This is the only SPF face cream that doesn't give me breakouts

Feb 12, 2024

By Melanie Paukner

I've always had a hard time finding a suitable SPF face cream for my skin type. Not only is my combination skin both dry and oily, it's also pretty picky about what I use on it – especially when it comes to products containing sunscreen. If my skin doesn't like it, it immediately breaks out. So needless to say, I've tried a lot of different products.

Then a year ago I found the perfect SPF face cream to give my skin a much needed boost of hydration during the day. It's also turned out to be a brilliant makeup base and, best of all, it's cheap, too.

As I mentioned before, I have picky combination skin. My entire beauty routine revolves around keeping it balanced with pretty much no fragrance, lots of moisture and active ingredients against pimples. I've found a good way to give my skin what it needs, except when it comes to that elusive product: day cream with a built-in SPF.

Sure there have been some products that have worked well, but often they are not the best option under makeup. So I was searching for a moisturiser that I could, in theory, wear 12 months a year – and that, all importantly, wouldn't make me breakout if I used it regularly, or even daily.

Now I've found the ideal solution: Cerave's Facial Moisturising Lotion SPF 50.

Already heard about the product? It's not surprising as CeraVe Moisturising Face Lotion SPF50 is already going viral on social media. I'm far from the only one who has discovered the benefits of this face cream with built-in SPF – and it's not the first time the pharmacy brand has captivated content creators on the Internet, either.

So what's inside the Moisturising Face Lotion SPF50 that makes it so good? This light facial care product can be applied like any other day cream. Hyaluronic acid hydrates, ceramides lock in this moisture while niacinamide and vitamin E soothe. The added benefit of a broad spectrum SPF50 provides some protection against UVA and UVB rays (more on that later) on days when you forget to apply your sunscreen.

The formula absorbs quickly and leaves a subtle sheen that feels pleasant rather than sticky or greasy, as you can see from this picture of my skin after applying the cream.

Even after a year, Cerave's SPF face cream is still one of my absolute favourite skincare products. The dry areas on my face don't feel tight, while the oily areas are not excessively shiny. Best of all, aside from my hormonal pimples or the odd spot that makes itself known after a stressful week, the sunscreen ingredient hasn't irritated my skin.

I should caveat this by saying that an SPF50 face cream is not adequate sun protection on its own in summer. Not only does the moisturiser dilute the SPF but you would need to apply a lot of product and reapply it every two hours to get the same protection as an SPF50 sunscreen.

By Meg Walters

By Hayley Spencer

By Gabi Thorne

Wearing a separate broad spectrum UVA/UVB sunscreen when on the beach or if you're spending long periods outside is still non-negotiable if you want to avoid sunburn, fine lines, pigmentation, and an increased risk of skin cancer.

By Denise Primbet

But a moisturiser infused with a high SPF is a good multitasker as it contains other skin-loving ingredients and is a solid option when you're spending most of the day indoors at the office but still want to be protected. Plus many dermatologists agree that it's better than nothing on grey winter days (when UVA rays are still present) if you apply two full fingers' worth.

A version of this article appeared on Glamour Germany.