So everyone knows my favorite sunscreen changes every few years but what does not change is their country of origin. My favorites are always Made In Korea or Japan. Getting into the superiority of Asian SPF deserves an entry all its own but I will just quickly say that the United States is decades behind asian and european countries when it comes to approved ingredients and innovation. Typically finding my favorite Asian sunscreen, this year is all about Purito Unscented, on Amazon is easy and delivery is prompt. However we are currently living through a pandemic and with supply chains disrupted and Amazon delaying all unessential orders, getting another bottle of Purito is taking weeks!

Not wearing sunscreen is never an option so when delays happen I always have a fall back U.S sunscreen that I know I can always easily get my hands on. 

Enter Cerave 

Cerave is a U.S drugstore staple known for making simple but effective products that are recommended by dermatologists everywhere. Their night cream, Cerave PM is my ride or die but I’ve never been a fan of their day cream Cerave AM SPF 30. I found the texture tacky, prone to pilling, and incompatible with any makeup I layered over it .  When this new Ultra Light moisturizing cream with SPF was released a few years ago I decided to give it a go in hopes of it being better than CeraVe AM but not expecting much.

More Good Than Bad 

So right off the bat I’m gonna keep it real with you this sunscreen is not perfect but I for an American sunscreen I believe the pros outweigh the cons. The texture seems dense when it's pumped out but when it's applied to the face it feels light and blends in nicely with no white cast. It's a bit shiny on first application but after a few minutes it dries down to a semi matte satin finish. Once the Ultra Light SPF 30 dried down I found that it is a great light moisturizer and primer for my makeup that never pills or feels greasy. I’ve tried countless American sunscreens and none can compare to the price point, texture, and performance of the CeraVe Ultra-Light Moisturizing Face Lotion with Sunscreen. 

The Bad 

So like I mentioned before this sunscreen has its flaws which is why I only fall back on this sunscreen when I can’t get my hands on an Asian sunscreen. The first problem that most people have with the Ultra-light is it has that traditional American sunscreen smell. I personally don’t mind it, it reminds me of happy beach days from childhood but if you don’t want that smell on your face that this sunscreen is not for you. The smell definitely lingers throughout the day. 

The biggest annoyance I have with this sunscreen is that it burns my eyes. I have to be very careful when applying this around the eye area because if I’m not my eyes will be watering all day. I have an eye cream with SPF in it so when I use this sunscreen I typically avoid the eye area. 

The only other con to this sunscreen is very minor. The pump bottle comes with a clear cap and the cap is quite cheap and breaks before the product is finished. I purchased this product 4-5 times and it happened every time. However a broken cap doesn’t affect using the product in any way, it's just a slight annoyance. 

Conclusion

Is this sunscreen perfect? No, it can’t compare to the innovated and luxurious feeling of asian sunscreens but it does blow most American drugstore sunscreens out of the water. It’s light-weight, hydrating and never leaves the dreaded white cast. It would work well on different skin types and is easily accessible in the U.S. If you are in a jam and need a sunscreen quick or are just curious I think this is a great sunscreen to keep on hand. 

CeraVe Ultra-Light Moisturizing Face Lotion with Sunscreen - SPF 30 Review

Pros

• Easily accessible
• Lightweight texture
• No whitecast 
• Semi matte/ Satin Finish 
• Pump Bottle

Cons 

• Sunscreen scent 
• Burns eyes 
• Plastic cap always breaks 

Rating 3/5