Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of CeraVe Ultra-Light Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30 versus Cetaphil Pro Oil Absorbing Moisturizer With Spf 30 Broad Spectrum .
Last updated on October 02, 2023. Published on August 10, 2021
Overview
Cool Features
They both contain ceramides and SPF
Suited For
They're both likely to be good for dry skin, brightening skin and sensitive skin
Free From
They both do not contain any common allergens, oils, parabens or sulfates
We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that need an update? Let us know.
Day Moisturizer
Day Moisturizers are marketed to hydrate the skin during the daytime.
General Moisturizer
All-purpose moisturizers hydrate the top layer of skin cells.
Price
Ingredient Info
CeraVe Ultra-Light Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30 26 ingredients
Cetaphil Pro Oil Absorbing Moisturizer With Spf 30 Broad Spectrum 29 ingredients
Contains Alcohol
Ingredients in this product that are types of alcohol:
Silicon Free
This product is free of silicons 🎉
Contains Fragrance
Ingredients in this product that are forms of fragrance:
Sulfate Free
This product is free of sulfates 🎉
Paraben Free
This product is free of parabens 🎉
Oil Free
This product is free of oils 🎉
Not Malassezia Safe
Ingredients in this product that are not malassezia safe:
Not Reef Safe
Ingredients in this product that are not reef safe:
EU Allergen Free
This product is free of EU allergens 🎉
Non Vegan
This product is not vegan 😥
Not Cruelty Free
This product is not cruelty-free 😥
Alcohol Free
This product is free of harsh alcohols 🎉
Contains Silicon
Ingredients in this product that are types of silicon:
Fragrance Free
This product is free of fragrances 🎉
Sulfate Free
This product is free of sulfates 🎉
Paraben Free
This product is free of parabens 🎉
Oil Free
This product is free of oils 🎉
Not Malassezia Safe
Ingredients in this product that are not malassezia safe:
Not Reef Safe
Ingredients in this product that are not reef safe:
EU Allergen Free
This product is free of EU allergens 🎉
Non Vegan
This product is not vegan 😥
Not Cruelty Free
This product is not cruelty-free 😥
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
CeraVe Ultra-Light Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30 26 ingredients
Cetaphil Pro Oil Absorbing Moisturizer With Spf 30 Broad Spectrum 29 ingredients
Notable Ingredients
This product contains 4 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 3 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
Benefits
This product contains 5 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 4 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 3 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 3 ingredients that may have this attribute:
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Concerns
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
Notable Ingredients
This product contains 3 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
Benefits
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
Concerns
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 3 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
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Join SkinSortIngredients Compared
Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.
CeraVe Ultra-Light Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30 26 ingredients
Cetaphil Pro Oil Absorbing Moisturizer With Spf 30 Broad Spectrum 29 ingredients
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3% • Homosalate 10% • Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5% • Octocrylene 2.7% • Water • C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate • Glyceryl Stearate Se • Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer • Glycerin • Pentylene Glycol • Ceramide NP • Ceramide AP • Ceramide EOP • Carbomer • Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Crosspolymer • Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate • Sodium Hyaluronate • Cholesterol • Phenoxyethanol • Disodium EDTA • Hydroxyacetophenone • Citric Acid • Phytosphingosine • Xanthan Gum • T-Butyl Alcohol • Ethylhexylglycerin
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3% • Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5% • Octocrylene 7% • Water • Isopropyl Lauroyl Sarcosinate • Glycerin • Dimethicone • Diisopropyl Sebacate • Silica • Polymethyl Methacrylate • Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate • Sucrose Tristearate • Dimethiconol • Pentylene Glycol • Polysorbate 61 • Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate • Phenoxyethanol • Caprylyl Glycol • Tocopheryl Acetate • Glycyrrhetinic Acid • Panthenol • Triethanolamine • Allantoin • Carbomer • Potassium Sorbate • Zinc Gluconate • Xanthan Gum • Disodium EDTA • Hydroxypalmitoyl Sphinganine
Ingredients Side-by-side
Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.
Learn more about what what Com. / Irr. ratings are
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Also known as Avobenzone, this ingredient is a chemical sunscreen filter that provides protection in the UV-A range.
Avobenzone is globally approved and is the most commonly used UV-A filter in the world.
Studies have found that avobenzone becomes ineffective when exposed to UV light (it is not photostable; meaning that it breaks down in sunlight). Because of this, formulations that include avobenzone will usually contain stabilizers such as octocrylene.
However, some modern formulations (looking at you, EU!) are able to stabilize avobenzone by coating the molecules.
Avobenzone does not protect against the UV-B range, so it's important to check that the sunscreen you're using contains other UV filters that do!
The highest concentration of avobenzone permitted is 3% in the US, and 5% in the EU.
Learn more about Butyl MethoxydibenzoylmethaneCeraVe Ultra-Light Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30 contains this as ingredient number 1.
Cetaphil Pro Oil Absorbing Moisturizer With Spf 30 Broad Spectrum contains this as ingredient number 1.
Ethylhexyl Salicylate is an organic compound used to block UV rays. It primarily absorbs UVB rays but offers a small amount of UVA protection as well.
Commonly found in sunscreens, Ethylhexyl Salicylate is created from salicylic acid and 2-ethylhexanol. You might know salicylic acid as the effective acne fighter ingredient and BHA.
The ethylhexanol in this ingredient is a fatty alcohol and helps hydrate your skin, similar to oils. It is an emollient, which means it traps moisture into the skin.
According to manufacturers, Ethylhexyl Salicylate absorbs UV wavelength of 295-315 nm, with a peak absorption at 307-310 nm. UVA rays are linked to long term skin damage, such as hyperpigmentation. UVB rays emit more energy and are capable of damaging our DNA. UVB rays cause sunburn.
Learn more about Ethylhexyl SalicylateCeraVe Ultra-Light Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30 contains this as ingredient number 3.
Cetaphil Pro Oil Absorbing Moisturizer With Spf 30 Broad Spectrum contains this as ingredient number 2.
Octocrylene protects skin from sun damage. It absorbs UV-B with peak absorption of 304 nm. It is a common sunscreen ingredient and often paired with avobenzone, a UVA filter. This is because octocrylene stabilizes other sunscreen ingredients by protecting them from degradation when exposed to sunlight. Octocrylene is a photostable ingredient and loses about 10% of SPF in 95 minutes.
Octocrylene also acts as an emollient, meaning it helps skin retain moisture and softens skin. It is oil-soluble and hydrophobic, enhancing water-resistant properties in a product.
Those who are using ketoprofen, a topical anti-inflammatory drug, may experience an allergic reaction when using octocrylene. It is best to speak with a healthcare professional about using sunscreens with octocrylene.
The EU allows a maximum of these concentrations:
Learn more about OctocryleneCeraVe Ultra-Light Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30 contains this as ingredient number 4.
Cetaphil Pro Oil Absorbing Moisturizer With Spf 30 Broad Spectrum contains this as ingredient number 3.
Water. It's the most common cosmetic ingredient of all. You'll usually see it at the top of ingredient lists, meaning that it makes up the largest part of the product.
So why is it so popular? Water most often acts as a solvent - this means that it helps dissolve other ingredients into the formulation.
You'll also recognize water as that liquid we all need to stay alive. Talk about multi-purpose! If you see this, drink a glass of water. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about WaterCeraVe Ultra-Light Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30 contains this as ingredient number 5.
Cetaphil Pro Oil Absorbing Moisturizer With Spf 30 Broad Spectrum contains this as ingredient number 4.
Glycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.
A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.
As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.
Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.
Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.
In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.
This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinCeraVe Ultra-Light Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30 contains this as ingredient number 9.
Cetaphil Pro Oil Absorbing Moisturizer With Spf 30 Broad Spectrum contains this as ingredient number 6.
Pentylene glycol is typically used within a product to thicken it. It also adds a smooth, soft, and moisturizing feel to the product. It is naturally found in plants such as sugar beets.
The hydrophilic trait of Pentylene Glycol makes it a humectant. As a humectant, Pentylene Glycol helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This can help keep your skin hydrated.
This property also makes Pentylene Glycol a great texture enhancer. It can help thicken or emulsify a product. Emulsifiers help stabilize a product. It does this by preventing certain ingredients from separating.
Pentylene Glycol also acts as a mild preservative and helps to keep a product microbe-free.
Some people may experience mild eye and skin irritation from Pentylene Glycol. We always recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient in your routine.
Pentylene Glycol has a low molecular weight and is part of the 1,2-glycol family.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolCeraVe Ultra-Light Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30 contains this as ingredient number 10.
Cetaphil Pro Oil Absorbing Moisturizer With Spf 30 Broad Spectrum contains this as ingredient number 14.
Carbomer is a polymer of acrylic acid. Its main role is to create gel consistency within products.
Carbomer is commonly found in many types of cosmetics products. It is found to be safe in concentrations up to 15%. However, a high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Most products contain 1% of less of carbomer.
CeraVe Ultra-Light Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30 contains this as ingredient number 14.
Cetaphil Pro Oil Absorbing Moisturizer With Spf 30 Broad Spectrum contains this as ingredient number 24.
Phenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent germ and microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
CeraVe Ultra-Light Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30 contains this as ingredient number 19.
Cetaphil Pro Oil Absorbing Moisturizer With Spf 30 Broad Spectrum contains this as ingredient number 17.
Disodium EDTA plays a role in making products more stable by aiding other preservatives.
It is a chelating agent, meaning it neutralizes metal ions that may be found in a product.
Disodium EDTA is a salt of edetic acid and is found to be safe in cosmetic ingredients.
Learn more about Disodium EDTACeraVe Ultra-Light Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30 contains this as ingredient number 20.
Cetaphil Pro Oil Absorbing Moisturizer With Spf 30 Broad Spectrum contains this as ingredient number 28.
Xanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan GumCeraVe Ultra-Light Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30 contains this as ingredient number 24.
Cetaphil Pro Oil Absorbing Moisturizer With Spf 30 Broad Spectrum contains this as ingredient number 27.
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.
CeraVe Ultra-Light Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30 26 ingredients
Cetaphil Pro Oil Absorbing Moisturizer With Spf 30 Broad Spectrum 29 ingredients
Usage
Here's some more info on how this product is used by our community.
When to use
CeraVe Ultra-Light Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30 26 ingredients
Cetaphil Pro Oil Absorbing Moisturizer With Spf 30 Broad Spectrum 29 ingredients
Reviews
Here's what our community thinks
Cetaphil Pro Oil Absorbing Moisturizer With Spf 30 Broad Spectrum 29 ingredients
Alternatives
Our Dupe Finder has found 49 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to CeraVe Ultra-Light Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30.
See 49 alternativesOur Dupe Finder has found 50 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to Cetaphil Pro Oil Absorbing Moisturizer With Spf 30 Broad Spectrum.
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