Cetaphil Daily Facial Moisturizer SPF 15 for combination skin
Avobenzone
Octocrylene
Glycerin
Tocopheryl Acetate
Glyceryl Stearate
Average
- HighCombination Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for combination skin; other sunscreens fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with combination skin: an oily T-zone, enlarged pores, and dry cheeks. For scores and recommendations based on your full skin profile, including your 12D face scan results and any goals or preferences you have, please use the Lovi app.
Page built Nov 8, 2026How the Fit score works
Lovi Assistant explains
- Suitable for combination skin as glycerin provides humectant action and tocopheryl acetate offers antioxidant benefits, maintaining hydration without increasing oiliness.
- The formulation offers moderate moisturizing and UV protection, though it lacks specialized ingredients to effectively address oily shine.
- The safety profile is excellent, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of prohibited or harsh ingredients.
How to apply
- Apply this moisturizing sunscreen AM daily to protect your skin and control shine. Reapply as needed throughout the day.
- Use it as the final step of your morning routine after applying your moisturizer. It combines hydration and sun protection in one.
- Gently smooth a nickel-sized amount evenly over your face, avoiding harsh rubbing. Let it absorb fully before putting on makeup.
- Apply it directly to clean, dry skin for the best oil-controlling finish. Ensure your face is completely dry so the product sets properly.
- Avoid the immediate eye area during application. Do a patch test before your first use to check for any sensitivity.
People Say
★4.3Overall rating based on 2.5k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, this moisturizer is highly favored by users with sensitive and dry skin for its lightweight, fragrance-free formula that hydrates without clogging pores. A moderate number of users with oily skin report a greasy or shiny finish, and a moderate number of reviewers mention stinging if the product gets into the eyes.
Highlights
Gentle on sensitive skin Mostly Mentioned
- “Doesn't burn my face”
- “great for sensitive skin”
- “no redness after use”
- “gentle formula”
Effective hydration Often Mentioned
- “Keeps flakes away”
- “skin feels plump”
- “moisturizes all day”
- “healed my dry spots”
Lightweight and non-greasy Often Mentioned
- “Sinks in immediately”
- “doesn't feel heavy”
- “perfect under makeup”
- “light texture”
Fragrance-free formula Sometimes Noted
- “Love that it's unscented”
- “no chemical smell”
- “doesn't trigger allergies”
- “truly fragrance-free”
Greasy or shiny finish Sometimes Noted
- “Left me looking like a greaseball”
- “too shiny for day use”
- “oil slick on forehead”
- “never fully dried down”
Stinging around eyes Sometimes Noted
- “Burns my eyes badly”
- “makes eyes water”
- “stings if I sweat”
- “can't put near eyes”
Caused breakouts Rarely Noted
- “Broke me out immediately”
- “caused cystic acne”
- “clogged my pores”
- “gave me whiteheads”
Leaves a white cast Rarely Noted
- “Leaves a white cast”
- “looks purple on dark skin”
- “takes forever to rub in”
- “visible white film”
Sources: lovi.care, walmart.com, cetaphil.com, iherb.com, acne.org, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Cetaphil Daily Facial Moisturizer SPF 15 work for combination skin?
This moisturizer with SPF works for combination skin by keeping areas hydrated without feeling heavy, though it lacks specialized ingredients to control oily shine. A product of this type needs to balance hydration and sun protection while effectively addressing oily shine with lightweight, barrier-supporting ingredients.
Which ingredients make this cream a good fit for combination skin?
Glycerin and tocopheryl acetate make this cream a good fit for combination skin by maintaining hydration without increasing oiliness. However, this skin type needs products that also effectively address oily shine with lightweight formulations, barrier-supporting ingredients, and sun protection.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017Scientific Reports, 2025
What does Avobenzone do for combination skin?
Avobenzone helps protect combination skin from sun damage, but it is best used in a stable formulation because it can break down under sunlight. Encapsulating this ingredient or combining it with photostability boosters may reduce skin irritation and improve safety.
European Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2023Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology. B, Biology, 2015
What does Octocrylene do for combination skin?
Octocrylene is a UV filter that protects combination skin from sun damage without clogging pores or disrupting the skin's natural balance. It is unlikely to cause irritation or significantly affect the skin's healthy bacteria, though products of this type also benefit from added antioxidants to help reduce environmental stress.
Where does this cream go in a skincare routine for combination skin?
This moisturizing spf goes in the morning routine after your hydrating toner and before sun protection, or it can serve as your daytime moisturizer and sunscreen step in one. It keeps your skin soft and hydrated without increasing oiliness, though combination skin needs extra ingredients to control midday shine.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017Scientific Reports, 2025
Can I use this cream with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cream in the morning before your SPF, and apply your retinol at night to help your skin adjust. This product keeps your skin soft and hydrated without extra oiliness, but combination skin using retinol also needs specialized ingredients to control shine.
How often should I use this cream?
You can use this moisturizing spf daily in your morning routine to keep your skin hydrated and protected from the sun. Daily application helps improve skin moisture and barrier function without causing irritation. For this skin type, combination skin needs a product that also controls excess oil and shine throughout the day.
Can this cream clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for combination skin?
This cream is unlikely to cause breakouts on combination skin, as it has a very safe formula that rarely irritates. However, it may leave a greasy or shiny finish, because a product for this skin needs oil-controlling ingredients to properly manage shine.
Is this cream fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (benzyl alcohol).
What the research says
Co-encapsulation of alpha-tocopherol and alpha-tocopheryl acetate in nanostructured lipid carrier gel formulations significantly enhanced moisture retention up to 68% and improved skin elasticity in human volunteers compared to a solution gel.
Scientific Reports, 2025Dermatological products containing d-alpha tocopheryl acetate showed non-comedogenic potential with less than a 50% increase in microcomedones in 12 healthy male subjects compared to octyl palmitate.
Contemporary Clinical Trials Communications, 2021A single application of a moisturizing fluid containing hyaluronic acid 1%, glycerin 5%, and Centella asiatica stem cells extract significantly increased skin hydration by 29% and reduced transepidermal water loss at 24 hours compared to baseline and an untreated control site in twenty healthy women.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017The application of a sunscreen formulation containing ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate, ethylhexyl salicylate, methyl anthranilate, and octocrylene does not significantly affect critical acne-related species such as Cutibacterium acnes and Staphylococcus epidermidis, refuting the induction of facial dysbiosis in men.
Archives of Dermatological Research, 2024Encapsulation of ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate and butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane in lipid microparticles significantly reduced their in vivo human skin penetration compared to nonencapsulated filters.
Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, 2011Microencapsulation of the BMDBM/HP-beta-CD complex in lipid microparticles significantly decreased the percutaneous penetration of the UV filter into the stratum corneum of human volunteers compared to the non-encapsulated sunscreen agent.
Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis, 2011Following human skin application of an O/W emulsion containing 2% BMDBM loaded in lipospheres, 15% of the sunscreen accumulated in the uppermost layers of the stratum corneum without remarkably modifying skin permeation compared to unencapsulated sunscreen.
Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, 2008Incorporating rosmarinic acid into sunscreens enhanced the in vivo SPF of octocrylene by over 157% and reduced lipid peroxidation in the human stratum corneum.
Antioxidants, 2025Early application of sunscreen after ablative fractional skin resurfacing significantly increased the sensitization rate of the UV-filter, octocrylene, and the sunscreen compared to intact skin.
The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2015Dermal sunscreen exposure in 20 healthy volunteers led to plasma concentrations of avobenzone, octocrylene, and its metabolite CDAA reaching up to 11 μg/L, 25 μg/L, and 1352 μg/L, respectively.
Environment International, 2019The emollient V0034CR significantly reduced TEWL compared to vehicle and vehicle plus glycerol, and significantly increased corneometry scores compared to vehicle and vehicle plus petrolatum in healthy volunteers with dry skin, demonstrating combined barrier function improvement from petrolatum and hydration improvement from glycerol.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Ten days of treatment with a cream containing 20% glycerin significantly increased skin hydration measured by corneometer values in 17 healthy volunteers compared to a placebo cream, but showed no influence on transepidermal water loss or skin sensitivity to an irritating surfactant.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2001Niacinamide/glycerin body moisturizers provided better rapid and prolonged improvement of cosmetic xerosis through functional improvement of stratum corneum barrier function compared to no treatment and conventional moisturizers in female subjects.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2012Topical application of an antioxidant serum containing 15% ascorbic acid, 0.5% ferulic acid, and 1% tocopherol prevented particulate matter-induced degradation of extracellular matrix components, inflammation, and oxidative stress in the skin of 15 female volunteers compared to untreated controls.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025Topical application of an antioxidant mix containing 15% ascorbic acid, 0.5% ferulic acid, and 1% tocopherol prevented PM and UV-induced skin barrier perturbation, lipid peroxidation, inflammatory markers, MMP9 activation, and Type I collagen loss in 15 healthy females compared to untreated exposed skin.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024A topical antioxidant serum significantly reduced air pollution-induced skin pigmentation and proinflammatory gene expression ex vivo, and improved skin aging signs in 40 healthy adult females after 90 days of daily use.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022
Ingredients
Avobenzone, Octocrylene, Water, Diisopropyl Adipate, Cyclomethicone, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate, Peg-100 Stearate, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Phenoxyethanol, Benzyl Alcohol, Acrylates C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Tocopheryl Acetate, Carbomer 940, Disodium Edta, Triethanolamine
Behind this fit score
Lovi calculates every fit score from the full ingredient list with brand-independent rules our dermatologists and cosmetic chemists build and review, and personalizes every pick with AI trained on the real results of millions of users. Lovi trains its fit score models on a proprietary dataset built from more than 10,000 expert-labeled products and more than 100,000 simulated examples, following an internally consistent methodology presented at Cosmoprof, AMWC, and Skin of Color Update.
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Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
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Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
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Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
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Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
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Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
How does it fit your skin?
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