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Product Comparison

Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of Nivea Sun Protect & Sensitive Protective Sunscreen Spray SPF 50+ versus Cetaphil Sheer Mineral Sunscreen Lotion Broad Spectrum SPF 50 .

Published on May 28, 2023

Overview

What they are

These products are both sunscreens. They have a total of 4 ingredients in common

Cool Features

They both contain SPF and Vitamin E

Suited For

They're both likely to be good for dry skin and brightening skin

Free From

They both do not contain any parabens or sulfates

What's Inside

They both contain harsh alcohols and oils

We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that need an update? Let us know.

Sunscreen German Brand Germany
Sunscreen American Brand United States

Sunscreen

Sunscreens help absorb or reflect UV radiation and protect skin against skin damage. Sunscreens may come in the form of lotion, gel, foam, spray, or solid-stick.

Sunscreen

Sunscreens help absorb or reflect UV radiation and protect skin against skin damage. Sunscreens may come in the form of lotion, gel, foam, spray, or solid-stick.

Price

Shop

Buy Sun Protect & Sensitive Protective Sunscreen Spray SPF 50+

Shop

Buy Sheer Mineral Sunscreen Lotion Broad Spectrum SPF 50

Starts at $12.24

Ingredient Info

Click any item below to learn more and view relevant ingredients.
alcohol-free
silicon-free
fragrance-free
sulfate-free
paraben-free
oil-free
fungal-acne safe
reef-safe
eu-allergen-free
vegan
cruelty-free
spf rating
50
alcohol-free
silicon-free
fragrance-free
sulfate-free
paraben-free
oil-free
fungal-acne safe
reef-safe
eu-allergen-free
vegan
cruelty-free
spf rating
50

At a glance

Click on any of the items below to learn more

Notable Ingredients

Chemical UV Filter (5)
Vitamin E

Benefits

Hydrating
Brightening (2)

Concerns

Drying (2)
May Worsen Oily Skin (2)
Acne Trigger (2)
Irritating (2)
Rosacea (3)
Eczema

Notable Ingredients

Mineral UV Filter (2)
Vitamin E
Ceramides (3)
Hyaluronic Acid

Benefits

Hydrating (4)
Redness Reducing (5)
Reduces Irritation (5)
Anti-Aging (3)
Dark Spots
Acne Fighting
Brightening

Concerns

Drying
May Worsen Oily Skin (3)
Acne Trigger
Irritating
Rosacea
Eczema
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Ingredients Compared

Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.

Ingredients Side-by-side

Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.

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Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.

1
What it does: Skin Conditioning, Solvent
Community Rating: Loved

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 Water

Nivea Sun Protect & Sensitive Protective Sunscreen Spray SPF 50+ contains this as ingredient number 1.

Cetaphil Sheer Mineral Sunscreen Lotion Broad Spectrum SPF 50 contains this as ingredient number 3.

2
What it does: Antioxidant, Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Liked

Tocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.

One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.

Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.

Learn more about Tocopheryl Acetate

Nivea Sun Protect & Sensitive Protective Sunscreen Spray SPF 50+ contains this as ingredient number 16.

Cetaphil Sheer Mineral Sunscreen Lotion Broad Spectrum SPF 50 contains this as ingredient number 31.

3
What it does: Emollient, Masking, Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Cetyl Palmitate is a wax-like substance.

It comes from palmitic acid and palmityl alcohol. Cetyl Palmitate may not be safe for Malassezia folliculitis, or fungal-acne.

This ingredient is naturally found in the guava fruit and stony corals.

Learn more about Cetyl Palmitate

Nivea Sun Protect & Sensitive Protective Sunscreen Spray SPF 50+ contains this as ingredient number 22.

Cetaphil Sheer Mineral Sunscreen Lotion Broad Spectrum SPF 50 contains this as ingredient number 14.

4
What it does: Emulsifying, Emulsion Stabilising, Gel Forming, Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Disliked

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 Gum

Nivea Sun Protect & Sensitive Protective Sunscreen Spray SPF 50+ contains this as ingredient number 23.

Cetaphil Sheer Mineral Sunscreen Lotion Broad Spectrum SPF 50 contains this as ingredient number 27.

Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.

28% are loved or liked
14% have mixed ratings
38% are disliked or very disliked
21% have no rating yet
36% are loved or liked
8% have mixed ratings
38% are disliked or very disliked
18% have no rating yet

Usage

Here's some more info on how this product is used by our community.

When to use

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Alternatives

Our Dupe Finder has found 50 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to Nivea Sun Protect & Sensitive Protective Sunscreen Spray SPF 50+.

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Our Dupe Finder has found 8 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to Cetaphil Sheer Mineral Sunscreen Lotion Broad Spectrum SPF 50.

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