CeraVe

CeraVe Hydrating Sheer Sunscreen SPF 30.

Sunscreen

About this product

A water-resistant hybrid facial and body sunscreen with SPF 30, combining zinc oxide with chemical UV filters and formulated with ceramides and niacinamide for a lightweight, hydrating finish.

Full ingredients

Titanium Dioxide (5.5%), Zinc Oxide (10%), Water, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Isohexadecane, Isononyl Isononanoate, Dicaprylyl Ether, PEG-30 Dipolyhydroxystearate, Triethylhexanoin, Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Ethylene/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Triethanolamine, Silica, Poly C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate, Stearic Acid, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Carbomer, Niacinamide, Cetearyl Alcohol, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Sodium Chloride, Salicylic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Cholesterol, Aluminum Stearate, Alumina, Aluminum Hydroxide, Iron Oxides, Phenoxyethanol, P-Anisic Acid, Chlorphenesin, Tocopherol, Disodium EDTA, Disodium Stearoyl Glutamate

Guru Score

79%

Yay

4 experts · Moderate agreement

What the gurus are saying

Less chalky than an all-mineral, with a faint cast still showing: that's the hybrid trade-off here, zinc oxide plus chemical filters in a light, fluid formula. It's water resistant for 80 minutes, so it suits runs and pool days, and it spreads easily and sits well under makeup without pilling. A few gurus find it only okay, but even they call it pretty good.

Synthesized from 4 expert reviews · most recent take October 2026

What they liked

Minimal white cast for a hybrid formula
Doesn't sting around the eyes
Spreads easily under makeup

What they flagged

Still shows white cast on deeper skin tones
Slightly shiny finish

Type

SunscreenLotion

Key actives

Niacinamide Hyaluronic acid Salicylic acid (BHA)Vitamin ECeramidesSPF

Formula notes

Fragrance-freeNo drying alcohol

Where to buy

Ulta → Amazon → Google →

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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.

Skin barrier support2 experts

“has ceramide and niacinamide which is one of our favorite ingredients to help brighten the skin, regulate sebum production, help soothe the skin and even help repair the skin barrier.”

Dr. Daniel Sugai, watch at 1:13

Breakouts and acne1 expert

“It's non-comedogenic which is suitable for acne-prone skin.”

Dr. Jenny Liu, watch at 13:00

Excess oil and shine1 expert

“Has the ceramides from CeraVe and niacinamide, so you got your niacinamide in there, especially for those with oily skin.”

Dr. Daniel Sugai, watch at 8:21

Dark spots and post-acne marks1 expert

“It has ceramides in it, [...] which are good for improving the skin's moisture barrier, and niacinamide, which is great for the moisture barrier, is anti-inflammatory, an antioxidant, and helps with hyperpigmentation and redness.”

Dr Dray, watch at 1:07

Redness1 expert

Dr Dray, watch at 1:07

Irritated or reactive skin1 expert

“has ceramide and niacinamide which is one of our favorite ingredients to help brighten the skin, regulate sebum production, help soothe the skin and even help repair the skin barrier.”

Dr. Daniel Sugai, watch at 1:13

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

723k subs

✓Yay

"Their hydrating sheer sunscreen that's hybrid, great for face and body and it's water resistant."

All 6 takes from Dr. Daniel Sugai

CeraVe’s New Mineral Sunscreen… Is It Actually Invisible?

"Their hydrating sheer sunscreen that's hybrid, great for face and body and it's water resistant."

Dermatologist's Top Sunscreen Picks

"CeraVe Hydrating Sheer Sunscreen, this is SPF 30 water resistant 80 minutes, has ceramide and niacinamide which is one of our favorite ingredients to help brighten the skin, regulate sebum production, help soothe the skin and even help repair the skin barrier. Water resistant sunscreen you want to use that if you are going for a run, you're working out outside, if you're going to go jump in the pool or go to the beach. This [...] is a hybrid, it has zinc oxide plus chemical UV filters."

Dermatologist Reviews: Drugstore Acne Roundup

"CeraVe makes a hybrid sheer sunscreen that's water resistant, that's one of their newer sunscreens that's nice. You can use that for face and body, that's if you're going to go jump in the water or work out."

Dermatologist Recommended Summer Skincare Routine: How to Glow Up Your Skin This Summer!

"If you're open to hybrid sunscreens, the newer sunscreen by CeraVe is a combination of zinc oxide plus they have three chemical UV filters, lighter weight. It's kind of liquidy but very lightweight. This one is water resistant as well, 80 minutes. Has the ceramides from CeraVe and niacinamide, so you got your niacinamide in there, especially for those with oily skin. Niacinamide for the win."

Dermatologist Reviews: The Best Sunscreens of 2024

"It has niacinamide and your essential three essential ceramides. I've really enjoyed using this, and it's so affordable, of course you can find it at your local drugstore. It comes out very lightweight, and as you guys know this is a hybrid, you have zinc oxide and you have three chemical UV filters, but wow, very lightweight. I love the sophisticated feel to it. So I think this is a really nice addition to CeraVe's line."

Top 3 Skincare Complaints I Hear in Clinic (And How to Fix Them)

"If you need to wear a water resistant sunscreen, we've talked about CeraVe's Hydrating Sheer Sunscreen that's hybrid, has zinc oxide and chemical UV filters."

Dr Dray

2.69M subs

✓Mixed

"I need to finish this CeraVe Hydrating Sheer Sunscreen that I have going on. This is okay."

All 7 takes from Dr Dray

Skincare Shopping & Tips For Breakouts *Vlog*

"I've just kind of been underwhelmed by it. [...] The CeraVe Hydrating Sheer Sunscreen is a water resistant hybrid sunscreen that again not one of my favorites from this but it's actually pretty good, it's not bad. It's kind of a liquid formula, the cast isn't too bad but it spreads on the skin pretty easily. I don't have any issues putting makeup on over this either."

*NEW* CERAVE SKINCARE REVIEWS 2023 @DrDrayzday

"This product spreads a lot more easily on the skin. I think it's an upgrade to CeraVe AM because it's easier to spread, it's more efficient to spread. You don't have to spend a lot of time trying to make sure that you don't have patchy application, which sometimes I have found can happen with CeraVe AM. I've got a lot of feedback over the years that CeraVe AM pills for people, especially if you're in a hurry. This product does not do that. It goes on the skin a lot more easily."

Amazon Prime Day October 2023 Beauty Deals

"CeraVe came out with several new products in 2023 [...] and one of them is their new Hydrating Sheer Sunscreen. It's a hybrid sunscreen so that means it has zinc in it as well as some organic filters and because it's a hybrid sunscreen it's not as casty as an all mineral sunscreen often can be. There's still a bit of a white cast, it's not a zero cast sunscreen but it's much less noticeable on the skin in comparison to an all mineral formula."

More Korean Skincare And Shopping For Shampoo

"I'm trying to make my way through the CeraVe Hydrating Sheer Sunscreen SPF 30. It's a nice lightweight kick of hydration in the morning, but it absorbs pretty fast so I can put sunscreen on over it without a lot of effort."

Gentle Skincare - Tips For Rosacea & Sensitive Skin

"I reviewed this a while ago. It's a hybrid sunscreen, it's water resistant. It's all right. [...] The consistency is more of an almost a fluid, it kind of is like a cross between a fluid and a cream. Hybrid sunscreen just means zinc plus some organic, AKA chemical filters. So the cast in I find is a lot less noticeable in comparison to an all mineral. But I also find that these hybrid sunscreens are a lot less likely to sting in comparison to the organic, AKA chemical sunscreens."

Skincare Products I Use Every Day | Skincare Vlog

"I need to finish this CeraVe Hydrating Sheer Sunscreen that I have going on. This is okay."

Sunscreen Empties

"It works well under makeup, doesn't pill, and it's moisturizing and hydrating, it doesn't leave the skin feeling tight and dry. [...] It has ceramides in it, [...] which are good for improving the skin's moisture barrier, and niacinamide, which is great for the moisture barrier, is anti-inflammatory, an antioxidant, and helps with hyperpigmentation and redness."

Dr. Jenny Liu

324k subs

✓Yay

"I love this because number one it is elegant, lightweight but hydrating. It contains CeraVe's usual three essential ceramides along with niacinamide and you can use it on face and body. It's non-comedogenic which is suitable for acne-prone skin. It also is water resistant for 80 minutes so great to use during the summer as well."

Dr. Aleksandra Brown

153k subs

✓Yay

"The CeraVe Hydrating Sheer Sunscreen SPF 30 is a hybrid sunscreen that combines mineral and organic filters, and you can use it on both face and body. It's water resistant for up to 80 minutes, which I love for summertime. It makes more sense if you want an actual face and body sunscreen, especially if you're going to be outside, sweating, or around water. It's a better choice for that."

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

Salicylic acid

Salicylic acid dissolves in oil, so it can get into a pore rather than just working on the surface. That is why it has long-standing evidence for blackheads and milder acne.

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

Frequently asked.

What is CeraVe Hydrating Sheer Sunscreen SPF 30?

A water-resistant hybrid facial and body sunscreen with SPF 30, combining zinc oxide with chemical UV filters and formulated with ceramides and niacinamide for a lightweight, hydrating finish.

Is CeraVe Hydrating Sheer Sunscreen SPF 30 worth it?

Mostly yes. 3 of the 4 gurus who reviewed it give it their stamp of approval, for a Guru Score of 79%.

What is CeraVe Hydrating Sheer Sunscreen SPF 30's Guru Score?

CeraVe Hydrating Sheer Sunscreen SPF 30 holds a Guru Score of 79%. That is our read on how warmly the experts talk about it, based on the verdicts of 4 expert reviewers we have collected.

What is CeraVe Hydrating Sheer Sunscreen SPF 30 good for, according to the experts?

In their reviews, experts say CeraVe Hydrating Sheer Sunscreen SPF 30 is good for skin barrier support (2 experts), breakouts and acne (1 expert), excess oil and shine (1 expert), dark spots and post-acne marks (1 expert), redness (1 expert) and irritated or reactive skin (1 expert).

Is CeraVe Hydrating Sheer Sunscreen SPF 30 good for skin barrier support?

2 experts who reviewed CeraVe Hydrating Sheer Sunscreen SPF 30 say it is. Dr. Daniel Sugai put it this way: “has ceramide and niacinamide which is one of our favorite ingredients to help brighten the skin, regulate sebum production, help soothe the skin and even help repair the skin barrier.”