Sunscreen Ranker Independent ranker
Cetaphil Sheer Mineral Face Liquid Drops SPF 50
Cetaphil

Sheer Mineral Face Liquid Drops SPF 50

SPF 50+ Tone-up Brightening veil from mineral & tone-up formulas; evens out your skin tone. United States us-fda Formulation variant: us-fda. Region-specific reformulations are tracked as separate products.

ZnO-only with PEG-10 and silicone elastomers for sheer finish; niacinamide and bisabolol soothe. Phenoxyethanol present.

△ MIN Mineral filters Mineral filters — Physical filters (ZnO, TiO2) sit on top and reflect UV. Reef-safer and super gentle. ((· BS Broad spectrum Broad spectrum — Blocks UVA + UVB — covers the whole sun-damage spectrum. F F-FREE Fragrance-free Fragrance-free — No added fragrance — lower irritation risk if your skin's reactive. A A-FREE Alcohol-free Alcohol-free — No drying short-chain alcohols (denatured / SD alcohol).
Where to buy it
Ulta US In stock
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78.0
Composite
Composite score · independent
Ranks #433 of 1558 in the current catalogue. ZnO-only with PEG-10 and silicone elastomers for sheer finish; niacinamide and bisabolol soothe. Phenoxyethanol present.
Composite is a weighted blend: UV 25% · Modernity 10% · Sensitivity 15% · Environment 10% · Elegance 15% · Health 25%. That's the recipe.
01 The score breakdown
UV protection How hard it blocks UVA + UVB across the spectrum at the stated SPF/PA. 82
Filter modernity Dings legacy filters (octinoxate, oxybenzone); rewards photostable next-gen ones. 80
Sensitivity safety Risk for reactive skin — fragrance, alcohol, and known sensitisers. 68
Reef / env. safety Reef toxicity plus how biodegradable the UV filters and surfactants are. 100
Cosmetic elegance Spread, finish, white-cast, and how it actually feels on skin. 75
Health safety Endocrine concerns and systemic absorption signals across the whole formula. 72
02 Composition · key UV filters 1 filters resolved
UVA-I 340–400nm UVA-I (340–400nm) — covered UVA-II 320–340nm UVA-II (320–340nm) — covered UVB 290–320nm UVB (290–320nm) — covered
Zinc Oxide Mineral Physical filter — sits on skin and reflects UV. Reef-safer.
03 The facts, at a glance
Protection
Filter type Mineral filters (zinc oxide, titanium dioxide) sit on skin and reflect UV. Chemical filters absorb UV. Hybrid runs both.
Mineral
Broad spectrum Covers both UVA and UVB. UVA drives aging and deeper damage; UVB gives you burns.
Yes
Formulation & feel
Texture How it feels going on — milk, gel, cream, spray, stick, essence, lotion, powder, or cushion.
Cream
Finish How it looks once dry: matte, natural, dewy, or glowy.
Natural
Tinted Adds sheer pigment (iron oxides) that masks the white cast common to mineral filters and gives a skin-tone finish.
No
Fragrance-free No synthetic perfume added. Not FDA-defined in the US; the EU requires 'Parfum' + the 26 named allergens on the label. 'Unscented' is different — it can hide masking fragrance. Botanical oils still scent.
Yes
Alcohol-free No drying short-chain alcohols (alcohol denat., SD alcohol, ethanol). Doesn't mean fatty alcohols like cetyl or stearyl — those are emollients.
Yes
Verdict Is it worth it?

A zinc-oxide-only mineral fluid built on PEG-10 and silicone elastomers, with niacinamide and bisabolol on board. The sheer drop format blends thin and pairs broad-spectrum mineral coverage with a non-occlusive feel.

Pros
  • ZnO-only broad-spectrum filter with strong UVA reach
  • Niacinamide and bisabolol soothe and even tone
  • Silicone elastomers give a sheer, near-invisible finish
  • Fragrance-free and free of denatured alcohol
Cons
  • Contains phenoxyethanol, a preservative some shoppers limit
  • PEG-10 may bother shoppers avoiding ethoxylates
  • Lightweight fluid needs careful measuring to hit full SPF dose

Who it's for: Suits normal-to-combination skin that wants a near-invisible all-mineral fluid layerable under makeup.

04 Full ingredient list (INCI) 26 ingredients
MODERN FILTER 0 LEGACY FILTER 1 MINERAL FILTER 1 ADDED FRAGRANCE 0 NATURAL FRAGRANCE 0 ALCOHOL 0 WATCH 0 ACTIVE 4
Zinc Oxide Mineral UV filter — physical block; reef-safer. · Allantoin Soothing; barrier-supportive. ·Bisabolol· Butyloctyl Salicylate Salicylate-class booster; supports avobenzone. ·C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate·Caprylyl Glycol·Caprylyl Methicone·Dimethicone·Dimethiconol/Propylsilsesquioxane/Silicate Crosspolymer· Ethylhexylglycerin Humectant — the workhorse hydrator. ·Hexylene Glycol·Isododecane·Lauryl Peg-10 Tris(Trimethylsiloxy)Silylethyl Dimethicone·Lauryl Peg-8 Dimethicone· Niacinamide Vitamin B3 — barrier + brightening. ·Octyldodecyl Neopentanoate·Peg-10·Phenoxyethanol·Polymethylsilsesquioxane·Propanediol·Sodium Chloride·Sodium Hydroxide·Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate· Tocopherol Vitamin E — antioxidant. ·Trilaureth-4 Phosphate·Water
Source: brand-published INCI. Last verified 2026. Show in detail
01 Zinc Oxide MINERAL FILTER Mineral UV filter — physical block; reef-safer.
02 Allantoin ACTIVE Soothing; barrier-supportive.
03 Bisabolol Bisabolol
04 Butyloctyl Salicylate LEGACY FILTER Salicylate-class booster; supports avobenzone.
05 C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
06 Caprylyl Glycol Caprylyl Glycol
07 Caprylyl Methicone Caprylyl Methicone
08 Dimethicone Dimethicone
09 Dimethiconol/Propylsilsesquioxane/Silicate Crosspolymer Dimethiconol/Propylsilsesquioxane/Silicate Crosspolymer
10 Ethylhexylglycerin ACTIVE Humectant — the workhorse hydrator.
11 Hexylene Glycol Hexylene Glycol
12 Isododecane Isododecane
13 Lauryl Peg-10 Tris(Trimethylsiloxy)Silylethyl Dimethicone Lauryl PEG-10 Tris(Trimethylsiloxy)silylethyl Dimethicone
14 Lauryl Peg-8 Dimethicone Lauryl PEG-8 Dimethicone
15 Niacinamide ACTIVE Vitamin B3 — barrier + brightening.
16 Octyldodecyl Neopentanoate Octyldodecyl Neopentanoate
17 Peg-10 PEG-10
18 Phenoxyethanol Phenoxyethanol
19 Polymethylsilsesquioxane Polymethylsilsesquioxane
20 Propanediol Propanediol
21 Sodium Chloride Sodium Chloride
22 Sodium Hydroxide Sodium Hydroxide
23 Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
24 Tocopherol ACTIVE Vitamin E — antioxidant.
25 Trilaureth-4 Phosphate Trilaureth-4 Phosphate
26 Water Water