Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of Biossance Squalane + Zinc Sheer Mineral Sunscreen SPF 30 PA +++ versus First Aid Beauty Weightless Liquid Mineral Sunscreen With Zinc Oxide SPF 30 .
Last updated on March 15, 2024. Published on August 07, 2021
Overview
What they are
These products are both vegan and cruelty-free sunscreens. They have a total of 8 ingredients in common
Cool Features
They both contain SPF
Suited For
They're both likely to be good for fighting acne, dry skin and brightening skin
Free From
They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, common allergens, fragrances, oils, parabens, silicones or sulfates
We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that need an update? Let us know.
Sunscreen
Sunscreens help absorb or reflect UV radiation and protect skin against skin damage. Sunscreens may come in the form of lotion, gel, foam, spray, or solid-stick.
Sunscreen
Sunscreens help absorb or reflect UV radiation and protect skin against skin damage. Sunscreens may come in the form of lotion, gel, foam, spray, or solid-stick.
Price
Ingredient Info
Biossance Squalane + Zinc Sheer Mineral Sunscreen SPF 30 PA +++ 23 ingredients
First Aid Beauty Weightless Liquid Mineral Sunscreen With Zinc Oxide SPF 30 35 ingredients
Alcohol Free
This product is free of harsh alcohols 🎉
Silicon Free
This product is free of silicons 🎉
Fragrance Free
This product is free of fragrances 🎉
Sulfate Free
This product is free of sulfates 🎉
Paraben Free
This product is free of parabens 🎉
Oil Free
This product is free of oils 🎉
Not Malassezia Safe
Ingredients in this product that are not malassezia safe:
Not Reef Safe
Ingredients in this product that are not reef safe:
EU Allergen Free
This product is free of EU allergens 🎉
Vegan
This product is vegan 🎉
Cruelty Free
This product is cruelty-free 🎉
Alcohol Free
This product is free of harsh alcohols 🎉
Silicon Free
This product is free of silicons 🎉
Fragrance Free
This product is free of fragrances 🎉
Sulfate Free
This product is free of sulfates 🎉
Paraben Free
This product is free of parabens 🎉
Oil Free
This product is free of oils 🎉
Not Malassezia Safe
Ingredients in this product that are not malassezia safe:
Not Reef Safe
Ingredients in this product that are not reef safe:
EU Allergen Free
This product is free of EU allergens 🎉
Vegan
This product is vegan 🎉
Cruelty Free
This product is cruelty-free 🎉
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
Biossance Squalane + Zinc Sheer Mineral Sunscreen SPF 30 PA +++ 23 ingredients
First Aid Beauty Weightless Liquid Mineral Sunscreen With Zinc Oxide SPF 30 35 ingredients
Notable Ingredients
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Benefits
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
Concerns
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
Notable Ingredients
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
Benefits
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 3 ingredients that may have this attribute:
Concerns
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 3 ingredients that may have this attribute:
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Join SkinSortIngredients Compared
Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.
Biossance Squalane + Zinc Sheer Mineral Sunscreen SPF 30 PA +++ 23 ingredients
First Aid Beauty Weightless Liquid Mineral Sunscreen With Zinc Oxide SPF 30 35 ingredients
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 22% • Ethylhexyl Olivate • Isododecane • Coconut Alkanes • Water • Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate • Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride • Butylene Glycol • Mica • Polyglyceryl-6 Polyricinoleate • Jojoba Esters • Cellulose • Stearalkonium Hectorite • Sodium Chloride • Squalane • Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate • Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate • CI 77492 • Phenoxyethanol • Tocopheryl Acetate • Coco-Caprylate/Caprate • Trihydroxystearin • Caprylyl Glycol • Polyhydroxystearic Acid • Glycerin • Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate • Propanediol • Sorbic Acid • Titanium Dioxide • Silica • Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract • Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract • Alumina • Tocopherol • Chrysanthemum Parthenium Extract
Ingredients Side-by-side
Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.
Learn more about what what Com. / Irr. ratings are
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Zinc Oxide is a mineral broad-spectrum UV filter; it is the broadest UVA and UVB reflector approved by the FDA. While it is most commonly man-made for cosmetics, it can naturally occur in zincite, a rare mineral.
Today, traditional and nano-sized zinc oxide can be found in beauty products. Nano-sized zinc oxide can enhance a product's UV protection. While it is not believed to have a negative effect on skin, nano-zinc oxide can be harmful to coral reefs.
More about harmful reef ingredients here.
Zinc Oxide also has antibacterial and calming properties. It is not water soluble.
Zinc has been used throughout history as an ingredient in paint and medicine. An Indian text from 500BC is believed to list zinc oxide as a salve for open wound. The Ancient Greek physician Dioscorides has also mentioned the use of zinc as an ointment in 1AD.
Learn more about Zinc OxideBiossance Squalane + Zinc Sheer Mineral Sunscreen SPF 30 PA +++ contains this as ingredient number 1.
First Aid Beauty Weightless Liquid Mineral Sunscreen With Zinc Oxide SPF 30 contains this as ingredient number 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. Talk about multi-purpose! If you see this, drink a glass of water. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about WaterBiossance Squalane + Zinc Sheer Mineral Sunscreen SPF 30 PA +++ contains this as ingredient number 2.
First Aid Beauty Weightless Liquid Mineral Sunscreen With Zinc Oxide SPF 30 contains this as ingredient number 5.
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride is an emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping the skin prevent moisture loss.
Within a product, Caprylic Triglyceride can thicken the product and make spreadability easier by dissolving clumping compounds. An added benefit of Caprylic Triglyceride is its antioxidant properties.
Caprylic Triglyceride is made by combining glycerin with coconut oil, forming a clear liquid. Caprylic Triglyceride has not been found to be toxic for human use in concentrations under 50%.
While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideBiossance Squalane + Zinc Sheer Mineral Sunscreen SPF 30 PA +++ contains this as ingredient number 3.
First Aid Beauty Weightless Liquid Mineral Sunscreen With Zinc Oxide SPF 30 contains this as ingredient number 7.
Squalane is an emollient that helps the skin hold onto moisture. It's an oily liquid that occurs naturally in certain types of fish and plant oils.
Because squalane boosts hydration in the skin, it also comes with plenty of benefits: it is an antioxidant and can help fight free radicals and skin damage. Squalane is also found to have a detoxifying effect when applied.
Squalane comes from squalene, which occurs naturally within the sebum of our skin. It is one of the oils our skin produces to keep itself hydrated. Squalane is the hydrogenated version of squalene and has a longer shelf life.
Research shows that squalane is non-irritating (even at 100% concentration).
In general, it's a fantastic ingredient. It does a great job at hydrating the skin, and it's suitable for those with sensitive skin.
The source of squalane may impact malassezia / fungal acne. This is because olive oil derived squalane can contain impurities such as fatty acids and plant waxes. Sugarcane derived squalane is recommended for anyone with malassezia concerns.
Is squalane vegan? This depends on the source. Squalane can be derived from both plants and animals. Most squalane used in skincare comes from plants.
Please note: the source of squalane is only known if disclosed by the brand. We recommend reaching out to the brand if you have any questions about their squalane.
Read more about squalene with an "e".
Learn more about SqualaneBiossance Squalane + Zinc Sheer Mineral Sunscreen SPF 30 PA +++ contains this as ingredient number 4.
First Aid Beauty Weightless Liquid Mineral Sunscreen With Zinc Oxide SPF 30 contains this as ingredient number 15.
Glycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.
A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.
As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.
Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.
Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.
In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.
This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinBiossance Squalane + Zinc Sheer Mineral Sunscreen SPF 30 PA +++ contains this as ingredient number 5.
First Aid Beauty Weightless Liquid Mineral Sunscreen With Zinc Oxide SPF 30 contains this as ingredient number 25.
This ingredient is an emulsifier. It is created from Polyglycerin-3 and Ricinoleic Acid.
As an emulsifier, it prevents waters and oils from separating. According to a manufacturer this ingredient is fully biodegradable.
This ingredient may not be safe for Malassezia folliculitis due to its Ricinoleic Acid base. Ricinoleic Acid is a fatty acid derived from castor oil.
Learn more about Polyglyceryl-3 PolyricinoleateBiossance Squalane + Zinc Sheer Mineral Sunscreen SPF 30 PA +++ contains this as ingredient number 11.
First Aid Beauty Weightless Liquid Mineral Sunscreen With Zinc Oxide SPF 30 contains this as ingredient number 17.
Polyhydroxystearic Acid is a soft wax made from castor oil.
It is is a texture thickener, emulsifier, and film-former. Emulsifiers prevent ingredients from separating, such as oils and waters.
Polyhydroxystearic Acid may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Polyhydroxystearic AcidBiossance Squalane + Zinc Sheer Mineral Sunscreen SPF 30 PA +++ contains this as ingredient number 20.
First Aid Beauty Weightless Liquid Mineral Sunscreen With Zinc Oxide SPF 30 contains this as ingredient number 24.
Phenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent germ and microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Biossance Squalane + Zinc Sheer Mineral Sunscreen SPF 30 PA +++ contains this as ingredient number 22.
First Aid Beauty Weightless Liquid Mineral Sunscreen With Zinc Oxide SPF 30 contains this as ingredient number 19.
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.
Biossance Squalane + Zinc Sheer Mineral Sunscreen SPF 30 PA +++ 23 ingredients
First Aid Beauty Weightless Liquid Mineral Sunscreen With Zinc Oxide SPF 30 35 ingredients
Usage
Here's some more info on how this product is used by our community.
When to use
Biossance Squalane + Zinc Sheer Mineral Sunscreen SPF 30 PA +++ 23 ingredients
First Aid Beauty Weightless Liquid Mineral Sunscreen With Zinc Oxide SPF 30 35 ingredients
Alternatives
Our Dupe Finder has found 50 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to Biossance Squalane + Zinc Sheer Mineral Sunscreen SPF 30 PA +++.
See 50 alternativesOur Dupe Finder has found 50 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to First Aid Beauty Weightless Liquid Mineral Sunscreen With Zinc Oxide SPF 30.
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