Explore Routine Login

Product Comparison

Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of Brilliant Skin Essentials, Inc. Sunblock Gel Cream SPF 30 versus Biore UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence SPF 50+ PA++++ .

Last updated on July 18, 2023. Published on August 22, 2021

Overview

What they are

These products are both sunscreens. They have a total of 6 ingredients in common

Cool Features

They both contain SPF

Suited For

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

Free From

They both do not contain any common allergens, oils, parabens or sulfates

What's Inside

They both contain fragrances and silicones

We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that need an update? Let us know.

Sunscreen Filipino Brand Philippines
Sunscreen Japanese Brand Japan

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

Shop

Buy Sunblock Gel Cream SPF 30

Shop

Buy UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence SPF 50+ PA++++

Starts at $8.99

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
50

At a glance

Click on any of the items below to learn more

Notable Ingredients

Chemical UV Filter (3)
Mineral UV Filter
Ceramides

Benefits

Hydrating (2)
Redness Reducing
Reduces Irritation (2)
Anti-Aging
Brightening

Concerns

Irritating (3)
Rosacea (2)
Eczema

Notable Ingredients

Chemical UV Filter (4)
Hyaluronic Acid

Benefits

Hydrating
Skin Texture
Anti-Aging
Scar Healing
Brightening (2)

Concerns

Drying
May Worsen Oily Skin (3)
Acne Trigger
Irritating (4)
Rosacea (2)
Eczema (2)
Join our community

Build your routine, track which ingredients work for you, and much more with your free account.

Join SkinSort

Ingredients Compared

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

Ingredients Side-by-side

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

Learn more about what what Com. / Irr. ratings are

Loading ingredients...

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

Brilliant Skin Essentials, Inc. Sunblock Gel Cream SPF 30 contains this as ingredient number 1.

Biore UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence SPF 50+ PA++++ contains this as ingredient number 1.

2
What it does: UV Absorber, UV Filter
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate is an organic compound that provides UVB protection. It often goes by the more common name of octinoxate. It is created from methoxycinnamic acid and 2-ethylhexanol.

Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate absorbs UVB rays with wavelengths between 280-320 nm. UV absorbers protect your skin by using chemical reactions to convert UV rays into heat and energy.

UVB (290-320 nm) rays emit more energy than UVA rays. They are capable of damaging DNA, causing sunburns and are thought to be linked to skin cancer.

The state of Hawaii has banned sunscreens containing octinoxate due to its potential impact on coral reefs. More research is needed to bridge gaps in this research. The European Union allows higher levels of octinoxate in sunscreens than the US and Australia.

Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate is oil soluble. It is not stable and may lose efficacy when exposed to sunlight.

Learn more about Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate

Brilliant Skin Essentials, Inc. Sunblock Gel Cream SPF 30 contains this as ingredient number 2.

Biore UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence SPF 50+ PA++++ contains this as ingredient number 3.

3
What it does: Humectant, Masking, Skin Conditioning, Solvent
Community Rating: Mixed

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.

Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient. It is unlikely to irritate skin, and works well with pretty much all other ingredients.

Brilliant Skin Essentials, Inc. Sunblock Gel Cream SPF 30 contains this as ingredient number 7.

Biore UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence SPF 50+ PA++++ contains this as ingredient number 11.

4
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

Brilliant Skin Essentials, Inc. Sunblock Gel Cream SPF 30 contains this as ingredient number 15.

Biore UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence SPF 50+ PA++++ contains this as ingredient number 16.

5
What it does: Preservative
Community Rating: Very Disliked

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.

Brilliant Skin Essentials, Inc. Sunblock Gel Cream SPF 30 contains this as ingredient number 18.

Biore UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence SPF 50+ PA++++ contains this as ingredient number 33.

6
What it does: Masking, Perfuming
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Parfum is a catch-all term for an ingredient or more that is used to give aroma to products. Parfum, or fragrance, 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.

In the US, the alternative name for parfum is 'fragrance'. The term '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. One example is Calendula flower extract. Essential oil ingredients still impart a scent or 'fragrance'.

Depending on the blend, it can cause allergies and sensitivities on the skin. Some ingredients that are known EU allergens include linalool and citronellol.

Products use parfum often to give products a scent or cover up smells of different ingredients.

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 Parfum

Brilliant Skin Essentials, Inc. Sunblock Gel Cream SPF 30 contains this as ingredient number 20.

Biore UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence SPF 50+ PA++++ contains this as ingredient number 36.

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

27% are loved or liked
18% have mixed ratings
32% are disliked or very disliked
23% have no rating yet
29% are loved or liked
9% have mixed ratings
41% 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

Loading routine usage...
Loading routine usage...

Reviews

Here's what our community thinks

Brilliant Skin Essentials, Inc. Sunblock Gel Cream SPF 30 22 ingredients

Sunblock Gel Cream SPF 30 hasn't been rated yet.
Rate it now

Biore UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence SPF 50+ PA++++ 34 ingredients

4.0 /5
from 20 ratings
Light (4) Works Well (2) Absorbs Well (2) Hydrating (1) Doesn't Work (1) Light Scent (1)
imyourdorito's avatar

imyourdorito

2 months ago · Sensitive Skin
Review

I'll start by saying that yes, this feels like practically nothing on the skin, and it's very similar to a primer as far as texture goes.

BUT...

I'll start by saying that yes, this feels like practically nothing on the skin, and it's very similar to a primer as far as texture goes.

BUT once applied, I didn't feel the same level of protection as with the European SPFs I used to use. I even applied half of each on my face to compare:

With the European one I experienced a cooling effect and didn't feel any heat touching my skin, it was like being hugged by icecream (a weird comparison, but it's the closest I can think of). Meanwhile, with this one, I didn't feel anything? I felt the heat touching my skin as much as on my non-protected areas, and there was no cooling effect whatsoever.

Is it cosmetically elegant? Yes. Is it cheaper than any European SPF? Yes. But I prefer not to play around with sun protection knowing the damage it can cause, and I don't feel 100% safe using this one.

JamimaShamimSoha_575's avatar

JamimaShamimSoha_575

8 months ago · Oily Skin
Review

no white cast, non comedogenic, gives a nice satin finish, ultra lightweight

Alternatives

Our Dupe Finder has found 29 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to Brilliant Skin Essentials, Inc. Sunblock Gel Cream SPF 30.

See 29 alternatives

Our Dupe Finder has found 50 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to Biore UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence SPF 50+ PA++++.

See 50 alternatives
Loading similar comparisons...