Blue Lizard Sheer Mineral Sunscreen Lotion for Face SPF 50 Versus Anua Zero-Cast Moisturizing Finish Sunscreen SPF 50
This mineral 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
Titanium Dioxide 8%
Cosmetic Colorant
Zinc Oxide 10%
Cosmetic Colorant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Alanine
Masking
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Alumina
Abrasive
Aluminum Stearate
Cosmetic ColorantAnetholea Anisata Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningArginine
Masking
Aspartic Acid
Masking
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Diisopropyl Sebacate
EmollientGlycerin
Humectant
Glycine
Buffering
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Hibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningHistidine
Humectant
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Isoleucine
Skin ConditioningIsostearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Isostearyl Isostearate
Emollient
Oryza Sativa Extract
Absorbent
Oryza Sativa Germ Extract
EmollientPCA
Humectant
Phenylalanine
Masking
Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate
Emulsifying
Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate
Emulsifying
Polyhydroxystearic Acid
Emulsifying
Pongamia Pinnata Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningProline
Skin Conditioning
Rosa Canina Fruit Oil
Emollient
Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil
Humectant
Serine
Masking
Sodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Squalane
Emollient
Tasmannia Lanceolata Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningThreonine
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Triethoxycaprylylsilane
Valine
MaskingVp/Hexadecene Copolymer
Water
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTitanium Dioxide 8%, Zinc Oxide 10%, 1,2-Hexanediol, Alanine, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Alumina, Aluminum Stearate, Anetholea Anisata Leaf Extract, Arginine, Aspartic Acid, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Caprylyl Glycol, Diisopropyl Sebacate, Glycerin, Glycine, Glycine Soja Oil, Hibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Extract, Histidine, Hydroxyacetophenone, Isoleucine, Isostearyl Alcohol, Isostearyl Isostearate, Oryza Sativa Extract, Oryza Sativa Germ Extract, PCA, Phenylalanine, Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate, Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Pongamia Pinnata Seed Extract, Proline, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil, Serine, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Lactate, Sodium PCA, Sorbitan Isostearate, Squalane, Tasmannia Lanceolata Leaf Extract, Threonine, Tocopheryl Acetate, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Valine, Vp/Hexadecene Copolymer, Water, Xanthan Gum
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Homosalate
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexyl Salicylate
UV Absorber
Octocrylene
UV Absorber
Water
Skin ConditioningButyloctyl Salicylate
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Poly C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate
Emulsion StabilisingVp/Eicosene Copolymer
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingAmmonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Xanthan Gum
Emulsifying1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Homosalate, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Octocrylene, Water, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Poly C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate, Vp/Eicosene Copolymer, Cetearyl Alcohol, Niacinamide, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Phenoxyethanol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Panthenol, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Xanthan Gum, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Hyaluronate
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives
Glycerin (or glycerol) is a compound naturally found in your skin. It's a powerhouse humectant that pulls water into the stratum corneum.
Topically, glycerin does several things at once:
Your skin makes glycerin on its own (mostly from sebaceous oil breakdown) and shuttles it to your outermost layer of skin, or your epidermis, via aquaporin-3.
Aquaporin-3 is a transporter that is essential for normal skin hydration, elasticity, and repair. Interestingly, mice lacking in AQP3 have dry and less elastic skin that can be fully corrected with glycerin.
This ingredient is non-irritating, plays well with almost every ingredient, and works across all skin types. Typical use is anywhere between 3-10% but can go up to 79% in some leave-on products.
Just know very high concentrations (>40%) can feel tacky in low humidity.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinHydroxyacetophenone is a small phenolic molecule that earns its place in a formulas as an antioxidant and preservative booster.
As a phenol, it is able to neutralize free radicals to protect both the product and the skin from oxidative stress.
Though it can't kill microbes on its own, it works as a good supporting agent when combined with other preservatives like Phenoxyethanol or 1,2-Hexanediol.
This ingredient naturally occurs as piceol in Norwegian spruce needles (~0.4-1.1% dry weight and in cloudberries). Though the cosmetic-grade material is synthesized for purity and consistency.
You'll usually see it used at low levels and suppliers recommend up to 1% added to a water phase.
Safety testing was done at concentrations like 0.05% in SPF products and 0.5% in a Human Repeated Insult Patch Test. The safety evidence is assuring; this ingredient is safe for cosmetics in current use and also holds safety status as a food flavoring as well.
An honest caveat: the "soothing" and "anti-inflammatory" claims come mostly from supplier marketing rather than published clinical trials. The Cosmetic Ingredient Review's own literature search found no useful efficacy studies on this ingredient.
So the antioxidant and preservative-boosting roles are the well supported ones while the calming benefit is plausible but thinly evidenced.
Overall, this is a well-tolerated, low-irritation multitasker that quietly helps a formula stay fresh and stable.
Learn more about HydroxyacetophenoneSodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateTocopheryl Acetate is a stable, shelf-friendly form of vitamin E.
Formulators love it because plain vitamin E oxidizes quickly once it hits air. This acetate version stays stable and resists going off, helping to extend a product's shelf life.
It's actually inactive on its own and works like a slow-release "storage" form; the enzymes in your skin called esterases gradually convert it into active vitamin E over time.
One in vivo study showed 5% of the acetate in the living layer of the epidermis converted to vitamin E after 5 days of application. This study also found the skin gained protection against UV damage even though the conversion was slow and small.
Once converted, vitamin E acts as a skin's main fat-soluble antioxidant that fights free radicals to protect skin from damage.
Topical vitamin E generally boosts the skin's photoprotection, and it reduced UV-damage in animal models.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
Overall, it has a pretty solid safety profile and has been found to be non-irritating and non-comedogenic. Allergic reactions may happen but stay rare due to how widely the ingredient gets used.
The concentration will vary depending on the formula; industry data shows 0.1% in baby lotions, 3% in lipsticks, and 5% in foot powders. You can also find this ingredient at 100% in a pure vitamin E oil.
Most leave-on skincare keeps it at the lower end, often between 0.5-1%.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateWater. 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 WaterXanthan 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
