This post will review the Cerave Ultra-Light Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30.
I was going through the Cerave sunscreen portfolio the other day to see which one I could use.
So far, the Cerave AM Facial Moisturizing Lotion has been unsuccessful, and I thought one of their eight facial sunscreens had to be decent.
The next one that looked manageable enough was the Cerave Ultra-Light Moisturizing Lotion SP30.
My general sunscreen philosophy is to choose one that I like enough to wear daily.
While I have been able to cultivate the habit of daily sunscreen over the last couple of years, many people still struggle.
Having gone through over a dozen sunscreens, my advice is to get a few to try out and find what works for you.
Find the ones that you like enough and are easy to wear daily based on your lifestyle.
I love dewy sunscreens because I work from home, so I don’t mind having a dewy face all day.
But if, for some reason, I had to start working in an office and had to wear makeup, I’d switch to something with a natural finish that can accommodate makeup without piling.
My point is there are more than enough options for all lifestyles, so find what works for you.
In 2024, there’s honestly no excuse whatsoever.
Now that is out of the way, let’s get into the details.
First Impressions of the Cerave Ultra-Light Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30
According to Cerave:
A lightweight, non-comedogenic moisturizer with sunscreen is an essential skincare product for anyone with normal to oily skin.
For daytime, any oil-free moisturizer you choose should not only include sunscreen, but should also feature ingredients like hyaluronic acid and ceramides to help the skin retain its natural moisture and help restore the skin’s barrier.
We recommend a lightweight face sunscreen like CeraVe Ultra-Light Moisturizing Lotion—a non-greasy moisturizer that leaves skin with a matte finish.
CeraVe Ultra-Light Moisturizing Lotion 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.
Additionally, our lightweight oil-free moisturizer provides a matte finish, won’t clog pores and leaves your skin feeling soft and smooth, as well as protected from the sun.
Ingredient List, Sunscreen Filters & Fragrance
At this point, I’m sure most of us are familiar with the Cerave formula: three essential Ceramides and Hyaluronic Acid.
This product isn’t any different.
The only thing that stands out for me is the lack of niacinamide, particularly as this sunscreen is targeted at people with normal to oily skin.
I’m sure they have their reason for leaving it out.
Aside from the slight chemical sunscreen scent, this product is also alcohol, essential oil and fragrance-free.
Sunscreen Filters
When choosing sunscreens, I’m particularly concerned about the filters used.
As I said earlier, I want a product that I’m happy to use daily without any issues.
More often than not, the filters are a factor.
I don’t want to spend more than five minutes in the morning blending my sunscreen, which has a white cast.
So wearability is a key factor for me, which is why I tend to choose chemical sunscreens.
Fortunately, this sunscreen is the only pure chemical one that Cerave has in its portfolio.
Every other one is a pure mineral or a hybrid.
So, let’s get into the filters;
- 3% Avobenzone – provides UVA protection.
- 10% Homosalate – provides UVB protection.
- 5% Octisalate – provides UVB protection.
- 2.6% Octocrylene – provides UVA and UVB protection.
For those who are not aware, sunscreens are classified as drugs in the US, so brands need to be transparent about their filters.
These are the standard filters approved by the FDA, so there’s nothing particularly interesting about them.
Also, the FDA hasn’t approved new filters in ages which I believe contributes to the lack of sunscreen innovation.
Packaging, Texture & Consistency
The sunscreen is packaged in a 50ml pump bottle which is hygienic and super easy to use.
A lot of Cerave sunscreen packaging is usually a hit or a miss.
But this one is definitely a hit.
The pump dispenses a lightweight lotion which is slightly hydrating on first application but dries down into a matte finish.
Cerave says this is an oil-free formula, and it truly is, as it disappears into your skin upon application.
Honestly, I can’t fault the texture and/or consistency.
This is definitely great for people with oily skin or anyone with normal skin who wants a matte sunscreen.
Price & Availability
Unfortunately, this sunscreen is only available in the US.
Except you have used it in the past, and it has become a staple product for you. Honestly, it is not worth the hassle of getting it from the US.
I’m sure there are equally good alternative matte sunscreens anywhere in the world you are.
Review of the Cerave Ultra-Light Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30
As you should with all SPF products, I use this at the end of my AM routine.
Again, I try to wear sunscreen daily, even when I’m working from home because I sit by large windows.
As you probably can tell by the tone of this review, I’m not the biggest fan of this product.
As someone with dry, dehydrated skin, I find it too matte.
It is also nearly not moisturising enough for me as well.
I prefer my sunscreens to be slightly emollient because I tend to skip moisturizers in the morning.
So I need my sunscreens to double as a moisturizer as well.
But I can see it totally being perfectly suitable for people with oily to combination skin.
To wrap up, let’s look at the pros and cons:
Pros
- Chemical filters that provide broad spectrum protection.
- Excellent for daily use
- Non-tacky with a matte finish
- Doesn’t sting the eyes
- Best suited for people with oily to combination skin.
- No white cast
- Absorbs quickly into the skin upon application.
- Perfect texture for reapplication.
Cons
- Inadequate for people with dry skin; too mattifying and not moisturizing enough.
- Has a chemical sunscreen scent, which is very off-putting.
- Not readily available.
Finally,
While I don’t particularly have a problem with the Cerave Ultra-Light Moisturizing Lotion SPF30, it simply doesn’t work for me, and that is fine.
As I mentioned earlier, daily sunscreen usage starts with trial and error until you find the one you can use without problems.
So this is your sign to not tie yourself down to a sunscreen you don’t like.
Try out different ones until you find the one that you enjoy using.
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