SPF Scout · Product record

CeraVe CeraVe AM Facial Moisturizing Broad Spectrum SPF 30 Sunscreen

SPF 30 as labeled

U.S. formulation · record last retrieved 27 July 2026

What is listed

The ingredient declaration stored for this formulation, reproduced exactly as it was recorded from the source below.

Homosalate, Meradimate, Octinoxate, Octocrylene, Zinc Oxide, water, niacinamide, cetearyl alcohol, glycerin, dimethicone, behentrimonium methosulfate, ceramide 3, ceramide 6-II, ceramide 1, hyaluronic acid, sodium hydroxide, aluminum starch octenylsuccinate, hydroxyethylcellulose, methylparaben, disodium EDTA, propylparaben, sodium lauroyl lactylate, phytosphingosine, cholesterol, carbomer, xanthan gum

26 entries · the stored declaration is recorded as complete.

What each ingredient generally does

Each entry that matched a canonical ingredient, with the function recorded for it. These notes describe the role an ingredient plays in a formulation. They do not assess an ingredient.

  • Homosalate

    Fragrance ingredient (scent)UV absorber (protects the formula from light, not a sunscreen filter)UV filter (filters UV rays)

    An organic UV filter that absorbs ultraviolet light. It also adds scent to the product.

  • Meradimate

    UV absorber (protects the formula from light, not a sunscreen filter)UV filter (filters UV rays)

    Meradimate is an organic (chemical) UV filter. It absorbs ultraviolet light so less of it reaches your skin.

  • Octinoxate

    Light stabiliser (protects the formula from light)UV absorber (protects the formula from light, not a sunscreen filter)UV filter (filters UV rays)

    An organic UV filter that absorbs ultraviolet light. It also acts as a light stabilizer, helping the formula hold up when exposed to sunlight. You'll often see it listed as Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate.

  • Octocrylene

    Light stabiliser (protects the formula from light)UV absorber (protects the formula from light, not a sunscreen filter)UV filter (filters UV rays)

    An organic UV filter that absorbs ultraviolet light. It also serves as a light stabilizer, helping keep other filters and the formula intact under sunlight.

  • Zinc Oxide

    Bulking agent (adds volume)Colorant (adds colour)Light stabiliser (protects the formula from light)Oral care (CosIng functional class)Preservative (inhibits microbial growth)Skin protecting (CosIng functional class)UV absorber (protects the formula from light, not a sunscreen filter)UV filter (filters UV rays)

    A mineral UV filter that absorbs ultraviolet light, the core sun-protection job in this product. It also helps protect the skin surface and can add whiteness or opacity. On some labels it appears as CI 77947 when used for colour.

  • Water

    Antiplaque (CosIng functional class)otherSkin conditioning (CosIng functional class)Solvent (dissolves other ingredients)

    The base liquid that most of the other ingredients dissolve or spread into. It carries the formula and helps condition the skin surface.

  • Niacinamide

    otherSmoothing (CosIng functional class)

    An ingredient that smooths the skin's surface. In practice, it helps the product leave skin feeling even.

  • Cetearyl Alcohol

    Emollient (softens and smooths skin)Emulsion stabiliser (keeps oil and water mixed)Foam boosting (increases foam from other ingredients)Opacifier (makes the formula less see-through)Skin conditioning (CosIng functional class)Surfactant (cleanses or mixes oil and water)Viscosity control (thickens or thins the formula)

    A workhorse ingredient that softens skin feel, adjusts thickness, helps oil and water mix, and keeps the blend stable. In practice it thickens the product, keeps it from separating, gives a smooth feel, and can make the product look opaque. Despite its name, it behaves like a waxy solid, not a drying alcohol.

  • Glycerin

    Denaturant (makes alcohol undrinkable)Fragrance ingredient (scent)Hair conditioning (CosIng functional class)Humectant (holds moisture)Oral care (CosIng functional class)Skin conditioning (CosIng functional class)Skin protecting (CosIng functional class)Solvent (dissolves other ingredients)Viscosity control (thickens or thins the formula)

    Glycerin draws in and holds moisture while conditioning and protecting skin. It also dissolves other ingredients, adjusts thickness, and can add scent. On labels it may appear as glycerol.

  • Dimethicone

    Antifoaming (stops the formula foaming)Emollient (softens and smooths skin)Skin conditioning (CosIng functional class)Skin protecting (CosIng functional class)

    A silicone that softens and smooths skin feel and forms a protective layer on the surface. It also cuts down foam during production, keeping the formula settled.

  • Behentrimonium Methosulfate

    Antistatic (reduces static)Hair conditioning (CosIng functional class)Surfactant (cleanses or mixes oil and water)

    This conditions hair and reduces static so strands lie smooth and don't fly away. It also does some cleansing work.

  • Ceramide 3

    Hair conditioning (CosIng functional class)Skin conditioning (CosIng functional class)

    Ceramide 3 is a lipid that conditions skin and hair, leaving them soft and smooth. It is a retired label name for this ingredient.

  • Ceramide 6 II

    Hair conditioning (CosIng functional class)Skin conditioning (CosIng functional class)

    Ceramide 6 II is a lipid that conditions skin and hair, leaving them feeling soft and smooth. It is a retired label name for this ingredient.

    listed as “ceramide 6-II”

  • Ceramide 1

    Hair conditioning (CosIng functional class)Skin conditioning (CosIng functional class)

    Ceramide 1 is a lipid used to condition skin and hair. It helps them feel soft and smooth. On labels it may also appear under its retired name, Ceramide 1.

  • Sodium Hyaluronate

    Humectant (holds moisture)Skin conditioning (CosIng functional class)

    A moisture-grabbing ingredient that draws in and holds water. That keeps skin conditioned and helps it feel supple. It's the salt form of hyaluronic acid.

    listed as “hyaluronic acid”

  • Sodium Hydroxide

    Buffering (holds the formula at a set acidity)Denaturant (makes alcohol undrinkable)other

    Sodium Hydroxide is a strongly alkaline ingredient used in tiny amounts to fine-tune a formula's acidity (buffering). This keeps the product's pH steady. It can also act as a denaturant, altering another substance so it stays fit for use in cosmetics rather than being consumed.

  • Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate

    Absorbent (takes up oil or water)Anticaking (keeps powder free-flowing)Viscosity control (thickens or thins the formula)

    A starch-based powder that soaks up excess oil and moisture, keeps the formula from clumping, and adjusts its thickness. In practice it gives the product a smoother, less greasy feel.

  • Hydroxyethylcellulose

    Binder (holds the formula together)Emulsion stabiliser (keeps oil and water mixed)Film forming (leaves a thin coating)Light stabiliser (protects the formula from light)Viscosity control (thickens or thins the formula)

    Hydroxyethylcellulose is a thickener that adjusts how thick or fluid the product is and helps keep it from separating. It forms a thin film on skin, helps hold the formula together, and works as a light stabilizer to keep it steady.

  • Methylparaben

    Fragrance ingredient (scent)Preservative (inhibits microbial growth)

    This is a preservative that also adds fragrance. It keeps the product from spoiling and contributes to its scent. It belongs to the paraben family of preservatives.

  • Disodium EDTA

    Chelating (binds metal ions in the formula)otherViscosity control (thickens or thins the formula)

    An ingredient that binds trace metals that would otherwise spoil the formula, and helps adjust its thickness. This keeps the product stable over time.

  • Propylparaben

    Fragrance ingredient (scent)Preservative (inhibits microbial growth)

    A preservative that keeps the product from spoiling, and it also plays a role in the scent. In practice it helps the formula stay stable over time.

  • Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate

    Surfactant (cleanses or mixes oil and water)

    Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate is an emulsifier, so it helps the oil and water parts of a product mix and stay blended. That keeps a lotion or cream smooth and uniform instead of separating.

  • Phytosphingosine

    Hair conditioning (CosIng functional class)Skin conditioning (CosIng functional class)

    A skin- and hair-conditioning ingredient. It helps keep skin and hair feeling soft and smooth.

  • Cholesterol

    Emollient (softens and smooths skin)Light stabiliser (protects the formula from light)Skin conditioning (CosIng functional class)Surfactant (cleanses or mixes oil and water)Viscosity control (thickens or thins the formula)

    Cholesterol is a multitasker that softens and smooths the skin feel while helping oil and water mix. It also adjusts the product's thickness and helps keep the formula stable in light. On a label it can appear simply as cholesterol.

  • Carbomer

    Emulsion stabiliser (keeps oil and water mixed)Gel forming (sets the formula into a gel)otherViscosity control (thickens or thins the formula)

    A thickener that adjusts how thick the product is and forms a gel. It also keeps oil and water blends from separating, holding the texture together.

  • Xanthan Gum

    Binder (holds the formula together)Emulsion stabiliser (keeps oil and water mixed)Gel forming (sets the formula into a gel)otherSkin conditioning (CosIng functional class)Surfactant (cleanses or mixes oil and water)Viscosity control (thickens or thins the formula)

    A thickener that adjusts how thick the product is and forms a gel-like texture. It keeps oil and water mixed and stops the blend from separating, giving a stable, even feel.

Checking this against your own list

SPF Scout's Personal Ingredient Check runs in the app, on your device. This page cannot see a personal avoidance list. Your selections are stored on your phone and are never sent to this website — there is nowhere on our side for them to go.

In the app you choose the ingredients you already avoid, and every entry in this declaration that matches one of them is shown to you with the alias path that produced the match.

This comparison does not predict whether your skin will react.

Source quality

Source
DailyMed drug label
Source record
https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=2138f86b-3937-4c2b-9568-d40a745b637d
Retrieved
27 July 2026
Market
United States
Formulation date
Not recorded
Version
v2 of this U.S. formulation
Verification confidence
High
Entries recorded
26
Record checksum
sha256:a708f3101cc5f3d1a212ec50777b1d43a6cf66f6e5fbad2e01a50b22c798e39a

Earlier readings of this document

We have read this product's source document twice, and kept each reading. The earlier reading is ours: a change in how we read the document, not a change the manufacturer made to the formula.

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