Biossance Squalane + Zinc Sheer Mineral Sunscreen SPF 30 PA +++ Versus EltaMD, Inc UV Clear Broad-Spectrum SPF 46

Biossance Squalane + Zinc Sheer Mineral Sunscreen SPF 30 PA +++ Versus EltaMD, Inc UV Clear Broad-Spectrum SPF 46 Detailed comparison of Biossance Squalane + Zinc Sheer Mineral Sunscreen SPF 30 PA +++ versus EltaMD, Inc UV Clear Broad-Spectrum SPF 46. This hybrid sunscreen covers the full UV range and blocks ~97% of UVB at SPF 30. This hybrid sunscreen covers the full UV range and blocks ~98% of UVB at SPF 46. Zinc Oxide Water Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride Squalane Glycerin Cetearyl Alcohol Methyl Dihydroabietate Sorbitan Olivate Coco-Glucoside Cetyl Palmitate Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside Nymphaea Alba Flower Extract Acacia Senegal Gum Ethyl Ferulate Xanthan Gum Sodium Gluconate Lecithin Sodium Palmitoyl Proline Polyhydroxystearic Acid Ethylhexylglycerin Phenoxyethanol Isostearic Acid Zinc Oxide, Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Squalane, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Methyl Dihydroabietate, Sorbitan Olivate, Coco-Glucoside, Cetyl Palmitate, Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Nymphaea Alba Flower Extract, Acacia Senegal Gum, Ethyl Ferulate, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Gluconate, Lecithin, Sodium Palmitoyl Proline, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Isostearic Acid Zinc Oxide 9% Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate 7.5% Cyclopentasiloxane Niacinamide Octyldodecyl Neopentanoate Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer Butylene Glycol Polyisobutene Triethoxycaprylylsilane Tocopheryl Acetate PEG-7 Trimethylolpropane Coconut Ether Oleth-3 Phosphate Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate Lactic Acid Sodium Hyaluronate Phosphoric Acid Zinc Oxide 9%, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate 7.5%, Water, Cyclopentasiloxane, Niacinamide, Octyldodecyl Neopentanoate, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Butylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Polyisobutene, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Tocopheryl Acetate, PEG-7 Trimethylolpropane Coconut Ether, Oleth-3 Phosphate, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, Lactic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Phosphoric Acid Be the first to review These ingredients are found in both products. Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount. Phenoxyethanol is one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!). It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome. On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive. Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10). You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own. Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU. Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages. Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon. 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! Zinc Oxide (ZO) is a mineral broad-spectrum UV filter and the broadest-spectrum filter recognized by the FDA. It covers everything from UVB through to long-wave UVA. On top of sun protection, it has skin protectant and skin-soothing properties too. Here's a myth worth busting: mineral filters are usually described as working by "reflecting" or "bouncing" UV off your skin. That's mostly not true: when researchers actually measured it, ZO and Titanium Dioxide reflect only about 4-5% of UV (less than SPF 2 worth of protection). The vast majority of the work (~95%) is done by absorption, similar to chemical UV filters. ZO is a semiconductor that absorbs UV photos through its energy band gap. So the old "physical blocker vs. chemical absorber" framing is really an oversimplification. Zinc Oxide is one of the most effective broad-spectrum UV filters out there. It protects across UVB, UVA2, and UVA1 with a flat, even absorption curve across the whole UVA-UVB range. That uniform UVA coverage is its standout feature; titanium dioxide skews more toward U