🇬🇧United Kingdom

CeraVe Hydrating Sheer Sunscreen SPF 30 for oily acne-prone skin

High

  • HighOily Skin Fit
  • HighEffectiveness
  • HighSafety

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

This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with oily acne-prone skin: shine, breakouts, blemishes, and enlarged pores. 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 offers excellent sun protection with homosalate, octisalate, and octocrylene, while niacinamide helps regulate sebum and reduce inflammation. Sodium hyaluronate also provides essential hydration without clogging pores, supporting your skin's overall health.
  • The inclusion of ceramides and cholesterol further strengthens your skin barrier, which is beneficial for managing oiliness and preventing breakouts.
  • This formula is safe for your skin, with no reported risks of irritation.

How to apply

  • Use your moisturizing sunscreen every morning. Reapply throughout the day if you are outside.
  • Apply this moisturizing sunscreen as the final step of your morning routine after your moisturizer.
  • Gently smooth a nickel-sized amount over your face and neck, avoiding harsh rubbing to keep oily areas calm.
  • Apply this moisturizing sunscreen on clean, dry skin to ensure even coverage and protection.
  • Avoid getting the product into your eyes and do a patch test before your first use.

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 acne-prone skin?

This sunscreen is a great fit because it protects your skin while niacinamide helps calm redness and manage oil. Sodium hyaluronate provides lightweight moisture without clogging pores, and ceramides help keep your skin barrier strong.

Archives of Dermatological Research, 2024Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2025

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

This sunscreen is a great fit for your oily acne-prone skin because it uses niacinamide to help control oil, along with sodium hyaluronate and glycerin for light hydration that keeps your face smooth without feeling heavy. It also includes ceramides and cholesterol to strengthen your skin barrier, plus zinc oxide to protect against the sun safely. Chemical sunscreens of this type are unlikely to cause irritation or breakouts.

Archives of Dermatological Research, 2024Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2025

What do Ceramides do for oily acne-prone skin?

For oily acne-prone skin, ceramides help repair the skin barrier and improve moisture to reduce redness and acne-related irritation. Because acne-prone skin often lacks these essential lipids, adding them back supports a stronger barrier and helps keep the skin calm and smooth.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2026Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2023

What does Niacinamide do for oily acne-prone skin?

Niacinamide helps balance oil production, calms redness, and is unlikely to irritate oily, acne-prone skin while improving blemishes. Clinical tests show it reduces excess oil and helps clear up both inflammatory and non-inflammatory acne breakouts.

Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy, 2006Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024

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

This sunscreen goes as the last step in your morning routine after applying your moisturizer. Niacinamide helps regulate oil and reduce inflammation while providing sun protection that is unlikely to cause irritation.

International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2020Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2025

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

You can use this sunscreen in the morning as the final step before makeup, applied after your moisturizer and after your retinol has been used the night before. Using a barrier-supporting product with ceramides and niacinamide helps keep your oily skin calm and protected without clogging pores.

Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2023Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2012

How often should I use this sunscreen?

You can use this sunscreen every morning as the final step of your daytime routine. It provides reliable sun protection and hydration without clogging pores, and is unlikely to cause irritation.

Archives of Dermatological Research, 2024Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2025

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

This sunscreen is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for oily acne-prone skin, as it provides lightweight hydration and helps calm inflammation without blocking your skin. Chemical and mineral UV filters in the formula also show minimal risk of irritation or disruption to normal skin bacteria.

Archives of Dermatological Research, 2024Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2025

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

  • The 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, 2024
  • 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
  • Niacinamide significantly decreased hyperpigmentation and increased skin lightness compared with vehicle alone after 4 weeks of use in women by inhibiting melanosome transfer.

    The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002
  • A lipid mixture enriched by ceramide NP with fatty acids of diverse chain lengths significantly improved skin barrier recovery rate, stratum corneum integrity, and hydration compared to a vehicle cream in healthy adult male volunteers with corticosteroid-impaired skin.

    Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, 2022
  • A facial cream containing Centella asiatica leaf extract, ceramide NP, and panthenol reduced mean SS-10 scores by 66% and 76% after 2 and 4 weeks in Chinese females with sensitive skin, providing effective soothing and barrier-repairing properties with mild adverse events.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025
  • 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
  • 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 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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Prices checked 25 Oct 2026

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