Skin Aqua Tone Up UV Essence SPF 50+ PA++++ - Lavender Versus Belif The True Cream Aqua Bomb
Updated on November 12, 2024
Overview
Cool Features
They both contain exfoliants
Suited For
They're both likely to be good for dry skin, brightening skin, reducing pores and scar healing
Free From
They both do not contain any parabens or sulfates
What's Inside
They both contain harsh alcohols, fragrances and silicones
We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that needs an update? Let us know.
Ingredient Info
Skin Aqua Tone Up UV Essence SPF 50+ PA++++ 33 ingredients
Belif The True Cream Aqua Bomb 59 ingredients
What's inside (and what isn't)
What's inside (and what isn't)
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
Skin Aqua Tone Up UV Essence SPF 50+ PA++++ 33 ingredients
Belif The True Cream Aqua Bomb 59 ingredients
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about WaterAlcohol Denat. is an alcohol with a denaturant property. It is created by mixing ethanol with other additives.
This ingredient gets a bad rep because it is irritating and drying - mostly due to its astringent property. Astringents draw out natural oils in tissue, constricting pores and leaving your skin dried out.
However, alcohol denat. is not all that bad.
Due to its low molecular weight, alcohol denat. tends to evaporate quickly. One study on pig skin found half of applied alcohol evaporated in 10 seconds and less than 3% stayed on skin.
This also helps other ingredients become better absorbed upon application.
Studies are conflicted about whether this ingredient causes skin dehydration. One study from 2005 found adding emollients to propanol-based sanitizer decreased skin dryness and irritation. Another study found irritation only occurs if your skin is already damaged.
Small amounts of alcohol are generally tolerated by oily skin or people who live in humid environments.
The rule of thumb is if this alcohol is near the end of an ingredients list, it will probably not affect your skin much.
Also...
This ingredient has antimicrobial and solvent properties.
The antimicrobial property helps preserve products and increase their shelf life. As a solvent, it helps dissolve other ingredients.
Other types of astringent alcohols include:
Learn more about Alcohol Denat.Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
- It is a solvent, meaning that it helps to dissolve other ingredients. This also enhances the absorption of the product into one's skin.
- It is a humectant, which means that it helps attract moisture into the skin.
- It helps improve product application.
- It has mild preservative properties.
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Polysorbate 60 is used to help stabilize products. It is a surfactant and emulsifier. These properties help keep ingredients together in a product. Surfactants help reduce surface tension between ingredients with different states, such as liquids and solids. Emulsifiers help prevent oils and waters from separating.
Polysorbate 60 is sorbitol-based and created from the ethoxylation of sorbitan. Ethoxylation is a chemical reaction used to add ethylene oxide. Sorbitan is a the dehydrated version of sorbitol, a sugar found in fruits.
In this case, the 60 comes from reacting 60 units of ethylene oxide with sorbitan.
Polysorbates are commonly used in medicine and foods.
Learn more about Polysorbate 60Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer is a synthetic polymer. It is used to thicken and improve the texture of products. Due to its properties, it can prevent water and oil ingredients from separating.
Ingredient Ratings
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these products.
When to use
Skin Aqua Tone Up UV Essence SPF 50+ PA++++ 33 ingredients
Belif The True Cream Aqua Bomb 59 ingredients


Reviews
Here's what our community thinks
Skin Aqua Tone Up UV Essence SPF 50+ PA++++ 33 ingredients
Love this sunscreen- it's so smooth, lightweight, not sticky or drying at all. I also find that the violet color helps my skin not look too sallow and it prevents my makeup from looking yellow.
It gave me tiny bumps of a broken skin barrier, dried out my cheeks completely, had to focus on barrier health.
One of the first ingredients is alcohol, RUN!
SO IRRITATING
However it doesn't leave a white cast and does color correct skin.
Belif The True Cream Aqua Bomb 59 ingredients
If you have fungal acne.. or maybe acne prone skin THIS ONE'S NOT FOR YOU, the second I put this on my skin was so itchy and my skin feels so irritated. I always try my best to go through the entire product but I can't use another day with this one. I also tried to repurpose it for hand cream but even then it's still not hydrating my hands enough.
Used it up, lasted about 4-5 months, would last longer if my sis didn’t use like 1/3 IN A WEEK. 😱
A little goes a long way. Definitely won’t be hydrating enough for dry skin as it’s very light.
If your barrier is compromised it may sting a little so be vary.
As much as I loved it I won’t be repurchasing tho. It’s a light, but basic moisturizer and you can find way cheaper ones with even more Show more