Biore UV Aqua Rich Watery Gel Sunscreen SPF 50+ Versus Neutrogena Ultra Sheer® Dry-Touch Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 55
This hybrid sunscreen covers the full UV range and blocks ~98% of UVB at SPF 50.
This chemical sunscreen covers most of the UV range, lighter on the deep UVA that drives aging.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAlcohol
Antimicrobial
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV Absorber
Lauryl Methacrylate/Sodium Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Ethylhexyl Triazone
UV Absorber
Dimethicone
Emollient
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV Filter
Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
UV Absorber
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Xylitol
Humectant
Dextrin Palmitate
Emulsifying
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantHydrated Silica
Abrasive
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingGlycerin
Humectant
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer
Triethoxycaprylylsilane
Propanediol
Solvent
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingGlyceryl Behenate
Emollient
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Aluminum Hydroxide
EmollientPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingStearic Acid
Cleansing
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Sorbitan Distearate
EmollientAgar
MaskingPolyvinyl Alcohol
Isoceteth-20
EmulsifyingSodium Methyl Stearoyl Taurate
CleansingStearoyl Glutamic Acid
CleansingAminomethyl Propanol
BufferingSodium Stearoxy Pg-Hydroxyethylcellulose Sulfonate
Arginine
Masking
BHT
Antioxidant
Glutamic Acid
Humectant
Ceratonia Siliqua Gum
EmollientDisodium EDTA
ChelatingParfum
Masking
Maltose
MaskingRoyal Jelly Extract
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Methylparaben
Preservative
Water, Alcohol, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Lauryl Methacrylate/Sodium Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Dimethicone, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Titanium Dioxide, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Butylene Glycol, Xylitol, Dextrin Palmitate, Dipropylene Glycol, Hydrated Silica, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetyl Alcohol, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Propanediol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Glyceryl Behenate, Polysorbate 60, Aluminum Hydroxide, Potassium Hydroxide, Stearic Acid, Stearyl Alcohol, Sorbitan Distearate, Agar, Polyvinyl Alcohol, Isoceteth-20, Sodium Methyl Stearoyl Taurate, Stearoyl Glutamic Acid, Aminomethyl Propanol, Sodium Stearoxy Pg-Hydroxyethylcellulose Sulfonate, Arginine, BHT, Glutamic Acid, Ceratonia Siliqua Gum, Disodium EDTA, Parfum, Maltose, Royal Jelly Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%
UV Absorber
Homosalate 10%
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%
UV Absorber
Octocrylene 10%
UV Absorber
Water
Skin ConditioningStyrene/Acrylates Copolymer
Silica
Abrasive
Dimethicone
Emollient
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingBenzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Beeswax
Emulsion Stabilising
Caprylyl Methicone
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Cetyl Dimethicone
Emollient
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate
Absorbent
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Acrylates/Dimethicone Copolymer
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Dimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer
Hydrolyzed Jojoba Esters
Skin Conditioning
Parfum
Masking
Disodium EDTA
ChelatingEthylhexyl Stearate
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
BHT
Antioxidant
Trideceth-6
EmulsifyingJojoba Esters
Emollient
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%, Homosalate 10%, Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%, Octocrylene 10%, Water, Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer, Silica, Dimethicone, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Benzyl Alcohol, Beeswax, Caprylyl Methicone, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Cetyl Dimethicone, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Behenyl Alcohol, Acrylates/Dimethicone Copolymer, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Polyacrylate, Chlorphenesin, Dimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer, Hydrolyzed Jojoba Esters, Parfum, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexyl Stearate, Tocopheryl Acetate, BHT, Trideceth-6, Jojoba Esters
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
BHT is a synthetic antioxidant and preservative.
As an antioxidant, it helps your body fight off free-radicals. Free-radicals are molecules that may damage your skin cells.
As a preservative, it is used to stabilize products and prevent them from degrading. Specifically, BHT prevents degradation from oxidation.
The concerns related to BHT come from oral studies; this ingredient is currently allowed for use by both the FDA and EU.
However, it was recently restricted for use in the UK as of April 2024.
Learn more about BHTDimethicone 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.
Learn more about DimethiconeDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAGlyceryl Stearate is made by reacting glycerin with stearic acid (typically sourced from plant oils like palm or coconut). It's an emulsifier, emollient, and mild occlusive.
Emulsifiers help ingredients like oil and water stay mixed so your formula stays nicely blended and uniform in texture.
This ingredient is typically used in concentrations between 1-10%. Studies have found it to be non-sensitizing, non-phototoxic, and non-photoallergenic.
A close cousin of this ingredient is Glyceryl Stearate SE ("self-emulsifying"). This just has a small amount of sodium or potassium stearate added so it can emulsify without a co-emulsifier.
Since this ingredient is an ester of a C18 fatty acid, it may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast can potentially metabolize within the C11-C24 range.
Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.
Learn more about Glyceryl StearateParfum is a catch-all term for an ingredient or more that is used to give a scent to products.
Also called "fragrance", this ingredient can be a blend of hundreds of chemicals or plant oils. This means every product with "fragrance" or "parfum" in the ingredients list is a different mixture.
For instance, Habanolide is a proprietary trade name for a specific aroma chemical. When used as a fragrance ingredient in cosmetics, most aroma chemicals fall under the broad labeling category of “FRAGRANCE” or “PARFUM” according to EU and US regulations.
The term 'parfum' or 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term.
For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance by INCI standards.
One example is Calendula flower extract. Calendula is an essential oil that still imparts a scent or 'fragrance'.
Depending on the blend, the ingredients in the mixture can cause allergies and sensitivities on the skin. Some ingredients that are known EU allergens include linalool and citronellol.
Parfum can also be used to mask or cover an unpleasant scent.
The bottom line is: not all fragrances/parfum/ingredients are created equally. If you are worried about fragrances, we recommend taking a closer look at an ingredient. And of course, we always recommend speaking with a professional.
Learn more about ParfumWater. 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!
Learn more about Water
