Cetaphil Sheer Mineral Liquid Sunscreen for Face, 100% Mineral UVA/UVB Filters, Zinc Oxide Broad Spectrum SPF 50 Formulated for Sensitive Skin, Unscented, 1.7 Fl Oz

As the line goes from Love Jones, "Let me break it down, so it can forever and consistently be broke." It bugs me when a great product gets mediocre reviews when the problem isn't the product, it's the application. I saw another review by a brown woman like me where her face is ghostly white and she claims this isn't for us. The review is still up for you to go find yourself. I almost didn't purchase because of that review but I'm glad I decided to see for myself. First, physical sunscreens, like this one, are more effective than the chemical ones. Additionally, I am 57 years old and have tried a LOT of chemical facial sunscreen products over the years and even my favorites like the Neutrogena SPF Serum 60 makes my eyes tear. Even if I avoid placing near my eyes, once I'm out and about if the wind blows wrong or I have a little hot flash sweat, my eyes are tearing for the remainder of the day until I get home and relieve myself by washing my face. So there's the backstory. This sunscreen right here is so good that I did something I almost never do. I recorded a review video without being all "done up". I had to do it on the spot because I'm that impressed. The problems people are having with the severe white cast is because they're applying way too much and rubbing instead of tapping it in. That's the key takeaway from this review. First, your skin has to be moisturized. I drink approximately 80 ounces of water MINIMUM a day, but my skincare regimen is heavy on the moisture. So in the morning, for instance, I use Hanskin Bubble Pop skin cleanser, the the Hanskin essence, and I also use 2 actives, alpha arbutin and niacinamide. I finish up with Visible Difference Replenishing HydraGel Complex. So by the time I get to the sunscreen step, my face is dewy and ready. Then, I SHAKE THE SUNSCREEN BOTTLE AGGRESSIVELY for like 15 seconds. There's a little ball inside the bottle to mix it well and the product is thin like nail polish so it needs to be mixed every time you apply. I drop LITERALLY 3 DROPS OF THE SUNSCREEN DROPS ON THE BACK OF MY HAND. Then I tap just a little bit (see videos) onto a fingertip and begin TAPPING the product onto my face, one area at a time. I admit, yes, it takes a little time, but so? I'm about the long-term health of my skin, which means spending a little extra time when I have to. I'd say to apply it to my entire face takes all of 5 to 7 minutes which is the only step in my morning skincare regimen that takes time. That's not a big deal. When I'm done, there is the very sliiiiightest white cast but it is absolutely minimal. It's not even a bother. I admit I wouldn't feel confident leaving home with just this sunscreen and no makeup. Brown ladies know what I mean. Even if it's the slightest white cast, you see it in the harsh light of day and office lighting. It's just what it is, titanium and zinc do that to us and there's no perfect way around it if you want the benefits of physical sunscreen. But here's the thng. I don't wear liquid foundation and most days I just use the Fenty Pro Filt'r Instant Retouch concealer(shade 385) under my eyes and to cover the blemishes on my cheeks. This sunscreen plays nicely with my concealer. But for the video I took for this review, I skipped concealer altogether just so you could see me spots and all. What I DO have on is just the slightest-teensy dusting of Fenty Pro Filt'r Powder Foundation (shade 385) and that's all I need to conceal any white casting to show you how I'm street-ready with a full face of sunscreen on underneath. That's it. Nothing else needed. I don't look like a ghost and I'm standing right in front of floor to ceiling windows with natural light. No filters, no AI. Do not try to save time by dropping it directly onto your face and then rubbing it in. It will never work, no matter your skin tone. If you have patience and take a few extra minutes to apply it properly, you can feel confident using this high quality, reasonably priced physical sunscreen. Lastly, I double cleanse at night with Hanskin PHA oil cleanser first to remove every trace of sunscreen from my face. This stuff is waterproof and if you don't believe me, put a drop on the back of your hand and then hold it under fully running water. It does not move, which is great for warmer weather and girls like me who have hot flashes. I'm not mad about it. I just feel better loosening it up with an oil cleanser before washing it away with my Hanskin Bubble Pop (or whatever other cleanser I'm using for the evening which is sometimes the Hanskin Vitamin C Glow Powder). My skin has not been irritated, I've seen no additional breakouts and bonus, my actives are working better. It's like night and day from just using the chemical sunscreen I've used for years. No teary eyes, very comfortable to wear and no scent. If you use it as I've described here, this bottle will last you a minimum of 6 months, likely more. If you're using more than 7 drops for your entire face, you're using too much. Whew! I've given you all I've got. Now, go forth and be beautiful. Prevention beats correction every time.

Works under makeup perfectly, doesn't irritate my sensitive skin, and not greasy. It does leave a white cast, however. I do like this fact since I am so pale that my skin tone could be classed as "sickly Victorian child", so it just looks like an tinted moisturizer on me and evens my skintone nicely. But definitely something to note for anyone who has adequate vitamin D levels. Foundation does wear over it well though, which could remedy that! Also doesn't irritate my eyes, I wear it right up to the waterline and have had no issues with it burning like chemical sunscreens tend to.

I bought this sunscreen for my daughter because I wanted something gentle and safe for her sensitive skin that she could wear every day to school. I really like that it’s mineral-based, free of harsh chemicals, and goes on clear without leaving that white cast most sunscreens do. It offers excellent sun protection, even when she’s outdoors during school activities. However, after a few hours, her skin tends to get a bit shiny, and her makeup doesn’t stay as fresh as she’d like. Still, it’s a solid choice if you’re looking for a lightweight, dermatologist-tested sunscreen for sensitive skin. I’d just recommend pairing it with a mattifying powder or light foundation to help control shine throughout the day.

Has a little bit of a white cast but does not make my eyes burn.

✅ PROS: lightweight, skincare ingredients, protects very pale/fair skin in summer desert sun, does not irritate sensitive skin, does not clog pores, hydrating, doesn’t leave a high shine look like most similar products ⛔️ CONS: does not have a matte finish as it claims (more of a satin finish), it is oil free but if you are prone to oily skin it will not prevent the oiliness from showing, can be used as a primer under makeup applications but not nearly as good as an actual cosmetics primer ⭐️ WOULD BUY AGAIN ⭐️ Cetaphil Sheer Mineral Liquid Sunscreen works great for protecting my face: I have very pale/fair skin, I can be quite sensitive to skin products (as well as having mild rosacea) but this doesn’t irritate my skin in any way, and it has never clogged my pores or caused breakouts. This sunscreen also contains skin care ingredients so it doesn’t just protect your skin but also makes it healthier. However, I do have combination skin - forehead in particular is prone to oiliness. The product claims to be a matte finish for oily skin and for under makeup application as a primer. The finish is not matte on my skin, even with a freshly cleansed face there is still some sheen - BUT it’s very subtle and a far cry from the shiny look of most other affordable sunscreens. While I can’t argue that it can be used as a primer under makeup, it doesn’t give the same quality skin prep for cosmetics the way an actual makeup primer does. Even if you are prone to oily skin as I am, I still recommend Cetaphil Sheer Mineral Liquid Sunscreen for the face. It’s great quality, and protects very pale/fair, sensitive skin very well. I live in a desert area of Southern California, and I’ve never had a burn or even hints of a burn while using this product. Be sure to follow the directions and reapply every 2 hours to keep your skin safe and healthy!

While this sunscreen is lightweight, sinks into skin nicely, protects against sun damage very well, is truly affordable, and has a residue-free finish, it is not non-comedogenic as advertised. After using it daily for three weeks on my face, throat, the back of my neck, and ears it caused clogged pores on my nose, chin, and forehead and acne on my cheeks, ears, and hairline on the back of my neck. It also increased the overall oiliness of my skin. I did not change any of my other skincare products, usual daily sun exposure, diet, exercise, have health or medication changes, etc. during use, so this sunscreen is the culprit. For reference, I am in my late 40s and have combination skin on the drier side that can be sensitive. I also have psoriasis but had no active patches while using this product. Before applying the sunscreen, I used an acne cleanser with 2% salicylic acid (currently using Cetaphil's new one), Cosrx 6 Peptide Booster, CeraVe Vitamin C serum, and then Vanicream Facial Moisturizer, letting all products absorb well for at least 10 minutes before applying the sunscreen. (I have used this same routine for over two years with excellent results.) Then, I applied two finger lengths of the sunscreen to my face and neck, another to the back of my neck, and a decent-size dab to my ears. The sunscreen melts in quickly and leaves a slight white cast initially, but it dissipates quickly. I'm very fair, however, so this may just be my coloring. In aminute or two, the sunscreen is dry to the touch and ready for makeup application, for those who wear it. I haven't given the sunscreen a test drive with makeup since I prefer not to wear it. The finish is satin-like on my skin, not matte as advertised or shiny as mentioned by some reviewers. My skin experienced some oil breakthrough after a couple of hours, but that's typical for any sunscreen. It was more than the Korean brands I prefer with chemical UV filters, however, even ones that are more moisturizing. Unfortunately, this is another American sunscreen fail for me. I'll use it up on my arms and legs. Oh, one final note: some folks are whinging about the size of the bottle. It holds 1.7 ounces of product in a very convenient, purse- or pocket-friendly size. 1.7 ounces is a standard volume for many brands of both American and Korean sunscreen, and this is actually a relevant selling point since it's not an unwieldy tube. Go by the weight when buying liquids, folks!

I recently started retinol and knew that I needed to find something with a good amount of SPF quickly. The thing is, I can't stand scented lotions on my face, and I have very sensitive eyes, so most sunblock burns me. I also can't stand greasy textures on my face. So, after some research, I came across this Cetaphil product and figured I'd give it a try. I was SO pleasantly surprised to find that this mineral sunscreen went on super smoothly. It's unscented. It dries quickly and doesn't leave any sort of greasy residue. There is the FAINTEST hint of white residue left behind, but for my fair skin, it's not noticeable. I love how lightweight the formula is, and this particular size bottle is great for throwing in your purse or for a few days of travel in the travel bag. Just beware- watch your sizes! I actually meant to buy a larger size (and now, I definitely will when this runs out), but I wasn't paying attention. As far as I can tell, it has been very effective so far since I haven't been burned yet. However, it's winter here, and it's been cold, so I haven't had a ton of sun exposure lately to really test that out. So, TBD on its efficacy in the sun or with a lot of sweating.

I'm a pasty white guy married to a Panamanian woman. I spend at least 4 weeks out of the year in Panama, where the sun is intense year-round and the most fun to be had outside the city is the beach or hiking. Mineral sunscreen holds up so much better than your typical chemical avenbezone or whatever. I need to reapply it less often and at similar SPF ratings I see much better performance from mineral options. I find both Cetaphil and Blue Lizard to work extremely well for price, especially for the face (comparing to something like ISDIN or La Roche-Posay, which do a good job but cost 3 times as much). If you're headed to the Caribbean or have a history of melanoma in your family, you really can't go wrong with a mineral option and Cetaphil makes a solid product.