Review: Cetaphil's Daily Facial Moisturizer SPF 50

Without sounding like a hypocrite, I can't possibly think of a proper intro for Cetaphil's Daily Facial Moisturizer SPF 50. I didn't want to tell you guys to wear sunscreen everyday when I ,myself, do not. Nor did I want to start off by telling you the importance of sun protection, because you probably already know, so let's just get straight to it :)

Scroll down to the bottom for a quick summary if you are in a hurry :)

Product:
Cetaphil's Daily Facial Moisturizer SPF 50 (DFM)

What it Claims:
A dermatologist recommended daily facial moisturizer that has a broad spectrum defense (UVB & UVA). It is non-comedogenic, non-greasy, fragrance-free and non-irritating.

Price:
Regular price is around $20, but I purchased it at Shoppers Drug Mart when it was on sale for $16.

Some Background:
I couldn't tell you how many times I had to self-consciously explain why my face was red and peeling. "I have a sunburn." I would say, but they probably already knew that. They would always reply sarcastically and answer,"really now?". As a result, I would vow each time, when I get a sunburn, that I shall not go on a day without putting on sunscreen again. 

In reality, I forget about sunscreen every year. I start to disregard sunscreen by the third day after my sunburn recovers (as previously mentioned in other posts, I have VERY sensitive skin. I get burned easily and often). I tend to dislike sunscreens, usually because I hate how it feels on my skin(that glossy shine every sunscreen gives -_-), or I just get too lazy to apply it EVERY day. (we are probably all guilty of that)

I always knew putting sunscreen on is good, but the little voice inside my head always whispered, "you will probably be fine if you go out without it".  It was actually a Youtube video that changed that mentality, and gave me the kick that I NEEDED to start wearing sunscreen daily. You can watch the video by clicking here.

I mean, I always knew the Sun aged the skin, but that video made the effects seem much more tangible. It turned the mentality of , "it can't be THAT bad', right into, "it IS that bad". It was almost like a wake up call; so, in the beginning of summer this year, I've started to use sunscreen on my face despite the fact that it made my skin look and feel oily. However, it turns out that the sunscreen I used was a major contributing factor to my most recent cycle of bad breakouts. 

Out of frustration, I went to Shoppers Drug Mart and picked up Cetaphil's Daily Facial Moisturizer SPF 50 . My dermatologist recommended that I should try Cetaphil's products as it is a dermatologist recommended brand. She mentioned that anything with"dermatologist recommended", should be a good indicator for products that are helpful with acne-prone skin. I purchased the DFM without much thought since Cetaphil is a well-known derma brand. Once again, I should have done my own research before blindly committing to a product.

My Review:

During Application

I would like to think that I have high standards when it comes to product reviews. I don't over praise a product just because it shows a little promise. I'm very cautious when it comes to results. I make sure that I have used the products enough, time wise and quantity wise, before committing to a review. Hence, I've used Avene's thermal Spring Water for over 4 months and Foreo's Luna Mini for over 8 months before committing to a conclusion.

After using  Cetaphil's DFM for over 4 months now; I am ready to give a conclusion. 

Unimpressed, is what I would say if I had to give a more conservative review, but horrified, is how I really feel about this product. 

The Application:

I thought I purchased a facial moisturizer with some SPF  properties in it, but it turns out I purchased a moisturizer that acts exactly like a sunscreen. This product mentioned that it is non-greasy, but in my experience it is as thick and as greasy as any sunscreen I've tried. Not only did this product leave my face a shade paler, like a sunscreen, it also smells like one. I suppose that's what, "fragrance-free", really means; smelling like chemicals. 

After Application

This product also does not have a matte finish. It left my face feeling very oily throughout the day. I also can't help but think the oiliness probably means clogged pores too. In general, I am very disappointed with the application and the result of this product.

The Ingredients

I didn't talk about the ingredients in the beginning because there is just so much to say. After doing some research, I was appalled to learn that many sunscreen brands uses chemical ingredients that can be very harmful to the human body, and these chemicals can potentially accelerate the rate of skin cancer.  I find this pretty ironic as I am wearing sunscreen to avoid damages done by the UV rays, and not to magnify it.
The ingredients used in the sunscreen products are all approved by the FDA, but nevertheless, they still have very negative side effects.

The Environmental Working Group (EWG) is a non-profitable organization that assesses many of the sunscreen brands on the market. EWG was established in 2014, and have deemed 75% of the sunscreen brands to be toxic. Using the chart that EWG provided for sunscreen chemicals that are of most concern, out of the 5 active ingredients that Cetaphil have used in their DFM, 2 ingredients have a high level of toxicity concern while 2 other ingredients has a moderate level of toxicity concern. 

The Ingredients

This means that 4 out 5 of the ingredients used in DFM is has a moderate to high concerns of toxicity to the human body. Not only are these ingredients harmful, it also has a relatively high chance of causing skin allergy. Yet, Cetaphil's DFM is still a dermatologist recommended product. This is why I think it is very important for me to do researches before making a purchase.

Now, having said that, I don't want to turn this review into a full blown essay about the effects of harmful chemicals used in sunscreens. If you are interested in learning more about the effects of these chemicals, you can click here, and if you want to learn about sunscreen brands that are deemed safe by the EWG you can click here. 

Final Thoughts

Cetaphil's Daily Facial Moisturizer SPF 50 does not do what it promises. It is greasy and has a fragrance that smells grossly like a sunscreen. It fails to live up to the dermatologist endorsement as it contains hazardous chemicals that could potentially irritate the skin. 

The previous sunscreen I've used that had contributed to my breakouts also contained similar ingredients that the DFM have used. I urge individuals to learn about the products before making a purchase; understand and know what you are putting on your body. It is sad that we live in a society where we can' trust labels like,"dermatologist recommended", and that we must be cautious in choosing a product as small as a sunscreen. 

Quick Summary

Pros

- Dermatologist recommended

- Broad spectrum of SPF 50

- Comes in a pump

Cons

- Irritating chemicals

- Smells like sunscreen

- Too thick and oily

- Leaves skin a shade paler

- Clogs pores

Ratings: 2 out of 5 (40%)

Would I purchase it again?

No, I would most definitely not purchase this product again. Now, having said that, this post may sound rather negative because I am stating all these opinions against Cetaphil, but I personally would not cross the entire brand off. I am still open to try other products from this brand as I have used their facial cleansers before, and I have been rather fond of it. Finally, I don't mean to sound vicious and I did not write this post with any intention of harm. I simply wanted to share my findings as a consumer who is striving to be an informed customer :) 

Which brand of sunscreen would you recommend? I would love to know! :)