Index / CeraVe / AM Facial Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30
CeraVe

CeraVe AM Facial Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30.

CeraVe AM Facial Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30
Save to Pinterest
Sunscreen
About this product

A lightweight daily face moisturizer with broad-spectrum SPF 30 sunscreen, designed to hydrate the skin and protect it from UV rays in one step.

Full ingredients

Homosalate (10%), Octinoxate (5%), Octocrylene (2%), Zinc Oxide (8%), Water, Niacinamide, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Propanediol, Dimethicone, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, BHT, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Carbomer, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Triethyl Citrate, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Cholesterol, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Phenoxyethanol, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Hydroxyacetophenone, Caprylyl Glycol, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Phytosphingosine, Xanthan Gum, Benzoic Acid

More from CeraVe 53 products · Guru Score 91% →

Guru Score

72%

Mixed

9 experts · Strong agreement

What the gurus are saying

Light enough to wear as a daily moisturizer, this hybrid lotion wins praise for combining SPF 30 with hydration, niacinamide and ceramides in one step. However, the white cast splits opinion, with some finding it thick and a little sticky and others barely noticing any cast. Since it's easy to skimp on, people may want to squeeze out two or more finger lengths for the face and neck.
Synthesized from 9 expert reviews · most recent take October 2026

What they liked

  • Lightweight enough for daily wear under makeup
  • Hydrating with ceramides and hyaluronic acid
  • Hybrid formula with broad-spectrum protection

What they flagged

  • Thick texture requires extra time to blend in
  • Can peel or clump if applied too quickly
  • Some report stinging and irritation

Type

SunscreenLotion

Key actives

Formula notes

Fragrance-freeNo drying alcohol

Where to buy

Opens a store search. We may earn from these links.

Scan it in the shopFree iPhone app. Scores in the aisle.

What the experts use it for.

The concerns the experts tie this product to, in their own words. Paid and founder takes don't count.

Breakouts and acne2 experts

“A lot of my patients are on it, [...] especially my acne patients who are using drying acne medications.”

Dr. Daniel Sugai, watch at 7:42

Dark spots and post-acne marks1 expert

“So that combination together may be really helpful for dark spots.”

Dr Dray, watch at 12:19

Redness1 expert

“Both of these facial moisturizers have niacinamide, good for the moisture barrier, good for redness, good for hyperpigmentation, and of course with ceramides like all of CeraVe's products have which help with the skin barrier.”

Dr Dray, watch at 10:46

Rosacea1 expert

“This has niacinamide though, so if you have rosacea or acne prone skin the niacinamide in this is very nice.”

Dr. Daniel Sugai, watch at 5:19

Skin barrier support1 expert

“The panthenol really helps with the health of the moisture barrier.”

Dr Dray, watch at 0:32

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
Dr. Daniel Sugai
Dr. Daniel Sugai
723k subs
~Nay
"The SPF 30 is a hybrid, so you'd expect it to be a nice lightweight textured sunscreen, but it has a little bit of a chalky white cast. Still, the texture isn't as lightweight as you'd expect, say, like another hybrid sunscreen like the classic one being La Roche-Posay UV Clear."
All 14 takes from Dr. Daniel Sugai
CeraVe’s New Mineral Sunscreen… Is It Actually Invisible?
"The AM SPF 30 was a hybrid sunscreen, but much thicker, and it gave people white cast when it should not have done that when it was a hybrid sunscreen."
Shop with Me: Dermatologist Shops for Affordable Skincare at the Local Grocery Store
"Their OG SPF 30 AM facial moisturizing lotion is pretty thick for a hybrid sunscreen. So get their AM SPF 50 if it's available."
Dermatologist Reviews: Rating My Medical Assistant's 20+ Year Old Skincare Routine!
"It's a little thick, and our patients might say [...] it's a little sticky. They made an ultra light lotion which is really nice, the SPF 30, so you might replace your AM with that. The niacinamide in the AM CeraVe is nice for those where acne prone. [...] What I do like about this one is it kind of puts me at that in between level, not too dewy where you look sweaty, but not totally matte where you get washed out."
Dermatologist Reviews: Drugstore Acne Roundup
"CeraVe AM Facial Moisturizing Lotion [...] has a thicker texture and SPF 30. It's not water resistant, but it has zinc oxide and chemical UV filters. It has niacinamide, and a lot of my young patients, my young adults or even teen patients do very well with this, especially if they're on prescription acne medications."
The Ultimate CeraVe Anti-Aging Skincare Routine- Dermatologist Reviews
"I've talked about these two in videos before I've compared the two the CeraVe AM and the CeraVe ultralight moisturizing lotion they're both SPF 30 they both have chemical UV filters they're not water resistant but very nice to put on as a two-in-one step we have the moisturizer with the sunscreen now to get the full coverage of the SPF 30 you have to put a quarter teaspoon amount for your entire face so put enough on okay"
Dermatologist Compares: CeraVe AM vs PM Moisturizing Lotions- How to Add to your Skincare Routine
"I recommend to my patients on a near daily basis"
Dermatologist Reviews: Affordable Drugstore Skincare Essentials
"The AM facial moisturizing lotion I'd say a little too thick of a consistency for me to recommend it all the time. I think you can find more elegant textures. I think CeraVe could do better on it. [...] The AM has zinc oxide so it's more of a hybrid."
Dermatologist Explains: Three Ways to Improve Crow’s Feet!
"You can do the CeraVe AM facial moisturizer with sunscreen in it to seal in that hydration, or a moisturizer with SPF right over to seal in that hydration that the hyaluronic acid did. It just soaked up all that moisture so that is a nice way to reduce the fine lines."
Dermatologist Compares: CeraVe Moisturizers with SPF
"I actually still recommend this to my patients on acne medications because it has an niacinamide, you got the hyaluronic acid, it's a nice convenient pump here, very easy to apply. So I still give it a thumbs up, but CeraVe could do better making it a little bit lighter weight, especially with it being a hybrid [...] sunscreen. [...] If you have acne prone skin, you're on my medications or not on any of my prescription medications, go ahead and try this one out."
My Top SIX Facial Moisturizers with SPF - Dermatologist Compares
"I do use the AM quite a bit for my young patients who are on acne medications and they have acne prone skin. The niacinamide is helpful."
Dermatologist Reviews: Men’s Skincare Routine- Is there a difference between Men and Women?
"CeraVe AM facial moisturizing lotion is a nice OG one. A lot of my patients are on it, [...] especially my acne patients who are using drying acne medications. They do well with the CeraVe AM. [...] This one has niacinamide, the ceramide blend, and hyaluronic acid, so very great and lightweight to layer over your other skincare products. You've got the moisturizer with SPF, this one is SPF 30, and it has zinc oxide with chemical UV filters, so it's a hybrid sunscreen."
Comparing CeraVe vs Cetaphil Facial Moisturizers with SPF- which should you buy?
"The CeraVe AM has glycerin, niacinamide and panthenol. It's thicker with zinc oxide and four chemical UV filters. It requires a little bit more muscle or elbow grease to get that blended in, [...] and even after rubbing it in you can still see there's a little bit more of a white cast. [...] As a hybrid sunscreen or moisturizer with SPF you expect a little bit better sophisticated texture."
Dermatologist Explains: How to Upgrade your MORNING Skincare Routine!
"CeraVe AM Facial Moisturizing Lotion is nice, so those are great moisturizers with sunscreen that you can layer over your vitamin C serum."
Amazon Skincare Worth Buying—and 3 I'd Skip
"The SPF 30 is a hybrid, so you'd expect it to be a nice lightweight textured sunscreen, but it has a little bit of a chalky white cast. Still, the texture isn't as lightweight as you'd expect, say, like another hybrid sunscreen like the classic one being La Roche-Posay UV Clear."
Dr Dray
Dr Dray
2.69M subs
~Yay
"This is a hybrid sunscreen. So if you have a deeper skin tone, there's a bit of a cast to it. And the CeraVe one has a tendency to peel if you put it on too quickly. You have to kind of baby it as you're applying it."
All 9 takes from Dr Dray
Affordable Skincare That ACTUALLY Works: Proven Products & Tips
"An ingredient lineup, texture, feel, performance that I honestly don't know why people are still going after luxury skin care."
Amazon Prime Day October 2023 Beauty Deals
"The AM Formula is a hybrid sunscreen so a little bit of a cast but not too noticeable. Unlike the other sunscreen we just talked about it's not water resistant so it's more of a daily moisturizer with sunscreen. Both of these facial moisturizers have niacinamide, good for the moisture barrier, good for redness, good for hyperpigmentation, and of course with ceramides like all of CeraVe's products have which help with the skin barrier."
*NEW* Costco Skincare & Beauty Deals NOT TO MISS (Summer 2025)
"This is a hybrid sunscreen so it has zinc and some chemical filters for broad spectrum protection. Not completely castree but better than like an all mineral. Does have niacinamide and ceramides of course."
Prequel Multi-Quench vs Paula’s Choice Ectoin: Best Hydrating Serum?
"This is a hybrid sunscreen. So if you have a deeper skin tone, there's a bit of a cast to it. And the CeraVe one has a tendency to peel if you put it on too quickly. You have to kind of baby it as you're applying it."
*BEST* ANTIOXIDANT SKINCARE PRODUCTS AT THE DRUGSTORE
"It is potentially a nice combination if you find another product with niacinamide, which CeraVe puts niacinamide in there in their facial moisturizer, the AM and the PM have niacinamide. So that combination together may be really helpful for dark spots. And then of course the daytime one [...] has niacinamide and then it also has the sunscreen in it to protect you from UV rays which would deplete your skin's antioxidant system."
18 FACTS ABOUT AZELAIC ACID | Dermatologist @DrDrayzday
"And then of course there's the CeraVe facial moisturizer, either their AM moisturizer with sunscreen or their PM moisturizer without sunscreen. Both of those are great options. They're very hydrating yet lightweight enough to not make you feel overheated and potentially aggravate a flush."
ALL THE NEW SKINCARE AT TARGET 🛍 DERMATOLOGIST @DrDrayzday
"This plain moisturizer I really like, it's a [...] very nice lightweight facial moisturizer, it has hyaluronic acid and ceramides, and it's SPF 30. I'm just going to tell you right now, it does leave a pretty noticeable cast on my skin type."
My TOP 10 HYBRID SUNSCREEN FAVORITES // DERMATOLOGIST @DrDrayzday
"Not everybody likes this, some people it's their holy grail but a lot of people have numerous complaints about this. [...] It has zinc and several chemical filters, ceramides, and [...] niacinamide which is good for redness. It's a combination sunscreen that's a good moisturizer that happens to have sunscreen in it, not water resistant. But [...] people complain that it burns and stings, and [...] that it clumps up and doesn't spread well on the skin and peels under makeup."
Sunscreen I use & USED UP| Dr Dray
"The panthenol really helps with the health of the moisture barrier. The formulation overall is not greasy and it's not shiny at all on the skin. It's very good and I really enjoyed it. I have another one in my stash and I will continue to use this. I like it a lot. If you have a deeper skin tone and you're frustrated with [...] white cast, you're not going to get a cast with this because it's an all chemical sunscreen."
Doctorly
Doctorly
3.59M subs
~Yay
"It's a great starter sunscreen because a lot of patients just wanted something hydrating that would also protect them from the sun. Many people use this as a starter sunscreen and it gets them through the day perfectly sufficient. [...] For most people this is a great option just to start your skincare routine, protect your skin, hydrate all in one."
All 2 takes from Doctorly
Products We HATE and LOVE from CeraVe | Doctorly Reviews
"It's a great starter sunscreen because a lot of patients just wanted something hydrating that would also protect them from the sun. Many people use this as a starter sunscreen and it gets them through the day perfectly sufficient. [...] For most people this is a great option just to start your skincare routine, protect your skin, hydrate all in one."
Best & Worst BUDGET Sunscreens Under $20 | Doctorly Reviews
"The blend is insane, it actually blended pretty completely with my skin tone, which was shocking to me. So a mineral sunscreen blew me away on this one. It's budget friendly. [...] I didn't expect them to come out with such a great sunscreen. It's got glycerin, it's got that nice squalene finish. Of course, like Dr. Maxfield said, it is zinc based, so you can never say it has no white cast, but it's about as good as it gets. So yes, this is definitely on the best budget sunscreen list from us."
Dr. Mamina
Dr. Mamina
283k subs
~Yay
"The CeraVe AM Facial Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30 is one I like for sunscreen."
Darnell Cox | 50+ Healthy Aging Expert
Darnell Cox | 50+ Healthy Aging Expert
55k subs
~Yay
"The CeraVe AM, I love this because it's a treatment as well. It's ultra lightweight, but it contains three essential ceramides, niacinamide, [...] and hyaluronic acid, so it is moisturizing and treatment. It has a factor of 30."
All 2 takes from Darnell Cox | 50+ Healthy Aging Expert
Why is Skincare so Important for Healthy Aging?🤔 Find out on today’s IG LIVE SHOW! 🤩 Let’s start w
"The CeraVe AM, I love this because it's a treatment as well. It's ultra lightweight, but it contains three essential ceramides, niacinamide, [...] and hyaluronic acid, so it is moisturizing and treatment. It has a factor of 30."
HEALTHY AGING Questions? | YOUR questions ANSWERED!
"The AM is a factor 30, it has niacinamide, it's got ceramides. It's everything that I need in terms of helping to lighten the area plus protecting the skin."
Abbey Yung
Abbey Yung
887k subs
~Nay
"I tested this years ago and really didn't like it, it was clumpy, and I'd heard it might have been reformulated so I wanted to try again. It's a chemical sunscreen with 6.3% zinc oxide plus homosalate and octocrylene. It did have a white cast, it dried down really quickly which made it hard to blend and left white streaks. Everything started peeling, it felt gross and thick and sticky, a fail for me. I had to wipe it off and reapply something else."
208SkinDoc
208SkinDoc
2.11M subs
~Yay
"It's [...] safe to use on both the face and body, it's non-comedogenic so it won't plug your pores, [...] and it's [...] developed in collaboration with dermatologists. [...] I personally love the daily moisturizing lotion, I've used it for a long time, and I use it on my kids on both face and body. If you have dry skin or even normal skin, this is going to work really well for you."
HotandFlashy
HotandFlashy
1.23M subs
~Yay
"This isn't like a dedicated sunscreen, but it's a moisturizer with sunscreen in it, and this is a really great way to save steps in your morning skincare routine. If you're already using a bunch of serums and stuff and you just want to mash two steps together, which would be your moisturizer and your sunscreen, you can do that with this. This is [...] a mix of chemical sunscreen agents and mineral sunscreen so it has zinc oxide and then it has a bunch of your standard U.S."
Dr. Aleksandra Brown
Dr. Aleksandra Brown
153k subs
~Yay
"CeraVe AM Facial Moisturizing Lotion with SPF 30 is your best two-in-one moisturizer with SPF. [...] Sun protection is the most important anti-aging step because UV exposure is one of the biggest drivers of collagen breakdown. This moisturizer is going to give you both hydration and broad-spectrum sun protection in one single step. It has a really lightweight texture, making it really easy to wear daily under your makeup or under other skin care products."
Sponsored
All 3 takes from Dr. Aleksandra Brown
Drugstore Moisturizers That Actually Work, According to a Dermatologist
"CeraVe AM Facial Moisturizing Lotion with SPF 30 is your best two-in-one moisturizer with SPF. [...] Sun protection is the most important anti-aging step because UV exposure is one of the biggest drivers of collagen breakdown. This moisturizer is going to give you both hydration and broad-spectrum sun protection in one single step. It has a really lightweight texture, making it really easy to wear daily under your makeup or under other skin care products."
Drugstore Skincare Routine for Acne-Prone Skin | Dermatologist Recommended + Affordable
"My next SPF recommendation, and I recommend this one to I'd say 90% of my acne patients, is the CeraVe AM Facial Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30. This is a two-in-one daily moisturizer and sunscreen that will hydrate the skin while offering that broadspectrum sun protection. It's lightweight, non-comedogenic, completely fragrance-free, making it ideal for daily use, even if your skin is sensitive or acne prone. The finish is really natural. It's not overly matte, not too dewy, not greasy."
I Ranked 19 CeraVe Products as a Dermatologist (Best to Worst + The Lawsuit)
"I don't hate it and I recommend it pretty often, especially for acne patients, but I don't love it either. It gives you nice ceramides, niacinamide, and hyaluronic acid, with broad spectrum SPF 30. My issue is practical: [...] when sunscreen is marketed as a moisturizer, people may apply too little to reach the labeled SPF. [...] For face and neck [...] you need about [...] two or more finger lengths."

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

Ceramides

Ceramides are part of the skin's own barrier, and moisturisers built around them have evidence for holding water in and settling the tightness and flaking that come with a damaged barrier.

Source: DermNet

Frequently asked.

What is CeraVe AM Facial Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30?

A lightweight daily face moisturizer with broad-spectrum SPF 30 sunscreen, designed to hydrate the skin and protect it from UV rays in one step.

Is CeraVe AM Facial Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30 worth it?

The gurus are split. 7 of the 9 gurus give it their stamp of approval while 2 would skip it, which lands it in the middle at a Guru Score of 72%.

What is CeraVe AM Facial Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30's Guru Score?

CeraVe AM Facial Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30 holds a Guru Score of 72%. That is our read on how warmly the experts talk about it, based on the verdicts of 9 expert reviewers we have collected.

What is CeraVe AM Facial Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30 good for, according to the experts?

In their reviews, experts say CeraVe AM Facial Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30 is good for breakouts and acne (2 experts), dark spots and post-acne marks (1 expert), redness (1 expert), rosacea (1 expert) and skin barrier support (1 expert).

Is CeraVe AM Facial Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30 good for breakouts and acne?

2 experts who reviewed CeraVe AM Facial Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30 say it is. Dr. Daniel Sugai put it this way: “A lot of my patients are on it, [...] especially my acne patients who are using drying acne medications.”

Similar products worth a look.

Other products the same gurus have weighed in on, plus more from this brand and category.

Compare side by side →

Spotted something on this page that doesn't look right? Let us know.

Share this score

Add this badge to your blog or website. It links back to this page and updates itself when the experts change their minds. Free, no sign-up.

Then paste it into your site's HTML or embed block.

The Extract

All of the week's hottest skincare news, delivered straight to your inbox. The viral products, the hot takes, and top tips from the experts.

Sign me up