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Cetaphil · Lotions

Daily Facial Moisturizer SPF 50

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Daily Facial Moisturizer SPF 50
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Product

Brand:
Cetaphil
Product type:
Lotions
Last checked:
2026-10-30
Formula version:
Pack label · 2026-10-30
Fragrance & alcohol:
Fragrance-free · Alcohol-free
Ingredient list coverage 100% Well covered

22 ingredients on this list · WATER at number 1 · PROPYLENE GLYCOL at number 2 · GLYCERIN at number 3

Product description

A daily facial moisturizer with broad-spectrum SPF 50, built on glycerin and dimethicone with a light emollient base.

Full ingredient list

Kept exactly as the source printed it, including spelling in the original.

  1. 1 WATER
  2. 2 PROPYLENE GLYCOL
  3. 3 GLYCERIN
  4. 4 DIMETHICONE
  5. 5 VP/EICOSENE COPOLYMER
  6. 6 CYCLOMETHICONE
  7. 7 STEARIC ACID
  8. 8 DIMETHICONOL
  9. 9 POTASSIUM CETYL PHOSPHATE
  10. 10 GLYCERYL STEARATE
  11. 11 PEG-100 STEARATE
  12. 12 ALUMINUM HYDROXIDE
  13. 13 DISODIUM EDTA
  14. 14 TOCOPHEROL
  15. 15 TRIETHANOLAMINE
  16. 16 PHENOXYETHANOL
  17. 17 ETHYLPARABEN
  18. 18 CHLORPHENESIN
  19. 19 CETYL ALCOHOL
  20. 20 CARBOMER
  21. 21 METHYLPARABEN
  22. 22 XANTHAN GUM
Original label text
Water, Propylene Glycol, Glycerin, Dimethicone, VP/Eicosene Copolymer, Cyclomethicone, Stearic Acid, Dimethiconol, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Aluminum Hydroxide, Disodium EDTA, Tocopherol, Triethanolamine, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylparaben, Chlorphenesin, Cetyl Alcohol, Carbomer, Methylparaben, Xanthan Gum

Ingredient analysis

PROPYLENE GLYCOL · Humectants · DIMETHICONE · Emollients · DIMETHICONE · Occlusives

Humectants

2

Bind water and draw it into the upper layers of the skin.

Emollients

5

Fill the gaps between corneocytes to soften and smooth the surface.

Occlusives

1

Form a film that slows water loss from the skin surface.

Preservatives

3

Inhibit microbial growth so the product stays safe to use.

Antioxidants

1

Slow oxidation of the formula or of skin surface lipids.

Chelating agents

1

Binds metal ions to keep the formula stable.

pH adjusters

1

Bring the formula to, and hold it at, its target pH.

Texture agents

5

Set the viscosity and feel of a formula.

Solvents

2

Dissolve or carry other ingredients.

Emulsifiers

4

Keep oil and water mixed in a stable formula.

Other

3

Use on the ingredient list: see the product ingredient list.

Evidence

  • Skin effect Human trial Certainty: Moderate Primary source

    In a randomized, double-blind, four-arm crossover study of 51 healthy volunteers with dry skin, an emollient containing glycerol and petrolatum raised corneometry-measured skin moisture significantly above its vehicle (P < 0.0001) over 12 hours. The authors attributed the hydration gain to the glycerol component and the lower water loss to the petrolatum component.

    Who it applies to: Corneometry (skin moisture) and transepidermal water loss over 12 hours after one application.

    Study limits: Measured on the forearms. The significant hydration result comes from the full emollient containing both glycerol and petrolatum.

  • Skin effect Review article Certainty: Moderate Primary source

    Topical glycerol improves stratum corneum hydration, barrier function and skin mechanical properties. The review also reports reduced irritation response and faster wound healing, and traces the effect to aquaporin-3 transport and to glycerol's own presence in the skin.

    Who it applies to: Leave-on products. The review discusses both healthy skin and skin with dry or barrier-impaired conditions such as atopic dermatitis.

    Study limits: A narrative review. It compiles mechanisms and results from other studies.

  • Skin effect Official ingredient listing Certainty: High Public database

    Glycerin is classified as a humectant in cosmetic ingredient databases: its role in a formula is to hold water.

    Who it applies to: Cosmetic formulas generally. · Ingredient database · GLYCERIN

    Study limits: Skin effect of to the stratum corneum comes from a separate review of the literature. · Ingredient database · GLYCERIN

  • Legal limits Official legal text Certainty: High Primary source

    US regulation lists dimethicone as a permitted active ingredient in over-the-counter skin protectant products, at 1 to 30 percent. That is a legal status in one market, and it puts dimethicone in the same list as petrolatum, glycerin and colloidal oatmeal.

    Who it applies to: Products sold in the US that make a skin-protectant claim, with dimethicone between 1 and 30 percent.

    Study limits: A monograph entry sets what may be sold and what may be claimed. · 1993 · Consumers of over-the-counter skin protectant products in the US.

  • Pore clogging Animal study Certainty: Low Primary source

    In the rabbit ear-canal assay, the nine materials graded positive were eight esters (isopropyl palmitate, isopropyl myristate, butyl stearate, isopropyl isostearate, decyl oleate, isostearyl neopentanoate, isocetyl stearate, myristyl myristate) and cocoa butter.

    Who it applies to: Materials applied to the rabbit ear canal as raw ingredients.

    Study limits: An animal assay. The rabbit ear canal reacts more readily than human skin. The abstract names the positive group.

  • Legal limits Official legal text Certainty: High Primary source

    The EU Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety concluded in 2016 that 2-phenoxyethanol is safe as a preservative at a maximum of 1.0%, which is the limit already set in Annex V/29 of the EU Cosmetics Regulation. It estimated a margin of safety of about 50 for children.

    Who it applies to: Phenoxyethanol used as a preservative in cosmetic products, at or below 1.0%.

    Study limits: The dossier behind the conclusion was submitted by Cosmetics Europe, the industry association, and the committee lowered the default toxicokinetic factor from 4.0 to 1.0 on its way to the 1.0% conclusion. The final opinion kept 1.0%.

  • Sensitization Official ingredient listing Certainty: Moderate Primary source

    Parabens are preservatives whose permitted concentration is capped by regulation; contact allergy is documented but uncommon.

    Who it applies to: Any product preserved with parabens.

    Study limits: Ingredient database · METHYLPARABEN · PROPYLPARABEN

  • Skin effect Human trial Certainty: Moderate Primary source

    In a split-face randomized controlled trial of 50 women, a serum with 20% vitamin C, vitamin E and raspberry leaf cell culture extract significantly improved skin radiance measured by Glossymeter GL200, along with skin colour and elasticity, over 2 months.

    Who it applies to: Women aged 30-65 applying the serum to one side of the face for 2 months, with the untreated side as control.

    Study limits: Split-face with an untreated.

  • Skin effect Human trial Certainty: Low Primary source

    In 31 women aged 43-65, a serum combining vitamins C and E with green tea polyphenols produced statistically significant improvements in all clinically graded parameters over 12 weeks, including enhanced skin smoothness and radiance, plus an ultrasound-measured increase in skin density.

    Who it applies to: Women aged 43-65 with photoaged facial skin, applying the serum twice daily for 12 weeks.

    Study limits: Radiance was a clinical grading parameter.

  • Skin effect Human trial Certainty: Low Primary source

    In a double-blind trial that split each scar into two halves. Or made worse, the cosmetic appearance.

    Who it applies to: Scars after surgical removal of skin cancer, treated twice daily for four weeks with a petrolatum-based ointment.

    Study limits: Fifteen people, one centre, published in 1999. Pigmentation, or the job vitamin E does inside a formula, where it slows oxidation of the oils.

  • Sensitization Human trial Certainty: Low Primary source

    In the same split-scar trial, 33% of the participants developed contact dermatitis to the vitamin E ointment.

    Who it applies to: Vitamin E in a petrolatum-based ointment applied to healing surgical wounds, twice daily for four weeks.

    Study limits: Small trial (15 people) with a single product.

Related skin concerns

Skin concerns with evidence for ingredients on this list.

Formula history

1 version of this formula on record.

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