Is CeraVe Hydrating Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50 Face Lotion Reef Safe?
Not everywhere. Allowed in 8 of 9 places we track. See why
- Allowed: Hawaii
- Allowed: Maui County
- Allowed: Hawaiʻi County
- Allowed: U.S. Virgin Islands
- Not allowed: Palau
- Allowed: Aruba
- Allowed: Guam
- Allowed: Northern Mariana Islands
- Allowed: Thailand
CeraVe Hydrating Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50 Face Lotion is allowed under the sunscreen laws of Hawaii statewide, Maui County, Hawaiʻi County (Big Island), the U.S. Virgin Islands, Aruba, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands and Thailand's national parks, but not in Palau. It uses two mineral UV filters: titanium dioxide 9% and zinc oxide 7%. It is a broad-spectrum facial sunscreen lotion made by CeraVe (L'Oréal USA Products, Inc.) and is not water resistant. Its FDA National Drug Code (NDC) is 49967-959.
Sizes: 2.5 oz
Where CeraVe Hydrating Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50 Face Lotion is allowed
| Location | Verdict | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Palau | Not allowed | Phenoxyethanol: banned by name. |
| Hawaii (statewide) | Allowed | No restricted ingredients found. |
| Maui County (Maui, Molokaʻi, Lānaʻi) | Allowed | No restricted ingredients found. |
| Hawaiʻi County (Big Island) | Allowed | No restricted ingredients found. |
| U.S. Virgin Islands | Allowed | No restricted ingredients found. |
| Aruba | Allowed | No restricted ingredients found. |
| Guam | Allowed | No restricted ingredients found. |
| Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) | Allowed | No restricted ingredients found. |
| Thailand (all national parks) | Allowed | No restricted ingredients found. |
Guidance and repealed rules (4)
| Mexico: federal marine protected areas (e.g., Isla Mujeres, Punta Cancún & Punta Nizuc) | Meets guidance | |
| Bonaire (Bonaire National Marine Park) | Meets guidance | |
| U.S. National Parks with coral reefs (NPS guidance) | Meets guidance | |
| Key West, Florida | No rule in force |
CeraVe Hydrating Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50 Face Lotion active ingredients
| Ingredient | Amount | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Titanium Dioxide | 9% | Mineral |
| Zinc Oxide | 7% | Mineral |
CeraVe Hydrating Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50 Face Lotion inactive ingredients
Water, Glycerin, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Dimethicone, Isododecane, Styrene/acrylates Copolymer, Glyceryl Stearate, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Propanediol, Stearic Acid, Aluminum Hydroxide, Peg-100 Stearate, Sorbitan Stearate, Niacinamide, Peg-8 Laurate, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Sorbitan Isostearate, Carbomer, Cetearyl Alcohol, Ceteareth-20, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Dimethiconol, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Sodium Dodecylbenzenesulfonate, Myristic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Cholesterol, Palmitic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin, Tocopherol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Caprylyl Glycol, Citric Acid, Panthenol, Xanthan Gum, Phytosphingosine, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Polysorbate 60, Ethylhexylglycerin
Highlighted ingredients are regulated somewhere; red ones are restricted in at least one location we track. Dotted ones are listed below.
Fragrance allergens, essential oils and alcohol
None of the 80 fragrance allergens on the EU list appear on this label, and it lists no fragrance, essential oil or drying alcohol.
The EU requires these allergens to be named on cosmetic labels above 0.001% in leave-on products (Regulation 1223/2009, Annex III). They can cause skin reactions in people who are sensitized; they don’t affect whether a sunscreen is legal anywhere we track.
Note: Brand page directions say to use a water resistant sunscreen if swimming or sweating. Actives and inactive list match the FDA DailyMed label (setid bcf5e724-b40a-49dd-8a09-57cefd7f65ad). Size from the brand category page product tag.
Common questions about CeraVe Hydrating Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50 Face Lotion
Is CeraVe Hydrating Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50 Face Lotion reef safe?
“Reef safe” isn’t a regulated label claim, so we answer by law instead. It is allowed under the sunscreen laws of Hawaii statewide, Maui County, Hawaiʻi County (Big Island), the U.S. Virgin Islands, Aruba, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands and Thailand's national parks, but not in Palau. Its only UV filters are minerals, which every law we track permits.
Is CeraVe Hydrating Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50 Face Lotion legal in Hawaii?
Under Hawaii’s statewide law (Act 104, which bans oxybenzone and octinoxate) it is allowed. In Maui County (Maui, Molokaʻi, Lānaʻi), which allows only mineral sunscreens, it is allowed. In Hawaiʻi County (the Big Island), which has a mineral-only rule for sales, it is allowed. Oʻahu and Kauaʻi have no county rule, so only the statewide law applies there.
Where is CeraVe Hydrating Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50 Face Lotion not allowed?
Palau: it contains phenoxyethanol, which is not allowed there.
Does CeraVe Hydrating Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50 Face Lotion contain oxybenzone?
No. It contains neither oxybenzone nor octinoxate, the two chemicals banned under Hawaii’s statewide law.
Is CeraVe Hydrating Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50 Face Lotion a mineral or chemical sunscreen?
Mineral. Its UV filters are titanium dioxide 9% and zinc oxide 7%.
Is the zinc oxide in CeraVe Hydrating Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50 Face Lotion non-nano?
Its Drug Facts ingredient list doesn’t state particle size, and US labels aren’t required to. Many brands make non-nano claims elsewhere on the pack or website. No sunscreen law we track regulates nano particles.
Is CeraVe Hydrating Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50 Face Lotion water resistant?
No. It makes no water-resistance claim, so it isn’t meant for swimming or heavy sweating. Use a water-resistant sunscreen for time in the water.
What is the NDC for CeraVe Hydrating Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50 Face Lotion?
CeraVe Hydrating Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50 Face Lotion is listed with the FDA under National Drug Code 49967-959. The NDC identifies this sunscreen on its FDA drug label (DailyMed); package sizes carry longer package NDCs.
Alternatives to CeraVe Hydrating Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50 Face Lotion for Palau
Mineral sunscreens from other brands, allowed in that place, ranked by label: water resistance, SPF 30–50, broad spectrum, no listed fragrance. How we rank
Daily Moisturizer SPF 30
Thinksport SPF 50 Clear Zinc Face Sunscreen
SPF 30 Mineral Facial Sunscreen
Sheer Face Mineral SPF 50 Sunscreen Lotion