Is CeraVe Hydrating Sheer Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 30 for Face & Body Reef Safe?
Not everywhere. Allowed in 4 of 9 places we track. See why
- Allowed: Hawaii
- Not allowed: Maui County
- Not allowed: Hawaiʻi County
- Not allowed: U.S. Virgin Islands
- Not allowed: Palau
- Allowed: Aruba
- Not allowed: Guam
- Allowed: Northern Mariana Islands
- Allowed: Thailand
CeraVe Hydrating Sheer Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 30 for Face & Body is allowed under the sunscreen laws of Hawaii statewide, Aruba, the Northern Mariana Islands and Thailand's national parks, but not in Maui County, Hawaiʻi County (Big Island), the U.S. Virgin Islands, Palau and Guam. It combines chemical and mineral UV filters: homosalate 6%, octisalate 5%, octocrylene 5% and zinc oxide 7%. It is a broad-spectrum body sunscreen lotion made by CeraVe (L'Oréal USA Products, Inc.) and is water resistant for up to 80 minutes. Its FDA National Drug Code (NDC) is 49967-832.
Sizes: 3 fl oz · 5 fl oz
Where CeraVe Hydrating Sheer Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 30 for Face & Body is allowed
| Location | Verdict | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Maui County (Maui, Molokaʻi, Lānaʻi) | Not allowed | Homosalate, octisalate and octocrylene: not permitted actives (mineral only). |
| Hawaiʻi County (Big Island) | Not allowed | Homosalate, octisalate and octocrylene: not permitted actives (mineral only). |
| U.S. Virgin Islands | Not allowed | Octocrylene: banned by name. |
| Palau | Not allowed | Octocrylene, homosalate and octisalate: banned by name. |
| Guam | Not allowed | Octocrylene: banned by name. |
| Hawaii (statewide) | Allowed | No restricted ingredients found. |
| Aruba | 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Guidance and repealed rules (4)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) | Against guidance | Homosalate, octisalate and octocrylene: not mineral actives. |
| Bonaire (Bonaire National Marine Park) | Meets guidance | |
| U.S. National Parks with coral reefs (NPS guidance) | Against guidance | Homosalate, octisalate and octocrylene: not mineral actives. |
| Key West, Florida | No rule in force |
CeraVe Hydrating Sheer Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 30 for Face & Body active ingredients
| Ingredient | Amount | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Homosalate | 6% | Chemical |
| Octisalate | 5% | Chemical |
| Octocrylene | 5% | Chemical |
| Zinc Oxide | 7% | Mineral |
CeraVe Hydrating Sheer Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 30 for Face & Body inactive ingredients
water, glycerin, coco-caprylate/caprate, propanediol, butyloctyl salicylate, C12-22 alkyl acrylate/hydroxyethylacrylate copolymer, niacinamide, ethylhexyl methoxycrylene, oryza sativa (rice) bran wax, steareth-20, ceramide NP, ceramide AP, ceramide EOP, sorbitan isostearate, carbomer, triethoxycaprylylsilane, cetearyl alcohol, behentrimonium methosulfate, triethyl citrate, sodium lauroyl lactylate, sodium hyaluronate, cholesterol, chlorphenesin, hydroxyacetophenone, hydroxyethyl acrylate/sodium acryloyldimethyl taurate copolymer, citric acid, caprylic/capric triglyceride, caprylyl glycol, trisodium ethylenediamine disuccinate, diethylhexyl syringylidenemalonate, xanthan gum, phytosphingosine, polyhydroxystearic acid, polysorbate 60, benzoic acid
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: Hybrid mineral + chemical formula for face and body; brand page says it is for teen and adult use only. 80-minute water resistance from the brand page directions and the FDA DailyMed label (setid cd69df67-5231-4a75-a9fb-a8669806a892). That DailyMed filing's inactive list (with iron oxides, isohexadecane, salicylic acid, etc.) is the Sheer Tint formula rather than this product's, so it looks misfiled; the brand page list is used. Sizes from the DailyMed packaging (89 mL and 150 mL tubes).
Common questions about CeraVe Hydrating Sheer Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 30 for Face & Body
Is CeraVe Hydrating Sheer Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 30 for Face & Body 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, Aruba, the Northern Mariana Islands and Thailand's national parks, but not in Maui County, Hawaiʻi County (Big Island), the U.S. Virgin Islands, Palau and Guam. Labels like “Hawaii Act 104 compliant” only mean a product has no oxybenzone or octinoxate; they don’t make a chemical sunscreen legal on Maui or the Big Island.
Is CeraVe Hydrating Sheer Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 30 for Face & Body 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 not allowed because it contains homosalate, octisalate and octocrylene, and Maui’s rule covers using it there, not just selling it. In Hawaiʻi County (the Big Island), which has a mineral-only rule for sales, it is not allowed. Oʻahu and Kauaʻi have no county rule, so only the statewide law applies there.
Where is CeraVe Hydrating Sheer Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 30 for Face & Body not allowed?
Maui County: it contains homosalate, octisalate and octocrylene, which are not allowed there. Hawaiʻi County (Big Island): it contains homosalate, octisalate and octocrylene, which are not allowed there. The U.S. Virgin Islands: it contains octocrylene, which is not allowed there. Palau: it contains octocrylene, homosalate and octisalate, which are not allowed there. Guam: it contains octocrylene, which is not allowed there.
Does CeraVe Hydrating Sheer Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 30 for Face & Body contain oxybenzone?
No. It contains neither oxybenzone nor octinoxate, the two chemicals banned under Hawaii’s statewide law.
Is CeraVe Hydrating Sheer Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 30 for Face & Body a mineral or chemical sunscreen?
Both. It combines mineral (zinc oxide 7%) and chemical (homosalate 6%, octisalate 5% and octocrylene 5%) UV filters, so it does not meet mineral-only rules.
Is the zinc oxide in CeraVe Hydrating Sheer Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 30 for Face & Body 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 Sheer Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 30 for Face & Body water resistant?
Yes, for up to 80 minutes of swimming or sweating, according to its label. Reapply after 80 minutes in the water, immediately after towel drying, and at least every 2 hours.
What is the NDC and UPC for CeraVe Hydrating Sheer Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 30 for Face & Body?
CeraVe Hydrating Sheer Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 30 for Face & Body is listed with the FDA under National Drug Code 49967-832, and its UPC barcode is 3606000616240. The NDC identifies this sunscreen on its FDA drug label (DailyMed); package sizes carry longer package NDCs.
Alternatives to CeraVe Hydrating Sheer Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 30 for Face & Body for Maui County, Hawaiʻi County (Big Island), the U.S. Virgin Islands, Palau and Guam
Mineral sunscreens from other brands, allowed in all 5 places, ranked by label: water resistance, SPF 30–50, broad spectrum, no listed fragrance. How we rank
Face + Body SPF 30 Mineral Sunscreen Lotion
Every Day Active Mineral Sunscreen SPF 45
Hawaiian Natural Zinc Sunscreen SPF 50 (Beach/Sport/Baby), 3 oz
UV Pure Broad Spectrum SPF 47