Versus

bondi sands Hydra UV Protect SPF 50+ Face Fluid Versus COOLA Refreshing Water Cream Organic Face Sunscreen SPF 50

Sunscreen
Sunscreen
Australian Brand Australia
American Brand United States

Updated on January 04, 2024

Overview

What they are

These products are both cruelty-free sunscreens. They have a total of 8 ingredients in common

Cool Features

They both contain SPF and Vitamin E

Suited For

They're both likely to be good for dry skin

Free From

They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, parabens or sulfates

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

Click any item below to learn more and see relevant ingredients

About this product

About this product

At a glance

Click on any of the items below to learn more

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

found in both products
Hydra UV Protect SPF 50+ Face Fluid
Refreshing Water Cream Organic Face Sunscreen SPF 50

Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%

UV Absorber
Chemical UV Filter IconMay cause irritation IconMay worsen Rosacea Icon

Homosalate 5%

Skin Conditioning
Chemical UV Filter IconNon-Reef-Safe Icon

Ethylhexyl Salicylate 3%

UV Absorber
0 / 0 Chemical UV Filter IconNon-Reef-Safe IconMay worsen Rosacea Icon

Octocrylene 5%

UV Absorber
Chemical UV Filter IconNon-Reef-Safe IconMay worsen Eczema Icon

Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice

Skin Conditioning
Helps reduce Skin Redness IconHelps reduce irritation Icon

Glycerin

Humectant
0 / 0 Helps hydrate Dry Skin IconHelps brighten skin Icon

Carthamus Tinctorius Oleosomes

Emollient
Not safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Adipic Acid/Diglycol Crosspolymer

Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate

Emollient

Sodium Acrylates Copolymer

Isododecane

Emollient

Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate

Cleansing

Glyceryl Stearate

Emollient
1 / 0 Not safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Water

Skin Conditioning

Cocos Nucifera Water

Masking

Aloe Barbadensis Flower Extract

Emollient

Hyaluronic Acid

Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid IconHelps with Anti-Aging IconGood for Scar Healing IconHelps brighten skin Icon

Sodium Hydroxide

Buffering

Jasminum Sambac Leaf Cell Extract

Masking
Fragrance Icon

Theobroma Cacao Seed Extract

Antioxidant
Antioxidant Icon

Schinus Molle Extract

Skin Protecting

Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract

Skin Conditioning

Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract

Skin Conditioning

Corallina Officinalis Extract

Skin Conditioning

Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil

Emollient
Oil IconHelps hydrate Dry Skin IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract

Skin Conditioning

Solanum Melongena Fruit Extract

Skin Conditioning

Curcuma Longa Root Extract

Masking
Fragrance Icon

Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract

Skin Conditioning

Ocimum Basilicum Flower/Leaf Extract

Tonic

Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate

Antimicrobial
Not safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Leuconostoc Ferment Filtrate

Antimicrobial

Glyceryl Caprylate

Emollient

Sodium Benzoate

Masking
Preservative Icon

Methylbenzyl Acetate

Masking
Fragrance Icon

Benzyl Acetate

Masking
Fragrance Icon

Juniperus Mexicana Oil

Masking
Oil Icon

Propanediol

Solvent

Butylene Glycol

Humectant
1 / 0 Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Lecithin

Emollient

Caprylhydroxamic Acid

Gluconolactone

Skin Conditioning
PHA IconGood for Skin Texture IconGood for Minimizing Pores IconHelps with Anti-Aging IconGood for Scar Healing IconHelps brighten skin Icon

Citric Acid

Buffering
AHA IconGood for Oily Skin IconGood for Skin Texture IconGood for Minimizing Pores IconGood for Scar Healing IconHelps brighten skin IconMay worsen Rosacea Icon

Tocopheryl Acetate

Antioxidant
0 / 0 Vitamin E IconAntioxidant Icon

Bisabolol

Masking
Helps reduce irritation Icon

Xanthan Gum

Emulsifying

Delta-Decalactone

Masking
Fragrance Icon

Ethyl Butyrate

Perfuming
Fragrance Icon

Gamma-Nonalactone

Masking
Fragrance Icon

Gamma-Octalactone

Perfuming
Fragrance Icon

Methyl Anthranilate

Masking

Methyl Benzoate

Perfuming
Fragrance IconPreservative Icon

Mimosa Tenuiflora Bark Extract

Skin Protecting

Nerolidol

Perfuming
Fragrance Icon

Phenethyl Alcohol

Masking

Heliotropine

Masking
Fragrance Icon

Anisaldehyde

Masking
Fragrance Icon

Triethyl Citrate

Masking
Fragrance Icon

Vanillin

Masking
May cause irritation IconEU Allergen IconMay worsen Eczema IconMay worsen Rosacea Icon

Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

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

Skin Conditioning, Solvent

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 Water
Skin Conditioning, UV Absorber, UV Filter

Homosalate is a chemical sunscreen filter that provides protection in the UV-B range (280nm - 320 nm), with a peak protection at 306 nm. It is internationally approved for use in sunscreens.

Homosalate is not photo-stable, meaning it's strength as a UV filter degrades over time with exposure to the sun. Because of this, it's often used in combination with other chemical sunscreen filters as avobenzone (which protects from the UV-A range). Homosalate also helps act as a solvent for harder-to-dissolve UV filters.

(Part of the reason that sunscreens need to be frequently re-applied is due to the photo instability of many chemical sunscreen filters)

Currently, homosalate is approved in concentrations up to 10% in the EU and 15% in the US. The FDA is currently doing further research on the effects of homosalate, and it is possible that these approved concentrations will change in the future.

Learn more about Homosalate
UV Absorber, UV Filter

Octocrylene protects skin from sun damage. It absorbs UV-B with peak absorption of 304 nm. It is a common sunscreen ingredient and often paired with avobenzone, a UVA filter. This is because octocrylene stabilizes other sunscreen ingredients by protecting them from degradation when exposed to sunlight. Octocrylene is a photostable ingredient and loses about 10% of SPF in 95 minutes.

Octocrylene also acts as an emollient, meaning it helps skin retain moisture and softens skin. It is oil-soluble and hydrophobic, enhancing water-resistant properties in a product.

Those who are using ketoprofen, a topical anti-inflammatory drug, may experience an allergic reaction when using octocrylene. It is best to speak with a healthcare professional about using sunscreens with octocrylene.

The EU allows a maximum of these concentrations:

Learn more about Octocrylene
UV Absorber, UV Filter

Also known as Avobenzone, this ingredient is a chemical sunscreen filter that provides protection in the UV-A range.

Avobenzone is globally approved and is the most commonly used UV-A filter in the world.

Studies have found that avobenzone becomes ineffective when exposed to UV light (it is not photostable; meaning that it breaks down in sunlight). Because of this, formulations that include avobenzone will usually contain stabilizers such as octocrylene.

However, some modern formulations (looking at you, EU!) are able to stabilize avobenzone by coating the molecules.

Avobenzone does not protect against the UV-B range, so it's important to check that the sunscreen you're using contains other UV filters that do!

The highest concentration of avobenzone permitted is 3% in the US, and 5% in the EU.

Learn more about Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
Humectant, Masking, Skin Conditioning

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.

Emollient, Emulsifying

Glyceryl Stearate is a mix of glycerin and stearic acid.

It is used to stabilize the mixing of water and oil ingredients. By preventing these ingredients from separating, it can help elongate shelf life. It can also help thicken the product's texture.

As an emollient, it helps soften skin and supports barrier-replenishing ingredients.

In cosmetics, Glyceryl Stearate is often made from vegetable oils or synthetically produced.

This ingredient may not be fungal-acne safe

Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.

Learn more about Glyceryl Stearate
Antioxidant, Skin Conditioning

Tocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.

One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.

Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.

Learn more about Tocopheryl Acetate
Emulsifying, Emulsion Stabilising, Gel Forming

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

When to use

42 Routines
100% use in am
0% use in pm
90% use every day
When to use See routines that use it ->
6 Routines
100% use in am
0% use in pm
83% use every day

Reviews

Here's what our community thinks

bondi sands Hydra UV Protect SPF 50+ Face Fluid 30 ingredients

2.5 /5
from 2 ratings
Absorbs Well (1) Hydrating (1) Light (1)
An.A's avatar

An.A

11 months ago
Review

Very lightweight and doesn't leave a cast on my (very dark) skin! Even at the end of the day my face doesn't feel or look greasy (at least not more than normal). On the contrary, it makes my skin shine beautifully, almost as if I put on highlighter.

It does taste gross when I accidentally get it in my mouth and can also sting a little bit when I get it in my eye.

Overall the best sunscreen Show more

#hydrating
#light
#absorbs well
#light scent

COOLA Refreshing Water Cream Organic Face Sunscreen SPF 50 59 ingredients

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