Independent education resourceInformation here does not replace care from a qualified health professional.
Peptide Therapy GuideClear peptide education

Educational guide

Round Lab Birch Juice Moisturizing UVLock Sun Stick SPF 50+ Versus Mary & May Vegan Peptide Bakuchiol Sun Stick SPF 50+ PA++++

Round Lab Birch Juice Moisturizing UVLock Sun Stick SPF 50+ Versus Mary & May Vegan Peptide Bakuchiol Sun Stick SPF 50+ PA++++ This chemical sunscreen covers most of the UV range, lighter on the deep UVA that drives aging. This hybrid sunscreen covers the full

Written by Peptide Therapy Guide Editorial Team
For education only

This guide cannot diagnose a condition or recommend a personal treatment plan. Discuss medical questions with a qualified professional.

Round Lab Birch Juice Moisturizing UVLock Sun Stick SPF 50+ Versus Mary & May Vegan Peptide Bakuchiol Sun Stick SPF 50+ PA++++

This chemical sunscreen covers most of the UV range, lighter on the deep UVA that drives aging.

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

Homosalate

Octocrylene

Ethylhexyl Salicylate

Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane

Diethylhexyl Carbonate

Dimethicone

Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer

Synthetic Wax

Diphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone

Butyloctyl Salicylate

Isopropyl Palmitate

Phenethyl Benzoate

Diisostearyl Malate

Ethylhexyl Isononanoate

Caprylyl Trimethicone

Synthetic Fluorphlogopite

Bis-Behenyl/Isostearyl/Phytosteryl Dimer Dilinoleyl Dimer Dilinoleate

Polymethylsilsesquioxane

Polyethylene

Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer

Camellia Japonica Seed Oil

Ethylene/Propylene Copolymer

Silica Dimethyl Silylate

Dimethicone Crosspolymer

Candelilla Wax Esters

Artemisia Annua Extract

Copernicia Cerifera Wax

Pinus Sylvestris Leaf Oil

Anthemis Nobilis Flower Oil

Water

Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate

Allantoin

Glyceryl Glucoside

Butylene Glycol

Glycerin

1,2-Hexanediol

Betula Platyphylla Japonica Juice

Ulmus Davidiana Root Extract

Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract

Dioscorea Japonica Root Extract

Viola Mandshurica Flower Extract

Laminaria Japonica Extract

Glyceryl Caprylate

Sodium Hyaluronate

Hyaluronic Acid

Ascorbic Acid

Homosalate, Octocrylene, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Diethylhexyl Carbonate, Dimethicone, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Synthetic Wax, Diphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Isopropyl Palmitate, Phenethyl Benzoate, Diisostearyl Malate, Ethylhexyl Isononanoate, Caprylyl Trimethicone, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Bis-Behenyl/Isostearyl/Phytosteryl Dimer Dilinoleyl Dimer Dilinoleate, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Polyethylene, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Camellia Japonica Seed Oil, Ethylene/Propylene Copolymer, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Candelilla Wax Esters, Artemisia Annua Extract, Copernicia Cerifera Wax, Pinus Sylvestris Leaf Oil, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Oil, Water, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Allantoin, Glyceryl Glucoside, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Betula Platyphylla Japonica Juice, Ulmus Davidiana Root Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Dioscorea Japonica Root Extract, Viola Mandshurica Flower Extract, Laminaria Japonica Extract, Glyceryl Caprylate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hyaluronic Acid, Ascorbic Acid

Cetyl Ethylhexanoate

Butylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate

Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer

Dicaprylyl Carbonate

Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate

Ethylhexyl Triazone

Ozokerite

Polysilicone-15

Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine

Bakuchiol

Vinyldimethicone

Titanium Dioxide

Caprylyl Glycol

Polyglyceryl-4 Diisostearate/Polyhydroxystearate/Sebacate

Coco-Caprylate/Caprate

Ethylhexylglycerin

Polyhydroxystearic Acid

Triethoxycaprylylsilane

Aluminum Hydroxide

Tocopherol

Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate

Acetyl Hexapeptide-8

Acetyl Octapeptide-3

Nonapeptide-1

Dipeptide-2

Dipeptide-4

Acetyl Tetrapeptide-2

Acetyl Tetrapeptide-3

Acetyl Tetrapeptide-5

Acetyl Tripeptide-1

Alanine/Histidine/Lysine Polypeptide Copper Hcl

Oligopeptide-6

Copper Tripeptide-1

Tripeptide-1

Tripeptide-2

Tripeptide-3

Pentapeptide-3

Hexapeptide-2

Hexapeptide-9

Dipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate

Palmitoyl Dipeptide-7

Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7

Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1

Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5

Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4

Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12

Aroma

Ultramarines

Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Butylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Synthetic Wax, Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer, Isopropyl Palmitate, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Ozokerite, Polysilicone-15, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Bakuchiol, Vinyldimethicone, Titanium Dioxide, Glyceryl Caprylate, Caprylyl Glycol, Polyglyceryl-4 Diisostearate/Polyhydroxystearate/Sebacate, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Aluminum Hydroxide, Tocopherol, Butylene Glycol, Water, 1,2-Hexanediol, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Acetyl Octapeptide-3, Nonapeptide-1, Dipeptide-2, Dipeptide-4, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-2, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-3, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-5, Acetyl Tripeptide-1, Alanine/Histidine/Lysine Polypeptide Copper Hcl, Oligopeptide-6, Copper Tripeptide-1, Tripeptide-1, Tripeptide-2, Tripeptide-3, Pentapeptide-3, Hexapeptide-2, Hexapeptide-9, Dipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate, Palmitoyl Dipeptide-7, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12, Aroma, Ultramarines

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

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.

Butyloctyl Salicylate is a chemical UV filter structurally similar to octisalate. It is a photostabilizer, SPF booster, emollient and solvent. This ingredient helps evenly spread out ingredients.

According to a manufacturer, it is suitable for pairing with micro Titanium Dioxide, Zinc Oxide, and pigments.

Photostabilizers help stabilize UV-filters and prevents them from degrading quickly.

Glyceryl Caprylate comes from glycerin and caprylic acid. It is an emollient, co-emulsifier, and preservative booster.

Its short C8 fatty acid chain makes it behave differently from its longer-chain emollient cousins like Glyceryl Stearate. It feels more lightweight, fast-absorbing, and silky instead of rich and waxy.

As a co-emulsifier, its "head" and "tail" sit at the oil-water interface. But overall, the short C8 tail and not being water soluble means it doesn't really have the muscle to emulsify a formula on its own. That's why you'll often see it paired with a primary emulsifier like Cetearyl Glucoside.

Interestingly, Glyceryl Caprylate acts as a preservative booster. This is because its fatty-acid backbone disrupts microbial lipid membranes. It shows excellent activity against bacteria and yeast but is weaker against mold.

Typical concentrations range from 0.5-1% and this ingredient is generally non-irritating.

Because this ingredient has a C8 fatty acid chain, it is outside the range that the Malassezia yeast metabolizes (making it fungal acne safe).

Isopropyl Palmitate is a lightweight emollient made by combining isopropyl alcohol and palmitic acid.

It is an emollient that leaves skin feeling smooth and silky without leaving a greasy feel.

Typical usage concentrations range from 1-5%.

Human testing shows it's non-irritating and non-sensitizing, and the EU Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) has cleared it at very high levels (79% in leave-on products).

The one thing worth knowing about its comedogenic score of 3-4 is to keep it in perspective: these ratings come from old rabbit-ear tests using 100% of pure ingredient and doesn't reflect how it behaves at low levels in a finished product.

Because it is an ester of palmitic acid (C16), it falls into the range that the Malassezia yeast can feed on and is considered not fungal acne safe.

This ingredient comes as a powder made up of small, porous, microbeads. It is used to add a silky feel to products and also helps absorb oil.

Synthetic Wax is a manufactured hydrocarbon wax. In formulas, it works as an occlusive emollient that helps reduce water loss and improves the spreadability of products.

Research comparing synthetic wax to traditional mineral-derived products found that formulas containing it perform as well for skin hydration.

It is considered non-comedogenic and vegan-friendly.

This ingredient has a well-established safety record by the CIR Expert Panel for Cosmetic Ingredient Safety.

Synthetic Waxes are straight/branched-chain hydrocarbons with no ester bond or fatty acids. That means there is nothing for the Malassezia yeast to feed on.

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

Connected reading

Helpful context for this guide

Source-derived material selected through this article’s indexed topics.

P

About the author

Peptide Therapy Guide Editorial Team

Editorial team for Peptide Therapy Guide.

View all articles →