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Cetaphil Sheer Mineral Face Liquid Sunscreen SPF 50.

Cetaphil Sheer Mineral Face Liquid Sunscreen SPF 50
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Sunscreen
About this product

A liquid mineral sunscreen with zinc oxide as the active ingredient, offering SPF 50 broad-spectrum protection and 80-minute water resistance in a lightweight, shake-and-dispense formula.

Full ingredients

Zinc Oxide (12%), 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

More from Cetaphil 40 products · Guru Score 94% →

Guru Score

73%

Mixed

7 experts · Strong agreement

What the gurus are saying

This liquid mineral sunscreen earns consistent praise for its lightweight texture and comfortable wear under makeup, with a matte finish that doesn't emphasize pores or settle into fine lines. The tradeoff is a white cast, which multiple dermatologists note ranges from mild on paler skin to noticeable on deeper tones. One expert finds the zinc oxide concentration too low to recommend, but most value it as an accessible drugstore option, especially for anyone who has skipped sunscreen because heavier formulas felt suffocating.
Synthesized from 7 expert reviews · most recent take June 2026

What they liked

  • Fragrance-free with niacinamide
  • Matte finish works well under makeup

What they flagged

  • Low concentration of mineral filters
  • Small bottle at 1.7 fl oz

Best for

Type

SunscreenLiquid

Key actives

NiacinamideVitamin ESPF

Formula notes

Fragrance-freeNo drying alcohol

Where to buy

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What the gurus are saying.

Every take we've logged from this product's reviews across YouTube. Click any row to watch the moment they said it.

All takes Yay takes Nay takes Mixed takes Hide sponsored
~Yay
"For people who have historically skipped sunscreen because they hate the texture, this formula tends to be a turning point. It layers beautifully under makeup without peeling, doesn't emphasize texture or pores, and it stays comfortable throughout the day, especially in the warmer months when a heavier SPF would feel like suffocating. [...] Just like all zinc and titanium sunscreens, it can leave a slight white cast on deeper skin tones."
~Nay
"It has such low percentage zinc oxide. [...] There's no great actives in this product. I would rate this product quite low because I'm not happy with the amount of filters in it. [...] I'd probably give this only a 3 out of 10."
All 2 takes from Dr. Vanita Rattan
Mineral Sunscreen on Nykaa | Doctor V Reviews
"It has such low percentage zinc oxide. [...] There's no great actives in this product. I would rate this product quite low because I'm not happy with the amount of filters in it. [...] I'd probably give this only a 3 out of 10."
BEST & WORST SPF50 2023 UPDATES
"This is a simple chemical sunscreen with no other actives in it. It is fragrance free, which I love. The third ingredient here is glycerin, which is well done. In terms of chemical sunscreens, this is one I would opt for."
~Yay
"I also like the Cetaphil Sheer Mineral face liquid drops SPF 50."
~Yay
"But Cetaphil Sheer Mineral SPF is one that I've tried from drugstores that's actually quite decent. It offers SPF 50 protection, broad spectrum UVA and UVB, and it's 80-minute water-resistant, so great to use especially in the summer time. It contains prebiotics along with vitamin E. It's a liquid formulation that you kind of shake up and dispense, and once you apply on your skin and let it fully absorb, it feels very lightweight and absorbs really quickly and does not leave a white cast."
~Yay
"Cetaphil's Sheer Mineral Face Liquid Sunscreen is an SPF 50 water resistant mineral sunscreen. It does leave a white cast but it's not super pasty, so if you have a paler skin type you may find that this is just fine for you. It's zinc oxide as the active sunscreen ingredient and it's a wonderful base for makeup. It has a demi matte finish, it's not overly shiny in my opinion but it's very easy to tolerate around the eyes. It's free of fragrance as well with a nice fluid consistency."
Top Pick: favorite sunscreen
All 6 takes from Dr Dray
AMAZON PRIME DAY 2023 | Skincare & Beauty DEALS @DrDrayzday
"Cetaphil's Sheer Mineral Face Liquid Sunscreen is an SPF 50 water resistant mineral sunscreen. It does leave a white cast but it's not super pasty, so if you have a paler skin type you may find that this is just fine for you. It's zinc oxide as the active sunscreen ingredient and it's a wonderful base for makeup. It has a demi matte finish, it's not overly shiny in my opinion but it's very easy to tolerate around the eyes. It's free of fragrance as well with a nice fluid consistency."
SHOP WITH ME FOR SKIN CARE AT TARGET 🛍 Dermatologist @DrDrayzday
"Cetaphil did some new packaging here, I really like this SPF 50 sunscreen. It's a liquid mineral, it does leave a cast, but it's not too bad. It's 11.99, a zinc oxide sunscreen with no titanium, which is fine."
BEST DRUGSTORE OILY SKIN CARE ROUTINE 🛍 DERMATOLOGIST @DrDrayzday
"I really love the Cetaphil Sheer Mineral Face Liquid Sunscreen. This does leave a cast, but it has a nice matte finish to it and is a really good base for makeup. It's water resistant, so it's a great option if you live in a humid climate like I do."
EYE CREAMS FOR DARK CIRCLES, PUFFINESS, & CROW'S FEET 🛍DRUGSTORE SHOP WITH ME @DrDrayzday
"This one by Cetaphil is good, SPF 50. You get the more liquid formula, this has more of a matte finish, I rather like it."
Starting tretinoin: WHAT TO USE & AVOID| Dermatologist @DrDrayzday
"This is the Cetaphil Sheer Mineral Face lotion. There is a cast to this but it's pretty mild, and this is a nice lightweight liquid formula."
THE BEST SUNSCREENS OF 2021 @DrDrayzday
"If you have a paler skin tone and you're very sensitive and only get along well with mineral sunscreens, try this one out. It's a liquid similar to a Neutrogena [...] sheer mineral liquid sunscreen, [...] but it's actually a lot more moisturizing and water resistant. I will say there is a white cast on this since it's a zinc sunscreen."
~Nay
"This is a lightweight liquid that feels really greasy and leaves a strong white cast. It doesn't blend well, it gives you polka dot pores, and settles into your wrinkles."
~Yay
"This one from Cetaphil is really nice to keep with me because it feels a little bit more light, so I can also use it and enjoy it myself, not just on my kids."
All 2 takes from Mixed Makeup
What's in My Bag? | Susan Yara
"This one from Cetaphil is really nice to keep with me because it feels a little bit more light, so I can also use it and enjoy it myself, not just on my kids."
My Updated Favorite Sunscreens from Garnier, Cetaphil, and more! | Susan Yara
"It leaves a little bit of a white cast but it's so subtle on my skin tone. I have not tried this on any darker skin tones than me but on my skin tone on my kids it looks perfectly fine. I also find that it's really nice under makeup because it has a little bit of a mattifying effect and it's also fairly affordable. It's 15 dollars for 1.7 fluid ounces. I know that's not a ton of sunscreen but I feel like that liquid texture really gives you an even coverage of it so you're not wasting any of it."

What the evidence says.

Independent of what the gurus think, this is what the published research supports about the main active ingredients here.

Niacinamide

Niacinamide has evidence behind it for redness, uneven tone and supporting the skin barrier, and it is usually well tolerated even by skin that reacts to most things.

Source: DermNet

Sunscreen filters

Sun protection is the best evidenced way to slow visible ageing, and the filters are what does the work. Mineral and chemical filters both protect when a product is applied thickly enough and often enough, which is where most people fall short rather than on the choice of filter.

Source: DermNet

Humectants and emollients

Ingredients like these draw water into the surface layers and slow how fast it leaves. The evidence is for comfort, softness and hydration rather than for changing the structure of the skin.

Source: DermNet

Frequently asked.

What is Cetaphil Sheer Mineral Face Liquid Sunscreen SPF 50?

A liquid mineral sunscreen with zinc oxide as the active ingredient, offering SPF 50 broad-spectrum protection and 80-minute water resistance in a lightweight, shake-and-dispense formula.

Is Cetaphil Sheer Mineral Face Liquid Sunscreen SPF 50 worth it?

The gurus are split. 5 of the 7 gurus give it their stamp of approval while 2 would skip it, which lands it in the middle at a Guru Score of 73%.

What is Cetaphil Sheer Mineral Face Liquid Sunscreen SPF 50's Guru Score?

Cetaphil Sheer Mineral Face Liquid Sunscreen SPF 50 holds a Guru Score of 73%. That is our read on how warmly the experts talk about it, based on the verdicts of 7 expert reviewers we have collected. At least one expert has named it a Top Pick in its category.

Who is Cetaphil Sheer Mineral Face Liquid Sunscreen SPF 50 best for?

Cetaphil Sheer Mineral Face Liquid Sunscreen SPF 50 is generally suited to sensitive skin.

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