutralized
8th on the list, which puts it at an estimated 1–5% of the formula.
2-Propenoic acid, 2-methyl-, 1,2-ethanediyl ester, polymer with methyl 2-methyl-2-propenoate
9th on the list, which puts it at an estimated 1–5% of the formula.
Glycerine ;Glycerol (INN); Glycerol (RIFM); Glycerolum (EP); Glycyl Alcohol; 1,2,3-Propanetriol; 1,2,3-Trihydroxypropane
10th on the list, which puts it at an estimated 1–5% of the formula.
1,2-Dihydroxypentane
11th on the list, which puts it at an estimated 1–3% of the formula.
Ceramide NP,1,3,4-Octadecanetriol, 2-Octadecanamide,Stearoyl-C18-Phytosphingosine,Stearoyl-4-Hydroxysphinganine
12th on the list, which puts it at an estimated 1–3% of the formula.
1,3,4-Octadecanetriol, 2-(2-Hydroxy) Stearamide
13th on the list, which puts it at an estimated 1–3% of the formula.
Ceramide EOP,1,3,4-Octadecanetriol, 2-Stearoyloxyheptacosamide,Stearoyloxyheptacosanoyl-C18-Phytosphingosine,Stearoyloxyheptacosanoyl-4-Hydroxysphinganine
14th on the list, below the 1% line — present at under 1%, which for most ingredients is the level they work at.
2-Propenoic acid, polymer with 2,2-bis(hydroxymethyl)propane-1,3-diol 2-propenyl ether
15th on the list, below the 1% line — present at under 1%, which for most ingredients is the level they work at.
Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP Crosspolymer is a copolymer of sodium acryloyldimethyltaurate and vinylpyrrolidone crosslinked by 1,1,1-trimethylolpropane triacrylate
16th on the list, below the 1% line — present at under 1%, which for most ingredients is the level they work at.
Sodium 2-(1-carboxylatoethoxy)-1-methyl-2-oxoethyl laurate
17th on the list, below the 1% line — present at under 1%, which for most ingredients is the level they work at.
Hyaluronic acid, sodium, salt
18th on the list, below the 1% line — present at under 1%, which for most ingredients is the level they work at.
Cholest-5-en-3-ol (beta)-
19th on the list, below the 1% line — present at under 1%, which for most ingredients is the level they work at.
2-Phenoxyethanol
20th on the list, below the 1% line — present at under 1%, which for most ingredients is the level they work at.
Disodium dihydrogen ethylenediaminetetraacetate
21st on the list, below the 1% line — present at under 1%, which for most ingredients is the level they work at.
Ethanone, 1-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-,p-Hydroxyacetophenone
22nd on the list, below the 1% line — present at under 1%, which for most ingredients is the level they work at.
2-Hydroxy-1,2,3-propanetricarboxylic acid
23rd on the list, below the 1% line — present at under 1%, which for most ingredients is the level they work at.
1,3,4-Octadecanetriol, 2-amino-, (2S, 3S, 4R)-
24th on the list, below the 1% line — present at under 1%, which for most ingredients is the level they work at.
Xanthan gum
25th on the list, below the 1% line — present at under 1%, which for most ingredients is the level they work at.
2-Methylpropan-2-ol
26th on the list, below the 1% line — present at under 1%, which for most ingredients is the level they work at.
1,2-Propanediol, 3-(2-ethylhexyloxy)
Products in the same category that share this formula's distinguishing ingredients.
CeraVe
Shares 10 key ingredients with CeraVe Ultra-Light Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30: Homosalate, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Octocrylene, Water, Glycerin
CeraVe
Shares 9 key ingredients with CeraVe Ultra-Light Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30: Homosalate, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Octocrylene, Water, Glycerin
Isntree
Shares 8 key ingredients with CeraVe Ultra-Light Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30: Water, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Homosalate, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Ceramide NP
CeraVe
Shares 8 key ingredients with CeraVe Ultra-Light Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30: Water, Glycerin, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP
CeraVe
Shares 8 key ingredients with CeraVe Ultra-Light Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30: Water, Glycerin, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP
Abib
Shares 8 key ingredients with CeraVe Ultra-Light Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30: C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Water, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glycerin, Ceramide NP
Avobenzone, HOMOSALATE, ETHYLHEXYL SALICYLATE, OCTOCRYLENE, WATER, C12-15 ALKYL BENZOATE, GLYCERYL STEARATE SE, METHYL METHACRYLATE CROSSPOLYMER, GLYCERIN, PENTYLENE GLYCOL, CERAMIDE NP, CERAMIDE AP, CERAMIDE EOP, CARBOMER, SODIUM ACRYLOYLDIMETHYLTAURATE/VP CROSSPOLYMER, SODIUM LAUROYL LACTYLATE, SODIUM HYALURONATE, CHOLESTEROL, PHENOXYETHANOL, DISODIUM EDTA, HYDROXYACETOPHENONE, CITRIC ACID, PHYTOSPHINGOSINE, XANTHAN GUM, T-BUTYL ALCOHOL, ETHYLHEXYLGLYCERIN.
CERAMIDE NP, CERAMIDE AP, CERAMIDE EOP, SODIUM HYALURONATE, CITRIC ACID.
For sunscreen use: Apply liberally 15 minutes before sun exposure. Reapply at least every two hours. Use in the AM as the final step in your routine (Cleanse, Tone, Treat, Moisturize & Protect) on the face.
Judged on how rich the formula reads from its ingredient list, it suits Balanced skin best. It is the least natural fit for Dry, Combination (dry) skin.
No ingredient in this formula carries a common-irritant flag, making it a reasonable option for reactive skin. A patch test is still recommended, as individual skin reactivity varies.
One ingredient could feed malassezia: Glyceryl Stearate SE. That describes the yeast's food supply, not a prediction that it will cause a breakout.
Nothing in this formula is on the standard pregnancy-caution list. That is not medical clearance — check anything you use daily with your doctor or midwife.
Yes. Reading the full ingredient list, this formula is fragrance-free.
No. Reading the full ingredient list, this formula is no drying alcohol.
Yes. Reading the full ingredient list, this formula is silicone-free.
No. Reading the full ingredient list, this formula is essential-oil-free.
Yes. Reading the full ingredient list, this formula is paraben-free.
It layers well with Vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid), Retinoids (retinol, retinal), AHAs (glycolic, lactic), BHA (salicylic acid), PHAs (gluconolactone), Benzoyl peroxide.
Use it in the morning, final morning step, before makeup.
It lists 26 ingredients, of which 8 are recorded as actives.
CeraVe, a brand based in USA.
It filters UV with Avobenzone (butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane), Homosalate (homosalate), Octisalate (ethylhexyl salicylate), Octocrylene (octocrylene).
Yes. Its filters cover UVB, UVA II and UVA I, so protection reaches past 340 nm into the deep-UVA range associated with ageing and pigmentation.
Unlikely. It filters with organic (chemical) filters only, which dissolve into the formula rather than sitting on the surface, so they do not leave a white cast.
It contains none of the filters named in the Hawaii and Key West reef legislation (oxybenzone and octinoxate). "Reef safe" is not a regulated term, so treat that as a fact about the filter list rather than a certification.
Yes. Let it set for a couple of minutes before foundation so it does not pill, and reapply over makeup with a stick or powder rather than rubbing more in.
Every two hours of sun exposure, and immediately after swimming, sweating heavily or towelling off.
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