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CeraVe Hydrating Sheer Sunscreen SPF 30 for oily skin

High

  • HighOily Skin Fit
  • HighEffectiveness
  • 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

  • Highly suitable for your oily skin, this sunscreen effectively controls shine with niacinamide, which also offers anti-inflammatory benefits, while sodium hyaluronate provides essential hydration.
  • The formula offers excellent sun protection with a blend of UV filters like homosalate and octisalate, ensuring your skin is shielded from sun damage.
  • The safety profile is excellent, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the inclusion of soothing niacinamide and ceramides.

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

★4.5Overall rating based on 700+ reviews

This sunscreen is highly recommended for individuals with dry or sensitive skin, who appreciate its ultra-fluid texture and hydrating, dewy finish that layers well under makeup. Users with oily skin often find it too greasy or shiny. While it blends clear on lighter skin tones, those with darker complexions frequently observe a noticeable white or purplish cast.

Highlights

  • Hydrating dewy finish Mostly Mentioned
    • “leaves a nice glow”
    • “very moisturizing”
    • “skin feels soft”
    • “great for dry skin”
  • Lightweight fluid texture Often Mentioned
    • “spreads very easily”
    • “feels like a serum”
    • “very runny but blends fast”
    • “thin consistency”
  • Minimal white cast Often Mentioned
    • “rubbed in completely”
    • “no white residue”
    • “goes on white then clears”
    • “invisible on fair skin”
  • Greasy and shiny Often Mentioned
    • “looks very oily”
    • “too shiny for face”
    • “leaves a grease film”
    • “never fully dries down”
  • Gentle on eyes Sometimes Noted
    • “doesn't sting eyes”
    • “no eye irritation”
    • “good for sensitive eyes”
    • “applied on eyelids fine”
  • Makeup compatible Sometimes Noted
    • “sits well under foundation”
    • “does not pill”
    • “acts like a primer”
    • “smooth base for makeup”
  • Runny consistency Sometimes Noted
    • “pours out too fast”
    • “messy application”
    • “very watery liquid”
    • “dripped everywhere”
  • White cast on dark skin Sometimes Noted
    • “leaves a purple cast”
    • “not brown skin friendly”
    • “looks ashy”
    • “visible residue on hairline”
  • Heavy feeling Rarely Noted
    • “feels heavy on skin”
    • “can feel it sitting”
    • “traps heat”
    • “sticky after application”

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

Questions and answers

What makes CeraVe Hydrating Sheer Sunscreen a great fit for oily skin?

This sunscreen is a great fit for oily skin because it controls shine with niacinamide and provides lightweight hydration with sodium hyaluronate. It is unlikely to cause irritation and helps protect your skin from sun damage without feeling heavy.

Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2025Scientific Reports, 2024

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

This sunscreen is a great fit for oily skin because it contains niacinamide to help control shine and soothe the skin, along with sodium hyaluronate to provide essential hydration without feeling heavy. It is also formulated with ceramides and zinc oxide, making it very gentle and unlikely to cause irritation.

Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2025Scientific Reports, 2024

What do Ceramides do for oily skin?

Ceramides help keep oily skin balanced by strengthening the skin barrier and retaining essential moisture without clogging pores. When paired with ingredients like niacinamide, they may also help improve skin texture and reduce blemishes. To work well for oily skin, this type of product needs lightweight hydrators and pore-balancing ingredients.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2004

What does Niacinamide do for oily skin?

Niacinamide helps balance oily skin by significantly reducing excess oil production and shine. It is well tolerated and may improve skin texture without clogging pores.

Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy, 2006Antioxidants, 2021

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

This sunscreen goes as the last step in your morning routine, right after your moisturizer. It is well-suited for oily skin, helping to control shine while keeping your face comfortably hydrated.

International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2020Scientific Reports, 2024

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

Yes, you can use this sunscreen in the morning after your retinol routine, which is typically applied at night. The formula is very safe and unlikely to cause irritation for oily skin thanks to soothing ceramides and niacinamide.

Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2023The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2016

How often should I use this sunscreen?

Use this sunscreen every morning as the final step of your daytime routine to shield your oily skin from sun damage. Daily application is unlikely to cause irritation and helps keep shine under control throughout the day.

Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2025Scientific Reports, 2024

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 because it has a very safe formula with soothing niacinamide and ceramides and no harsh ingredients. However, some reviewers do complain that the formula feels greasy and shiny.

Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2025Scientific Reports, 2024

Is this sunscreen fragrance-free and alcohol-free?

Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol. Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol, which soften the skin.

What the research says

  • Treatment with a combination of niacinamide and hyaluronic acid improved skin aging signs and demonstrated a senomorphic effect by decreasing SASP and autocrine signaling genes in women.

    Scientific Reports, 2024
  • Topical post-laser application of human adipocyte-derived mesenchymal stem cell media combined with niacinamide significantly improved wrinkle index, melanin index, patient satisfaction, and investigator esthetic improvement scores compared to vehicle cream in patients with aging skin.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021
  • Chemical sunscreens containing avobenzone, octocrylene, homosalate, and octisalate showed no to minimal risks of dermal irritation, sensitization, photo-allergy, and photo-irritation in human subjects.

    Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2025
  • Topical nicotinamide prevented solar-simulated UV-induced immunosuppression in healthy volunteers, and men experienced immunosuppression at solar-simulated UV doses three times lower than those required for women.

    The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2008
  • Topical 5% niacinamide applied twice daily for 12 weeks reduced fine lines and wrinkles, hyperpigmented spots, red blotchiness, and skin sallowness, and improved skin elasticity compared to vehicle control in 50 female white subjects with facial photoaging.

    Dermatologic Surgery, 2005
  • Topical 2% niacinamide significantly decreased sebum excretion rate in Japanese individuals and casual sebum levels in Caucasian individuals compared to placebo or baseline.

    Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy, 2006
  • Topical 0.5% hyaluronic-ZnO nanogel applied twice daily reduced inflammatory-lesion counts by 58% at week four in human subjects compared to baseline without causing erythema.

    Biomedicines, 2025
  • Nels cream achieved a similar reduction in inflammatory and noninflammatory lesion counts compared to 5% benzoyl peroxide in acne vulgaris patients, but caused significantly fewer side-effects such as peeling and dryness.

    Clinical and Experimental Dermatology, 2000
  • Topically applied coated and uncoated zinc oxide nanoparticles under flexing and massage are retained in the stratum corneum with no significant penetration into the viable epidermis and no cellular toxicity in human skin.

    Nanomedicine, 2016
  • 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
  • The 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, 2020
  • Ten 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, 2001
  • Topical application of 0.1% hyaluronic acid formulations of different molecular weights led to significant improvements in skin hydration and elasticity, with low-molecular-weight formulations also significantly reducing wrinkle depth in seventy-six female subjects compared to a vehicle control.

    Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2011
  • Topical application of hyaluronic acid in conjunction with free gingival graft significantly reduced donor site postoperative pain until day 7 compared to normal saline, with no significant differences in graft dimensions or patient satisfaction.

    Clinical Oral Investigations, 2022
  • Treatment with a hyaluronic acid-containing mouth rinse or topical gel led to significant lesion reduction, pain relief, and normalization of lesion color in adult patients with minor recurrent aphthous stomatitis, with the gel formulation showing an earlier healing onset at 3 days.

    BMC Oral Health, 2019

Ingredients

Homosalate, Octisalate, Octocrylene, Zinc Oxide, Water, Glycerin, Coco-Caprylate Caprate, Propanediol, Butyloctyl Salicylate, C12-22 Alkyl Acrylate Hydroxyethylacrylate Copolymer, Niacinamide, Ethylhexyl Methoxycrylene, Rice Bran Wax, Steareth-20, Ceramide Np, Ceramide Ap, Ceramide Eop, Sorbitan Isostearate, Carbomer, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Cetearyl Alcohol, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Triethyl Citrate, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Cholesterol, Chlorphenesin, Hydroxyacetophenone, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Citric Acid, Caprylic Capric Triglyceride, Caprylyl Glycol, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Diethylhexyl Syringylidenemalonate, Xanthan Gum, Phytosphingosine, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Polysorbate 60, Benzoic Acid

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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How does it fit your skin?

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