SPF Scout · Product record
CeraVe CeraVe Facial Moisturizing with Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 30 For Normal To Dry Skin
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.
33 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.
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.
Octisalate
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, and doubles as a light stabilizer to keep the formula steady in sun. It also appears on labels as Ethylhexyl Salicylate.
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.
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.
Propanediol
Humectant (holds moisture)Solvent (dissolves other ingredients)Viscosity control (thickens or thins the formula)A solvent that dissolves other ingredients and helps them blend evenly. It also adjusts the thickness of the formula.
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.
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative (inhibits microbial growth)This is a preservative that fights microbes. It helps keep the product from spoiling over time.
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.
An antioxidant that helps keep the formula from going off over time. In practice it protects the product's other ingredients from breaking down.
A binding ingredient that helps hold the parts of the formula together. It is often used to coat and bind powders in a mix.
This is a chelating agent. It binds trace metals in the mix that could break the formula down 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.
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.
A conditioning ingredient for skin and hair. It works to improve the feel and condition of skin and hair.
Triethyl Citrate
Deodorant (masks or reduces odour)Fragrance ingredient (scent)otherPlasticiser (keeps a film flexible)Solvent (dissolves other ingredients)Viscosity control (thickens or thins the formula)A multi-tasking liquid that acts as a solvent, dissolving other ingredients so they blend evenly. It also adds scent, works as a deodorant, softens the film the product leaves, and adjusts thickness. On labels it plays several roles at once.
An antioxidant that also adds a scent note. It helps keep the oils in the formula from going off, so the product stays stable longer. Often shortened to BHT on labels.
listed as “Bht”
Caprylyl Glycol
Deodorant (masks or reduces odour)Emollient (softens and smooths skin)Hair conditioning (CosIng functional class)Preservative (inhibits microbial growth)Skin conditioning (CosIng functional class)A multi-tasker that conditions skin and hair and acts as a deodorant. As an emollient it softens and smooths, leaving skin feeling conditioned.
A skin- and hair-conditioning ingredient. It softens and smooths the feel of skin and hair. You may see it on older labels under its former name, Ceramide 6 II.
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.
Benzoic Acid
Fragrance ingredient (scent)pH adjuster (sets the formula's acidity)Preservative (inhibits microbial growth)A preservative that helps keep the product from spoiling. It also fine-tunes the acidity level and adds fragrance.
Disodium Phosphate
Anticorrosive (protects the container and equipment from corrosion)Buffering (holds the formula at a set acidity)Fragrance ingredient (scent)A buffering ingredient that keeps the product's acidity steady over time. It also guards against corrosion and can add to the scent.
Polysorbate 60
Surfactant (cleanses or mixes oil and water)Polysorbate 60 helps oil and water mix into a stable, even product. It doubles as a cleansing agent that helps lift away oil and dirt.
Sodium Phosphate
Anti-seborrheic (CosIng functional class)Buffering (holds the formula at a set acidity)Deodorant (masks or reduces odour)This buffers, meaning it keeps the acidity steady, and is also listed as an anti-seborrheic and deodorant ingredient. In practice, it helps hold the formula's balance and manage odor.
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=92029fdf-839e-4591-bf95-a439528c2613
- Retrieved
- 27 July 2026
- Market
- United States
- Formulation date
- Not recorded
- Version
- v1 of this U.S. formulation
- Verification confidence
- High
- Entries recorded
- 33
- Record checksum
- sha256:bf6a73e11b03654549040e55c3d3eef9fc79d901fc3ecebc3a96e600c3b58300
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