OMI Menturm Sun Bears GOLD Active Milk Sunscreen SPF 50+ PA++++ Versus Salv Laboratories Ectoin Multi-Peptide + Lactobacillus Hybrid Sunscreen SPF 50+

OMI Menturm Sun Bears GOLD Active Milk Sunscreen SPF 50+ PA++++ Versus Salv Laboratories Ectoin Multi-Peptide + Lactobacillus Hybrid Sunscreen SPF 50+

This hybrid 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

Cyclopentasiloxane

Water

Zinc Oxide

Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate

Cetyl Ethylhexanoate

Dipropylene Glycol

Silica

Dimethicone

Titanium Dioxide

Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone

Magnesium/Aluminum/Zinc/Hydroxide/Carbonate

Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate

Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate

Hydrogen Dimethicone

Myristic Acid

Aluminum Hydroxide

Tocopheryl Acetate

Methylparaben

Ethylparaben

Potassium Alum

Parfum

Butylene Glycol

Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer

BHT

Glycyrrhetinic Acid

Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract

Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract

Cyclopentasiloxane, Water, Zinc Oxide, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Dipropylene Glycol, Silica, Dimethicone, Titanium Dioxide, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Magnesium/Aluminum/Zinc/Hydroxide/Carbonate, Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Hydrogen Dimethicone, Myristic Acid, Aluminum Hydroxide, Tocopheryl Acetate, Methylparaben, Ethylparaben, Potassium Alum, Parfum, Butylene Glycol, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, BHT, Glycyrrhetinic Acid, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract

Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride

Isopropyl Myristate

Niacinamide

Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane

Isoamyl Laurate

Glycerin

Octocrylene

Ectoin

Polyglyceryl-6 Distearate

Hexapeptide-9

Lactobacillus/Collagen Ferment Filtrate

Hydrated Silica

Caprylyl Glycol

1,2-Hexanediol

Houttuynia Cordata Extract

Algae Extract

Polyglyceryl-3 Beeswax

Glyceryl Stearate

Phenoxyethanol

Sodium Hyaluronate

Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer

Tripeptide-29

Geranium Robertianum Extract

Citrus Reticulata Peel Extract

Centaurea Cyanus Flower Extract

Allantoin

Jojoba Esters

Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer

PEG-100 Stearate

Cetyl Alcohol

PEG-9 Dimethicone

Phaseolus Radiatus Sprout Extract

Cetearyl Alcohol

Sodium Hydroxide

Acetyl Hexapeptide-8

Aspalathus Linearis Extract

Tripeptide-1

Lecithin

Tetrasodium EDTA

Ethylhexylglycerin

Water, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Isopropyl Myristate, Niacinamide, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Isoamyl Laurate, Glycerin, Octocrylene, Butylene Glycol, Dimethicone, Ectoin, Polyglyceryl-6 Distearate, Hexapeptide-9, Lactobacillus/Collagen Ferment Filtrate, Titanium Dioxide, Hydrated Silica, Caprylyl Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Algae Extract, Polyglyceryl-3 Beeswax, Glyceryl Stearate, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Tripeptide-29, Geranium Robertianum Extract, Citrus Reticulata Peel Extract, Centaurea Cyanus Flower Extract, Allantoin, Jojoba Esters, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Hydrogen Dimethicone, PEG-100 Stearate, Cetyl Alcohol, PEG-9 Dimethicone, Phaseolus Radiatus Sprout Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Sodium Hydroxide, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Aspalathus Linearis Extract, Tripeptide-1, Lecithin, Tetrasodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin

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.

Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:

Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.

Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.

Dimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.

What it does:

Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:

Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.

Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.

This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.

Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.

This ingredient is a silicone elastomer that works as a texture enhancer, adds a silky slip, and also helps absorb excess oil.

Because it's a large macromolecule that's insoluble in water and chemically inert, it's not expected to penetrate or be absorbed into skin.

Human patch tests with a facial lotion containing 1% of this ingredient found no sensitization.

This ingredient is also known as Octinoxate and is one of the oldest and most widely used chemical UV filters in skincare.

It has a simple job: soap up UVB radiation (290-320 nm), the wavelengths responsible for sunburn and a big chunk of long-term sun damage.

In formulas, it's always paired with a separate UVA filter because octinoxate solely protects skin from UVB.

Because it's an oil-soluble liquid, it's easy to blend into the oil phase of lotions/creams and gives a cosmetically elegant feel.

The one quirk about formulating this ingredient is photostability; the molecule slowly changes shape into a less effective version when sunlight hits it. So the longer you're in the sun, the weaker its protection gets. The drop can be more than 30% in some formulas.

It also doesn't play nice with Avobenzone (the common UVA filter) since avobenzone destabilizes octinoxate and the two degrade each other. But don't worry: brands have solved this issue by adding photostabilizers like Tinosorb S to prevent degradation and keep SPF stable under heavy UV exposure.

The maximum allowed level is 10% in the EU and Australia, 7.5% in the US and Canada, and 20% in Japan.

The Cosmetic Ingredient Review Panel has concluded this ingredient to be safe in cosmetics up to 10%.

One last thing worth knowing for context:

Octinoxate has been the subject of ongoing review in Europe where the Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety's (SCCS) 2025 final opinion is that this ingredient is an endocrine-active substance.

Lab and animal studies suggest it can act a bit like a hormone in the body (mildly mimicking estrogen and slightly blocking male hormones). It's important to know this hasn't really been shown to happen in everyday human use.

This ingredient is also banned in Hawaii over coral reef concerns.

Hydrogen dimethicone is a silicone-based ingredient. It is mainly used to alter the texture and spread of a product without adding "stickiness".

Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract comes from the Baikal skullcap or Chinese skullcap plant. This plant is native to Northeast Asia and can be found in China, Mongolia, Korea, and Siberia.

In cosmetics, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract provides antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits. This is due to the flavonoid composition of Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract.

In Chinese traditional folk medicine, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract is used to help treat lung issues and hypertension.

Titanium Dioxide (TD) is a mineral UV filter widely used in sunscreens and cosmetics.

It's one of only two UV filters officially classified as "mineral" by regulatory agencies (the other being Zinc Oxide).

A really common myth is that mineral filters work by reflecting UV light off your skin like tiny mirrors.

They don't only do that; modern research shows TD protects mostly by absorbing UV radiation, the same way chemical filters do.

When researchers measured this, reflection accounted for only about 4-5% of the protection (and less than SPF 2 on its own). The other ~95% comes from absorption: the UV photons hit the particle and their energy gets soaked up by its semiconductor band gap rather than bouncing off.

So "reflects vs. absorbs" was never really the right way to split mineral from chemical filters.

TD gives broad-spectrum protection that's strongest in the UVB and UVA-2 range and weaker in the UVA-1 range. Its UVA protection isn't quite as strong as Zinc Oxide's which is why you'll often see the two paired together.

Together, they make a solid broad-spectrum system.

TD is a great pick for sensitive, acne-prone, or redness-prone skin because it's non-irritating and chemically inert. Regulatory reviews classify it as a non-sensitizer and mild-to-non-irritant.

It's also unlikely to cause the "eye sting" some chemical filters are known for.

The main trade-off is cosmetic; TD can leave a white cast and has a thicker texture. This is why mineral sunscreens are often less cosmetically elegant than chemical or hybrid formulas (and harder to shade-match on deeper skin tones).

Formulators often use micronized or nano-sized TD to cut down on white case and improve spreadability. Smaller particles scatter less visible light so the formula looks less chalky while still filtering UV.

TD is almost always bundled with coatings like Alumina, Silica, Stearic Acid, or Dimethicone. These coatings do two important jobs:

TD can be used at up to 25% in a finished sunscreen; this is the regulatory ceiling in both the US and the EU.

In practice, the amount in any given product varies a lot depending on the target SPF and whether it's paired with other UV filters.

TD is one of the most heavily vetted sunscreen ingredients out there. It is approved as a UV filter in all major markets worldwide, including the US, EU, UK, Japan, Korea, China, Australia, and Canada.

The safety evidence is solid. There was an old worry that nano particles might absorb through skin into the body but multiple studies (including on damaged, sunburned, and UV-irradiated skin) have shown that TD stays on the surface and the layer of dead skin cells on top of everything else.

There's also no evidence of carcinogenicity, mutagenicity, or reproductive toxicity from dermal exposure of this ingredient.

For those who have seen the headline about a 2022 EU ban on TD, that was on TD as a food additive (a complete separate use from topical sunscreen).

There are ongoing questions about how nano-TD might affect marine ecosystems. As of now, there has been no conclusive evidence that any form of TD (or any other sunscreen filter) harms coral reefs or marine life.

The science is still developing and it's a space worth watching rather than packing over.

However, several destinations have reef-safety sunscreen rules that restrict certain chemical filters and steer visitors toward mineral, non-nano options. If you're traveling somewhere with these rules, a non-nano mineral sunscreen is the safe bet.

Tocopheryl Acetate is a stable, shelf-friendly form of vitamin E.

Formulators love it because plain vitamin E oxidizes quickly once it hits air. This acetate version stays stable and resists going off, helping to extend a product's shelf life.

It's actually inactive on its own and works like a slow-release "storage" form; the enzymes in your skin called esterases gradually convert it into active vitamin E over time.

One in vivo study showed 5% of the acetate in the living layer of the epidermis converted to vitamin E after 5 days of application. This study also found the skin gained protection against UV damage even though the conversion was slow and small.

Once converted, vitamin E acts as a skin's main fat-soluble antioxidant that fights free radicals to protect skin from damage.

Topical vitamin E generally boosts the skin's photoprotection, and it reduced UV-damage in animal models.

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.

Overall, it has a pretty solid safety profile and has been found to be non-irritating and non-comedogenic. Allergic reactions may happen but stay rare due to how widely the ingredient gets used.

The concentration will vary depending on the formula; industry data shows 0.1% in baby lotions, 3% in lipsticks, and 5% in foot powders. You can also find this ingredient at 100% in a pure vitamin E oil.

Most leave-on skincare keeps it at the lower end, often between 0.5-1%.

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!

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