Cetaphil Sun SPF 30 Light Gel

Introduction

It has been a long-time since I reviewed a sunscreen on this blog, so I am super-excited.

Today’s product is a sunscreen gel by Cetaphil, that is made in the EU and imported for distribution in India.  Finally its 2^nd ingredient is alcohol.

The sunscreen jargon to English translation is:

• It is difficult for gels to have a capacity higher than SPF 30
• Made in EU sunscreens fall under EU regulation and therefore, I have no concern about the efficacy of sunscreen filters present
• Cetaphil make fragrance-free products, making this suitable for sensitive skin

What damages are we trying to protect against when we use sunscreens?

Sunscreens contain UV filters. I like the EU definition which is, ‘UV-filters’ means substances which are exclusively or mainly intended to protect the skin against certain UV radiation by absorbing, reflecting or scattering UV radiation

Happy Skin Days’ sunscreen test

I apply this very basic test to all sunscreens that I test on this blog.

1) Are harmful chemicals present?

The harmful chemicals that I look for are specifically BHT, Oxybenzone, Formaldehyde releasing preservatives and parabens. This sunscreen does have BHT.

BHT is a cheap preservative and, “limited evidence suggests that high doses of BHT may mimic estrogen, the primary female sex hormone and prevent the expression of male sex hormones, resulting in adverse reproductive effects.” (Source: David Suzuki)

2) The product is at least an SPF 30

3) What are the UVA and UVB filters present in this product?

The UV filters are:

1. Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate (“Octinoxate”)  (2^nd listed ingredient)
2. Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate (“DHHB“) (4^th listed ingredient)
3. Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine (“BEMT“) (5^th listed ingredient)

Octinoxate or Ethylyhexyl methoxycinnamate is present in an overwhelming number of sunscreens that I have seen, which is no surprise because it’s the most common UVB filter used globally.

Both BEMT and DHHB are new style filters that are

(1) Photostable (so do not immediately start to breakdown as soon as the product comes out of the tube)

(2) Have a large molecular size (and therefore do not penetrate the skin), and

(3) Do not need to be present in high %s to give effective protection

BEMT provides superior UVB protection as well as UVA protection, tapering off around 360nm, indicating its not as good as Avobenzone. DHHB provides superior UVAII / UVA I protection, peaking between 350nm-360nm. 

Aesthetics of the product

As soon as I open the tube, I get a whiff of alcohol.  (I know the smell well because I use alcohol regularly to disinfect surfaces).  Once you get past this, there is no recognizable smell.  

The sunscreen blends in really easily with no whitecast and to give a dry skin touch. 

It is not a moisturizing sunscreen, so if you have normal or dry skin, I would steer away from this.

Would I use this product again?

No because it contains BHT and it’s the policy of this blog to avoid as much as humanly possible, products containing BHT.  Thankfully, not many sunscreens I review contain BHT.

Available for sale at most pharmacies for INR 1,150 for 100ml and Nykaa

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