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Cetaphil Sheer Mineral Sunscreen Lotion for oily skin

High

  • HighOily Skin Fit
  • AverageEffectiveness
  • HighSafety

A great choice for oily skin; a few sunscreens fit it even better.

This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with oily skin: shine, enlarged pores, blackheads, and blemishes. 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

  • This product offers high suitability for your oily skin, with ingredients like dimethicone and glycerin providing balancing emollient and humectant actions without exacerbating oiliness.
  • It provides excellent broad-spectrum sun protection due to zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, and soothing agents like Bisabolol and Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract ensure no irritation for your oily skin.
  • While it offers general hydration and soothing benefits, it lacks specialized ingredients to directly manage oily shine, making its functionality primarily supportive rather than targeted for your main concern.

How to apply

  • Use this moisturizing sunscreen daily in your AM routine. Reapply every two hours when exposed to direct sun.
  • Apply this moisturizing sunscreen as the final step of your morning routine after your moisturizer.
  • Smooth an even layer of the moisturizing sunscreen over your face and neck, avoiding harsh rubbing.
  • Apply the moisturizing sunscreen onto clean, dry skin for the best protection and even coverage.
  • Avoid the immediate eye area and discontinue use if any irritation occurs.

People Say

★3.3Overall rating based on 2.0k+ reviews

Based on a very large amount of data, users find this sunscreen to be gentle and non-irritating, making it a good option for sensitive and acne-prone skin. Many appreciate its fragrance-free nature and reliable sun protection. However, a significant majority of reviews indicate a strong white cast and a thick, difficult-to-blend texture, which is particularly problematic for those with medium to dark skin tones. Some users also report issues with pilling and the product clinging to dry patches or hair.

Highlights

  • Severe white cast Mostly Mentioned
    • “Leaves a purple hue”
    • “Looked like a ghost”
    • “Not sheer at all”
    • “Impossible for dark skin”
  • Fragrance-free Often Mentioned
    • “No strong sunscreen smell”
    • “Completely scentless”
    • “Great for fragrance allergies”
  • Gentle on sensitive skin Often Mentioned
    • “Only sunscreen my son doesn't react to”
    • “No stinging around eyes”
    • “Did not cause breakouts”
  • Thick texture Often Mentioned
    • “Hard to spread”
    • “Feels like white paste”
    • “Drags on the skin”
    • “Takes forever to rub in”
  • Matte finish Sometimes Noted
    • “Dries down completely matte”
    • “Good for oily skin”
    • “Doesn't leave a grease slick”
    • “Feels dry to the touch”
  • Reliable sun protection Sometimes Noted
    • “Prevented burns at the beach”
    • “Good water resistance”
    • “High zinc oxide content”
  • Clings to dry patches Sometimes Noted
    • “Stuck in eyebrows and beard”
    • “Emphasized dry skin flakes”
    • “Looked patchy after an hour”
  • Pilling issues Sometimes Noted
    • “Pills under makeup”
    • “Balls up if rubbed”
    • “Flakes off when touched”

Sources: lovi.care, target.com, walmart.com, ulta.com, cetaphil.com, and more

Questions and answers

What makes Cetaphil Sheer Mineral Sunscreen Lotion a great fit for oily skin?

This sunscreen is a great fit because it uses ingredients like dimethicone and glycerin to provide balanced hydration without making your skin oily. It also offers strong sun protection alongside soothing agents that help keep your skin calm and comfortable.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

Which ingredients make this sunscreen a good fit for oily skin?

This sunscreen is a great fit for oily skin because ingredients like dimethicone and glycerin provide balancing moisture without making your skin oily. It also includes soothing agents like bisabolol and chamomile extract that help calm your skin without causing irritation.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

What does Vitamin E do for oily skin?

Vitamin E helps balance oily skin by reducing excess oil and calming redness. It is also unlikely to clog pores while helping to keep your skin smooth and properly hydrated.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024

What does Ceramide AP do for oily skin?

Ceramide AP helps balance oily skin by supporting the skin barrier and maintaining moisture without feeling heavy. Because oily skin can still suffer from weak barrier function and lipid imbalances, this ingredient helps protect and smooth the skin.

Cureus, 2025American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2003

Where does this sunscreen go in a skincare routine for oily skin?

This moisturizing sunscreen goes in the morning routine after your moisturizer, as the final skincare step before makeup. It helps protect oily skin from the sun while providing light hydration that is unlikely to cause greasy shine.

Can I use this sunscreen with retinol, and in what order?

You can use this sunscreen in the morning after applying your retinol and moisturizer to protect your skin without feeling heavy. Using a gentle moisturizer with barrier-restoring ingredients helps reduce irritation that sometimes comes with retinol use.

Cutis, 2006American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002

How often should I use this sunscreen?

You can use this sunscreen every morning as the final step of your daytime routine. Daily application helps protect your skin from sun damage while keeping it comfortable and hydrated.

Health Science Reports, 2021Dermatology, 2003

Can this sunscreen clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?

This sunscreen is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for oily skin, as its balancing ingredients provide hydration without worsening oiliness. However, its thick texture may feel heavy, and reviewers frequently note a severe white cast.

American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017

Is this sunscreen fragrance-free and alcohol-free?

It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (benzyl alcohol). Arachidyl alcohol and behenyl alcohol are fatty alcohols, which soften the skin.

What the research says

  • A 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, 2017
  • Topical dexpanthenol acts as a moisturizer, improves stratum corneum hydration, accelerates wound healing and epidermal regeneration, reduces erythema, and improves symptoms of skin irritation compared to vehicle or no pretreatment.

    American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002
  • A new topical panthenol-containing emollient significantly improved transepidermal water loss reduction, stratum corneum hydration, and intercellular lipid lamellae length compared with control in healthy subjects without negatively impacting bacterial viability.

    The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017
  • Colloidal oat extracts diminished pro-inflammatory cytokines in vitro and colloidal oat lotion improved skin dryness, scaling, roughness, and itch intensity in healthy female subjects compared to baseline.

    Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2015
  • Topical 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, 2025
  • Dermatological 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, 2021
  • Topical 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, 2024
  • A repair cream containing Rhealba oat plantlets extract, l-ALA-l-GLU dipeptide, and hyaluronic acid provided immediate relief and was judged by doctors as good or very good in 96.8% of cases for wound healing in 2,363 patients following dermatological acts.

    Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2018
  • Topically applied Avena sativa and Avena Rhealba oatmeal extracts significantly reduced skin irritation parameters including a* parameter increase and blood flow increase compared to vehicle in 12 healthy individuals subjected to the sodium lauryl sulfate irritation model.

    Skin Pharmacology and Applied Skin Physiology, 2002
  • Colloidal oat increased the growth rate, metabolism, and lactic acid production of Staphylococcus epidermidis compared to Staphylococcus aureus in vitro, matching clinical increases in lactic acid on dry skin after 6 weeks of lotion use.

    Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2021
  • Application of an alpha-bisabolol-containing cream produced a significant skin-lightening effect in pigmented skin compared to a vehicle control in the majority of female subjects after 8 weeks.

    International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2010
  • The combination of allantoin, bisabolol, D-panthenol and dipotassium glycyrrhizinate reduces UVB-induced PGE2, inflammatory cytokines, and mitochondrial superoxide in human epidermal keratinocytes.

    International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2024
  • Moisturizer containing 5% panthenol, madecassoside, and copper-zinc-manganese decreased adverse reactions and downtime after ablative fractional carbon dioxide laser resurfacing with comparable efficacy to 0.02% triamcinolone acetonide cream in 20 subjects.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019
  • Topical dexpanthenol formulated in lipophilic vehicles improved stratum corneum hydration and reduced transepidermal water loss compared to vehicle control in humans.

    Arzneimittel-Forschung, 2000
  • Hyaluronic acid, hyaluronic acid plus dexpanthenol, and isotonic saline nasal sprays all significantly improved dry nose symptoms over four weeks in 240 patients, with hyaluronic acid plus dexpanthenol providing superior nasal moisturisation compared to the other two.

    Auris, Nasus, Larynx, 2020

Ingredients

Alumina, Arachidyl Alcohol, Arachidyl Glucoside, Ascorbic Acid, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract Oat Kernel Extract, Beeswax, Behenyl Alcohol, Benzyl Alcohol, Bisabolol, Butylene Glycol, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Carbomer, Ceramide Ap, Ceramide Eop, Ceramide Np, Cetyl Dimethicone, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract Matricaria Flower Extract, Cholesterol, Dimethicone, Dimethicone Peg-8 Laurate, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Disodium Edta, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate, Hydrated Silica, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Isohexadecane, Maltodextrin, Methicone, Panthenol, Pantothenic Acid, Peg-100 Stearate, Peg-8, Phytosphingosine, Polyaminopropyl Biguanide, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Polysorbate 60, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Stearic Acid, Styrene Acrylates Copolymer, Tocopheryl Acetate Vitamin E, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Trisiloxane, Vp Eicosene Copolymer, Water, Xanthan Gum

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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