Quick Summary:
Date Tested: 7/29/2023
In this Cetaphil Sheer Mineral Face Liquid SPF 50 sunscreen lotion review, I find a highly protective sunscreen lotion that as the name implies is more a liquid than a lotion.
The Cetaphil Sheer Mineral Face Liquid SPF50 sunscreen lotion is a mineral based lotion containing only one active ingredient of Zinc Oxide at only 12% concentration. I consider this a low percentage concentration, especially since it is not also coupled with Titanium Dioxide. But lending credence that inactive ingredient formulation matters just as much as the % of active ingredient, this sunscreen formulation exceed my expectations and tested very well in protecting against ultraviolet irradiance.
Testing the Cetaphil Sheer Mineral Face Liquid sunscreen lotion scored very very well, with the liquid formula filtering UVA by 99.90%, reducing UVB by 98.45%, and blocking total UVI by 99.83%. Absolutely stunning performance!
Cetaphil Sheer Mineral Face Liquid SPF 50 sunscreen lotion ingredients
Active ingredients: Zinc Oxide 12%
Inactive Ingredients: Allantoin, Bisabolol, Butyloctyl Salicylate, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Caprylyl Glycol, Caprylyl Methicone , Dimethicone, Dimethiconol/Propylsilsesquioxane/Silicate Crosspolymer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hexylene Glycol , Isododecane, Lauryl Peg-10 Tris(Trimethylsiloxy)Silylethyl Dimethicone, Lauryl Peg-8 Dimethicone, Niacinamide, Octyldodecyl Neopentanoate , Peg-10, Phenoxyethanol , Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Propanediol , Sodium Chloride, Sodium Hydroxide, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Trilaureth-4 Phosphate, Water
Manufacturers Website: www.cetaphil.com
Cetaphil Sheer Mineral Face Liquid SPF 50 sunscreen lotion characteristics at a glance:
- 100% mineral active sunscreen that reflects UVA/UVB rays to protect skin and prevent sunburn
- Formulated with a combination of sheer zinc oxide plus prebiotics and soothing vitamin E to help protect skin from surface free radicals
- Chemical-free sun protection that locks in moisture to hydrate and nourish, all while protecting skin’s delicate microbiome
- Water resistant up to 80 minutes, ideal for under makeup
- Dermatologist tested and clinically proven to be gentle on sensitive skin
- Viscosity is low and is really a liquid rather than a lotion
Prepared slide ready for testing
The Cetaphil Sheer Mineral Face Liquid sunscreen has a very low viscosity and really comes out in liquid form. Possibly because of this, it spreads evenly, and works to distribute the active ingredient exceptionally well as evidenced per the prepared slide sample.
Below are the results from 2 hours of testing in my UV testing station.
Cetaphil Sheer Mineral Face Liquid SPF50 sunscreen lotion UV blocking test results
Ultraviolet light quick reference:
UVA: The Ultraviolet wavelength from 315nm – 400nm. The “Aging UV light” – Causes wrinkles.
UVB: The Ultraviolet wavelength from 280nm – 315nm. The “Bad UV light” – Causes skin cancer.
UVI: The global sun UV index. The more a sunscreen can reduce the level of UVI, the better.
UV test results:
Ultraviolet sensor readings:
| Before Sunscreen | After Sunscreen | % UV Blocked | |
| TEMP | 84.31 | 88.02 | |
| UVA | 22534 | 22 | 99.90% |
| UVB | 1207.5 | 18.75 | 98.45% |
| UVI | 13.28 | .02 | 99.83% |
Want to know more about how I test sunscreen? Head here to read about the details.
Testing notes:
Fantastic sunscreen liquid! I used this myself the day after testing and will keep it in my bag of tools for when I need a strong daily facial mineral based sunscreen. The bottle states that it is water resistant for up to 80 minutes, but I wouldn’t trust this, and reapply often and evenly if exposed to warm climates (due to sweat), or wet active environments.
Definitely recommended.
Want to try the Cetaphil Sheer Mineral Face Liquid SPF 50 sunscreen lotion?
Recommended. Great protection.
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