Biossance Squalane + Zinc Sheer Mineral Sunscreen SPF 30 Versus SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella Hyalu-Cica Water-Fit Sun Serum SPF50+ PA++++

Biossance Squalane + Zinc Sheer Mineral Sunscreen SPF 30 Versus SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella Hyalu-Cica Water-Fit Sun Serum SPF50+ PA++++

This mineral sunscreen covers the full UV range and blocks ~97% of UVB at SPF 30.

This chemical sunscreen covers the full UV range and blocks ~98% of UVB at SPF 50.

What's inside

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

Zinc Oxide 17.68%

Water

Dicaprylyl Ether

Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride

C13-15 Alkane

Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate

Glyceryl Citrate/Lactate/Linoleate/Oleate

Coco-Caprylate

Squalane

Glycerin

Ectoin

Bisabolol

Cetyl Alcohol

Hedychium Coronarium Root Extract

Vaccinium Macrocarpon Seed Oil

Xylitol

Anhydroxylitol

Xylitylglucoside

Tocopherol

Glucose

Disteardimonium Hectorite

Hectorite

Isostearic Acid

Lecithin

Polyhydroxystearic Acid

1,2-Hexanediol

Caprylyl Glycol

Sorbitan Isostearate

Zinc Oxide 17.68%, Water, Dicaprylyl Ether, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, C13-15 Alkane, Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate, Glyceryl Citrate/Lactate/Linoleate/Oleate, Coco-Caprylate, Squalane, Glycerin, Ectoin, Bisabolol, Cetyl Alcohol, Hedychium Coronarium Root Extract, Vaccinium Macrocarpon Seed Oil, Xylitol, Anhydroxylitol, Xylitylglucoside, Tocopherol, Glucose, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Hectorite, Isostearic Acid, Lecithin, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Sorbitan Isostearate

Dibutyl Adipate

Propanediol

Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate

Polymethylsilsesquioxane

Ethylhexyl Triazone

Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol

Niacinamide

Coco-Caprylate/Caprate

Caprylyl Methicone

Diethylhexyl Butamido Triazone

Butylene Glycol

Pentylene Glycol

Behenyl Alcohol

Poly C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate

Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate

Decyl Glucoside

Tromethamine

Carbomer

Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer

Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate

Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6

Ethylhexylglycerin

Adenosine

Xanthan Gum

Centella Asiatica Extract

T-Butyl Alcohol

Sodium Hyaluronate

Betula Platyphylla Japonica Bark Extract

Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid

Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract

Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract

Brassica Oleracea Italica Sprout Extract

Camellia Japonica Leaf Extract

Eruca Sativa Leaf Extract

Medicago Sativa Extract

Triticum Vulgare Sprout Extract

Inositol

Hyaluronic Acid

Water, Dibutyl Adipate, Propanediol, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol, Niacinamide, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Caprylyl Methicone, Diethylhexyl Butamido Triazone, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Butylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Behenyl Alcohol, Poly C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Decyl Glucoside, Tromethamine, Carbomer, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adenosine, Xanthan Gum, Centella Asiatica Extract, T-Butyl Alcohol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Betula Platyphylla Japonica Bark Extract, Tocopherol, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract, Brassica Oleracea Italica Sprout Extract, Camellia Japonica Leaf Extract, Eruca Sativa Leaf Extract, Medicago Sativa Extract, Triticum Vulgare Sprout Extract, Inositol, Hyaluronic Acid

Reviews

Alternatives

Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.

1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.

It is a:

Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin

Emollient, helping to soften skin

Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas

Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives

Glycerin (or glycerol) is a compound naturally found in your skin. It's a powerhouse humectant that pulls water into the stratum corneum.

Topically, glycerin does several things at once:

Your skin makes glycerin on its own (mostly from sebaceous oil breakdown) and shuttles it to your outermost layer of skin, or your epidermis, via aquaporin-3.

Aquaporin-3 is a transporter that is essential for normal skin hydration, elasticity, and repair. Interestingly, mice lacking in AQP3 have dry and less elastic skin that can be fully corrected with glycerin.

This ingredient is non-irritating, plays well with almost every ingredient, and works across all skin types. Typical use is anywhere between 3-10% but can go up to 79% in some leave-on products.

Just know very high concentrations (>40%) can feel tacky in low humidity.

Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.

Tocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.

You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.

Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.

It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.

This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.

This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.

In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.

Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.

Water. It's the most common cosmetic ingredient of all. You'll usually see it at the top of ingredient lists, meaning that it makes up the largest part of the product.

So why is it so popular? Water most often acts as a solvent - this means that it helps dissolve other ingredients into the formulation.

You'll also recognize water as that liquid we all need to stay alive. If you see this, drink a glass of water. Remember to stay hydrated!

Similar Comparisons