This post will review the Cerave Hydrating Sheer Sunscreen SPF 30.
Just when I thought I was done reviewing Cerave sunscreens, they released a new one.
To be honest, I could easily have ignored this one as well, seeing as I haven’t liked any of the Cerave sunscreens I have tried in the past, but this one seemed promising.
As I said in a previous post, Cerave has refused to evolve its sunscreens with the times.
Their current formulas, particularly their mineral sunscreens, feel like sunscreens from a decade ago when people only wore them to the beach.
To be fair, I’m not mad at them.
There’s definitely still a market for outdoor sunscreens.
I just want them to embrace formulas that encourage people to wear sunscreen daily with or without makeup.
Yes, I mean cosmetically elegant ones similar to Asian sunscreens that don’t smell like chemicals or feel pasty.
Anyway, this is their latest sunscreen, which was released in 2023, and I have some thoughts.
First Impressions of the Cerave Hydrating Sheer Sunscreen SPF 30
According to Cerave:
Introducing CeraVe’s first-ever mineral/chemical hybrid sunscreen for use on the face and body.
Developed with dermatologists, CeraVe Hydrating Sheer Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 30 combines mineral and chemical sun filters to help effectively reflect and absorb the sun’s damaging rays.
Our hybrid sunscreen formula blends zinc oxide with chemical sun filters, providing the benefits of a mineral sunscreen with the cosmetic elegance often found in chemical sunscreens.
This multi-benefit sunscreen helps protect you from the sun’s harmful rays while also delivering instant hydration that lasts all day long.
Hydrating Sheer Sunscreen’s ultra-lightweight fluid formula goes on white to guide an even application, and is absorbed within seconds for a non-greasy finish.This hydrating sunscreen formula leaves skin feeling comfortable, velvety-soft, and smooth to the touch.
When used on the face, it helps prime skin for makeup, creating an even base for application.
Hydrating Sheer Sunscreen does not pill and will not transfer onto clothes, run into your eyes, or move when you sweat—allowing you to enjoy your time in the sun.
- Allergy-tested, paraben-free, and fragrance-free
- Water-resistant for up to 80 minutes
- Provides 24-hour hydration
Ingredient List, Sunscreen Filters & Fragrance
I went through the ingredient list to see if anything stood out, and as expected, it’s the same old Cerave formula for three essential ceramides and hyaluronic acid.
This time, they included Niacinamide.
I’ve noticed that some formulas have Niacinamide while others don’t.
So if you’re sensitive to it, this is something to bear in mind.
As always, it is alcohol, essential oil and fragrance-free.
Sunscreen Filters
This sunscreen is marketed as a hybrid formula, which is weird because the Cerave AM Facial Moisturizing Lotion is also a hybrid formula.
I’m not sure what they were trying to achieve.
It sounds like they’re trying to jump on a trend without failing to realise that they have two sunscreens with hybrid formulas.
Anyways, let’s look at the filters;
- 6% Homosalate – provides UVB protection
- 5% Octisalate – provides UVB protection
- 5% Octocrylene – provides UVB protection.
- 7% Zinc Oxide – provides UVA & UVB protection.
The US classifies sunscreens as drugs, so brands are required to be transparent about their filters.
As I said earlier, there’s nothing new or innovative about this formula.
The percentages might be slightly different, but the filters are still the same.
Packaging, Texture & Consistency
This product is packaged in an 89ml tube.
This is honestly one of the worst packaging I’ve seen for runny products.
Cerave says the sunscreen is weightless, which means it has a fluid consistency.
Then why is it packaged in a tube and not an applicator bottle?
Yes, as you can imagine, the product goes everywhere when it is dispensed.
It should have been packaged in an airless pump, which would have made it less messy to use.
This is one of Cerave’s big misses, and I’m honestly not a fan.
Price & Availability
For now, this sunscreen is only available in the US, and I don’t mind if that stays the case.
Despite trying to market it as a hybrid weightless formula with an invincible look, it still falls short.
It is forgettable and might as well be buried with the rest of the sunscreens in the portfolio.
If this review doesn’t convince you enough to try it, you can buy it on Amazon.
Review of the Cerave Hydrating Sheer Sunscreen SPF 30
As always, this SPF is used at the last step of my AM routine.
I typically skip moisturizers in the morning, so I expect my sunscreens to be moisturizing to an extent.
This product doesn’t really work for my routine.
It has a fluid consistency that dries down to a somewhat matte finish on application.
Unfortunately, the Zinc Oxide leaves a slight white cast that needs to be blended a bit to disappear.
Again, this doesn’t work for me because I have about five minutes to do my AM routine.
Regardless, I can see it being a suitable summer sunscreen.
Even though I try not to use anything less than SPF 50, it can still work if I’m not in the sun all day.
Also, it is formulated to be used both on the face and on the body.
It is non-greasy and weightless, so it is ideal for use on the body if you can bear the chemical sunscreen scent.
If it didn’t have Zinc Oxide, it would have been a decent chemical sunscreen.
To summarize;
Pros
- Excellent hybrid filters, which provide broad spectrum protection.
- Suitable for daily use if you can manage the messiness from the tub.
- Non-greasy with a natural to matte finish.
- Doesn’t sting the eyes
- Great for all skin types, including sensitive.
- Weightless with a fluid formula that absorbs quickly.
Cons
- Inconvenient to apply and reapply without being messy; you should be able to control the quantity you want with fluid products.
- Zinc Oxide leaves a white cast which requires blending.
- Slight chemical sunscreen scent
- Not readily available
Finally,
As you can tell, I’m not the biggest fan of the Cerave Hydrating Sheer Sunscreen SPF 30.
It had the potential to be an improvement from all other sunscreens in the Cerave portfolio, including the Cerave AM Facial Moisturizing Lotion and the Ultra-Light Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30, but it still fell short for me.
Hopefully, their next sunscreen will be impressive.
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