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Product Comparison

Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of Biossance Squalane + Zinc Sheer Mineral Sunscreen SPF 30 PA +++ versus Pacifica Sea & C Sheer Face Serum SPF 55 .

Last updated on March 15, 2024. Published on October 13, 2021

Overview

What they are

These products are both vegan and cruelty-free . They have a total of 7 ingredients in common

Suited For

They're both likely to be good for dry skin and brightening skin

Free From

They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, common allergens, 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 American Brand United States
Serum American Brand United States

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.

Serum

Serums are highly concentrated with ingredients to provide skin with benefits. They should be used after cleansing and before moisturizing.

Price

Shop

Buy Squalane + Zinc Sheer Mineral Sunscreen SPF 30 PA +++

Starts at $32.00
Shop

Buy Sea & C Sheer Face Serum SPF 55

Starts at $17.99

Ingredient Info

Click any item below to learn more and view relevant ingredients.
alcohol-free
silicon-free
fragrance-free
sulfate-free
paraben-free
oil-free
fungal-acne safe
reef-safe
eu-allergen-free
vegan
cruelty-free
spf rating
30
alcohol-free
silicon-free
fragrance-free
sulfate-free
paraben-free
oil-free
fungal-acne safe
reef-safe
eu-allergen-free
vegan
cruelty-free
spf rating
55

At a glance

Click on any of the items below to learn more

Notable Ingredients

Mineral UV Filter

Benefits

Hydrating (2)
Acne Fighting
Brightening

Concerns

May Worsen Oily Skin
Acne Trigger

Notable Ingredients

Vitamin C
Vitamin E

Benefits

Hydrating (2)
Redness Reducing (2)
Reduces Irritation
Skin Texture
Anti-Aging (2)
Dark Spots
Scar Healing
Brightening (2)

Concerns

May Worsen Oily Skin (2)
Acne Trigger
Irritating
Rosacea
Eczema
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Ingredients Side-by-side

Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.

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Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.

1
What it does: Skin Conditioning, Solvent
Community Rating: Loved

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 Water

Biossance Squalane + Zinc Sheer Mineral Sunscreen SPF 30 PA +++ contains this as ingredient number 2.

Pacifica Sea & C Sheer Face Serum SPF 55 contains this as ingredient number 1.

2
What it does: Humectant, Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting, Solvent
Community Rating: Loved

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 Glycerin

Biossance Squalane + Zinc Sheer Mineral Sunscreen SPF 30 PA +++ contains this as ingredient number 5.

Pacifica Sea & C Sheer Face Serum SPF 55 contains this as ingredient number 22.

3
What it does: Emollient, Emulsifying, Emulsion Stabilising
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Cetearyl alcohol is a mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is mainly used as an emulsifier. Emulsifiers help prevent the separation of oils and products. Due to its composition, it can also be used to thicken a product or help create foam.

Cetearyl alcohol is an emollient. Emollients help soothe and hydrate the skin by trapping moisture.

Studies show Cetearyl alcohol is non-toxic and non-irritating. The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.

This ingredient is usually derived from plant oils such as palm, vegetable, or coconut oils. There is debate on whether this ingredient will cause acne.

Due to the fatty acid base, this ingredient may not be Malassezia folliculitis safe.

Learn more about Cetearyl Alcohol

Biossance Squalane + Zinc Sheer Mineral Sunscreen SPF 30 PA +++ contains this as ingredient number 6.

Pacifica Sea & C Sheer Face Serum SPF 55 contains this as ingredient number 5.

4
What it does: Cleansing, Foaming
Community Rating: Disliked

Coco-Glucoside is a surfactant, or a cleansing ingredient. It is made from glucose and coconut oil.

Surfactants help gather dirt, oil, and other pollutants from your skin to be rinsed away. Coco-Glucoside is considered gentle and non-comedogenic.

This ingredient is a known skin-irritant.

Learn more about Coco-Glucoside

Biossance Squalane + Zinc Sheer Mineral Sunscreen SPF 30 PA +++ contains this as ingredient number 9.

Pacifica Sea & C Sheer Face Serum SPF 55 contains this as ingredient number 19.

5
What it does: Antioxidant

Ethyl Ferulate is an antioxidant.

Biossance Squalane + Zinc Sheer Mineral Sunscreen SPF 30 PA +++ contains this as ingredient number 15.

Pacifica Sea & C Sheer Face Serum SPF 55 contains this as ingredient number 20.

6
What it does: Emulsifying, Emulsion Stabilising, Gel Forming, Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Disliked

Xanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.

On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.

Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.

Learn more about Xanthan Gum

Biossance Squalane + Zinc Sheer Mineral Sunscreen SPF 30 PA +++ contains this as ingredient number 16.

Pacifica Sea & C Sheer Face Serum SPF 55 contains this as ingredient number 28.

7
What it does: Skin Conditioning

This is the synthetic salt of gluconic acid, a form of PHA and mild exfoliant.

It is mainly used to stabilize oil and butter formulations from going bad. Sodium gluconate is a humectant, pH regulator, and chelating agent.

Chelating agents help neutralize unwanted metals from affecting the formulation.

Sodium gluconate is water-soluble.

Learn more about Sodium Gluconate

Biossance Squalane + Zinc Sheer Mineral Sunscreen SPF 30 PA +++ contains this as ingredient number 17.

Pacifica Sea & C Sheer Face Serum SPF 55 contains this as ingredient number 26.

Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.

17% are loved or liked
9% have mixed ratings
48% are disliked or very disliked
26% have no rating yet
36% are loved or liked
4% have mixed ratings
39% are disliked or very disliked
21% have no rating yet

Usage

Here's some more info on how this product is used by our community.

When to use

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Alternatives

Our Dupe Finder has found 50 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to Biossance Squalane + Zinc Sheer Mineral Sunscreen SPF 30 PA +++.

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Our Dupe Finder has found 6 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to Pacifica Sea & C Sheer Face Serum SPF 55.

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