Quick Summary:
Date Tested: 7/18/2025
In this CVS Clear Zinc SPF 50 sunscreen lotion review, I find an mediocre performing SPF 50 sunscreen. Thank you for the sample Sue!
I know it’s been a while since I last posted, so I would like to take a moment to let everyone know that I finally finished my clinical rotation at the CPMC Sutter VNC and Davies hospitals, and am now currently looking for a job. Since I now have some free time (in between studying for my CST exam), I figured I better get to working through my backlog of sunscreen! Anyways… enough of the life update, and onto the sunscreen!
The CVS Clear Zinc SPF 50 sunscreen lotion is a hybrid sunscreen formula which contains Zinc Oxide at 5%, and Octocrylene at 4%.
The CVS Clear Zinc SPF 50 reduced 83.38% of irradiated UVA, 79.78% UVB, and 83.17% of total UVI. Somewhat disappointing SPF 50 performance (this protects at a higher-ish SPF 30+ level).
CVS Clear Zinc SPF 50 ingredients
Active ingredients: Octocrylene (4.0%), Zinc Oxide (5.0%)
Inactive Ingredients: Water, Ethylhexyl Stearate, Diisopropyl Adipate, Cetyl Dimethicone, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate, Hexyl Laurate, Beeswax, Isohexadecane, Phenoxyethanol, Silica, Ethylhexylglycerin, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Dimethicone, Sodium Chloride, Disodium EDTA, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Powder, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Tocopherol
Manufacturers Website: www.cvs.com
CVS Clear Zinc SPF 50 characteristics at a glance:
- Goes on clear
- Water-resistant for 80 minutes
- Non-greasy formula
- Viscosity is medium
Prepared slide BEFORE testing
The CVS Clear Zinc SPF 50 distributed unevenly. Appearance was somewhat mottled and filled with air bubbles.
CVS Clear Zinc SPF 50 sunscreen lotion UV blocking test results
Ultraviolet light quick reference:
UVA: The Ultraviolet wavelength from 315nm – 400nm. The “Aging UV light” – Causes wrinkles.
UVB: The Ultraviolet wavelength from 280nm – 315nm. The “Bad UV light” – Causes skin cancer.
UVI: The global sun UV index. The more a sunscreen can reduce the level of UVI, the better.
UV test results:
Ultraviolet sensor readings:
| Before Sunscreen | After Sunscreen | % UV Blocked | |
| TEMP | 73.47 | 73.12 | |
| UVA | 43114.5 | 7165 | 83.38% |
| UVB | 2372 | 479.5 | 79.78% |
| UVI | 25.425 | 4.28 | 83.17% |
Want to know more about how I test sunscreen? Head here to read about the details.
Testing notes:
Mediocre Performance for a SPF 50 formulation. Good enough if you want SPF 30 level UV filtration.
Want to try CVS Clear Zinc SPF 50 sunscreen lotion?
Not recommended as it does not protect as advertised
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