SPF Scout · Product record
CVS Health CVS Health 50 Clear Zinc Broad Spectrum SPF 50 Sunscreen
SPF 50 as labeled
U.S. formulation · record last retrieved 5 August 2026
What is listed
The ingredient declaration stored for this formulation, reproduced exactly as it was recorded from the source below.
22 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.
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.
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.
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 oil-like ingredient that softens and smooths the skin feel. It leaves a light, spreadable finish on the skin.
Diisopropyl Adipate
Emollient (softens and smooths skin)Fragrance ingredient (scent)Plasticiser (keeps a film flexible)Skin conditioning (CosIng functional class)Solvent (dissolves other ingredients)An oily liquid that softens skin and acts as a solvent to dissolve other ingredients. It helps the product spread smoothly and can add to the scent.
A silicone that works as an emollient, softening and smoothing skin feel. It gives the product a silky, slippery glide.
listed as “CETY DIMETHICONE”
Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone
Skin conditioning (CosIng functional class)Surfactant (cleanses or mixes oil and water)A silicone-based emulsifier that helps oil and water mix. It also conditions skin and can lift away dirt and oil.
listed as “CETY PEG/PPG-10/1 DIMETHICONE”
Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emollient (softens and smooths skin)Skin conditioning (CosIng functional class)Surfactant (cleanses or mixes oil and water)Viscosity control (thickens or thins the formula)A thick oil-based ingredient that softens and smooths skin feel while helping oil and water mix. It also cleanses and adjusts how thick the product is, so it can carry cleansing and texture roles at once.
Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate
Surfactant (cleanses or mixes oil and water)An emulsifier that helps oil and water mix. In practice it keeps the water and oil parts blended into one smooth product.
An emollient that softens and smooths the skin feel. It leaves skin feeling conditioned and helps the product go on smoothly.
Cera Alba
Emollient (softens and smooths skin)Film forming (leaves a thin coating)Fragrance ingredient (scent)Skin conditioning (CosIng functional class)Surfactant (cleanses or mixes oil and water)Cera Alba is beeswax, used to soften skin, form a film, and help oil and water mix. It smooths skin feel, leaves a thin protective layer, and keeps the water and oil parts blended. It's the Latin label name for beeswax.
listed as “BEESWAX”
Isohexadecane
Emollient (softens and smooths skin)Skin conditioning (CosIng functional class)Solvent (dissolves other ingredients)A light oil-like ingredient that works as a solvent, keeping other ingredients dissolved and mixed. It also softens and smooths skin feel, helping the product glide on.
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative (inhibits microbial growth)This is a preservative that fights microbes. It helps keep the product from spoiling over time.
Silica
Abrasive (physically scrubs)Absorbent (takes up oil or water)Anticaking (keeps powder free-flowing)Bulking agent (adds volume)Opacifier (makes the formula less see-through)otherViscosity control (thickens or thins the formula)Silica is a fine mineral powder that soaks up excess moisture and oil, and adjusts how thick the product feels. It keeps powders from clumping, adds bulk, and can make a formula look more opaque. Its chemical name is silicon dioxide.
Ethylhexylglycerin
Deodorant (masks or reduces odour)Preservative (inhibits microbial growth)Skin conditioning (CosIng functional class)A multi-tasker that conditions the skin and works as a deodorant agent. It helps improve skin feel while cutting odor.
A binding ingredient that helps hold the parts of the formula together. It is often used to coat and bind powders in a mix.
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.
Sodium Chloride
Bulking agent (adds volume)Fragrance ingredient (scent)Oral care (CosIng functional class)otherViscosity control (thickens or thins the formula)Common table salt, used here mainly to adjust the thickness of the formula. It can also act as a bulking agent to add body, and shows up in oral care products. On labels it's simply salt.
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.
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Powder
Skin conditioning (CosIng functional class)A powder from the aloe leaf used to condition the skin. In practice it helps keep skin feeling soft and comfortable.
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant (slows the formula oxidising)A form of vitamin C that acts as an antioxidant, helping protect the formula from going off. It's a stable vitamin C derivative you'll see on labels.
Tocopherol
Antioxidant (slows the formula oxidising)Fragrance ingredient (scent)Occlusive (CosIng functional class)otherSkin conditioning (CosIng functional class)Tocopherol is a form of vitamin E used as an antioxidant, which helps keep the formula from going off. It also conditions skin and forms a thin surface layer that slows moisture loss. You may see it listed simply as vitamin E.
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=fa19e9d3-6ab8-cbd6-e053-6294a90aae9b
- Retrieved
- 5 August 2026
- Market
- United States
- Formulation date
- Not recorded
- Version
- v2 of this U.S. formulation
- Verification confidence
- High
- Entries recorded
- 22
- Record checksum
- sha256:6275ad85d1cf6aa0b3dd2cbedf442de1e4bb58ceeb029007380c505a9f5bca24
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.
Always compare this record with your current package.