Canmake Mermaid Skin Gel UV SPF 50+ PA++++ Versus Neutrogena Hydro Boost Face Lotion Sunscreen SPF 50
This hybrid sunscreen covers the full UV range and blocks ~98% of UVB at SPF 50.
This chemical sunscreen covers the full UV range and blocks ~98% of UVB at SPF 50.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV Absorber
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV Filter
Zinc Oxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Methylheptyl Isostearate
Skin ConditioningTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
UV Absorber
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Diisostearyl Malate
EmollientAluminum Hydroxide
EmollientPEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Polyglyceryl-3 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Polyhydroxystearic Acid
Emulsifying
Jojoba Esters
Emollient
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingArginine
Masking
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Alpha-Glucan
HumectantPhytic Acid
Chelating
Saxifraga Sarmentosa Extract
Skin ConditioningGlucosyl Ceramide
Skin Conditioning
Prunus Yedoensis Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCoix Lacryma-Jobi Ma-Yuen Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Morus Alba Root Extract
BleachingOenothera Biennis Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningSilver Oxide
AntimicrobialSpiraea Ulmaria Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningVaccinium Myrtillus Bud Extract
Antioxidant
Cynara Scolymus Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningWater, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Butylene Glycol, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Zinc Oxide, Methylheptyl Isostearate, Titanium Dioxide, Dimethicone, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Cyclopentasiloxane, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Diisostearyl Malate, Aluminum Hydroxide, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Stearic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Polyglyceryl-3 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Jojoba Esters, Xanthan Gum, Arginine, Hyaluronic Acid, Alpha-Glucan, Phytic Acid, Saxifraga Sarmentosa Extract, Glucosyl Ceramide, Prunus Yedoensis Leaf Extract, Coix Lacryma-Jobi Ma-Yuen Seed Oil, Morus Alba Root Extract, Oenothera Biennis Seed Extract, Silver Oxide, Spiraea Ulmaria Flower Extract, Vaccinium Myrtillus Bud Extract, Cynara Scolymus Leaf Extract
Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
UV Absorber
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Ethylhexyl Triazone
UV Absorber
Homosalate
Skin Conditioning
Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol
UV Filter
Octocrylene
UV Absorber
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Acacia Senegal Gum
MaskingAcrylates Copolymer
Acrylates/Dimethicone Copolymer
Skin Conditioning
CI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Cetyl Dimethicone
Emollient
Citric Acid
Buffering
Silica
Abrasive
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Decylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningDibutyl Adipate
EmollientDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientDimethicone
Emollient
Disodium EDTA
ChelatingTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Parfum
Masking
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Menthyl Lactate
Masking
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
Emulsifying
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxide
BufferingSolvent Violet 13
Cera Alba
Emollient
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingBis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Homosalate, Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol, Octocrylene, 1,2-Hexanediol, Acacia Senegal Gum, Acrylates Copolymer, Acrylates/Dimethicone Copolymer, CI 42090, Caprylyl Glycol, Cetyl Dimethicone, Citric Acid, Silica, Decyl Glucoside, Decylene Glycol, Dibutyl Adipate, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Dimethicone, Disodium EDTA, Tocopheryl Acetate, Parfum, Glyceryl Stearate, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydroxyacetophenone, Menthyl Lactate, Pentylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Propylene Glycol, Water, Sodium Hydroxide, Solvent Violet 13, Cera Alba, Xanthan Gum
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
This ingredient is better known as bemotrizinol or Tinosorb S and is one of the best broad-spectrum UV filters in modern sunscreen.
It works by absorbing UV light across a whole range (280-400 nm) with peaks around 310 nm (UVB) and 340-345 nm (UVA). This means it covers UVB plus the deeper UVA wavelengths that drive photoaging and pigmentation.
Another pro?
It's exceptionally photostable, barely degrades in sunlight, and acts as a "bodyguard" for less stable filters.
That's why you'll see it paired with avobenzone or octinoxate; this team up ensures they keep working through sun exposure.
Safety reviews have been reassuring across the board. This ingredient shows low absorption through the skin, rarely irritates, and lab studies found it doesn't act like a hormone in the body (a concern that's been raised about some older sunscreen filters).
On maximum concentrations:
In 2026, the US F.D.A finally added it as an OTC sunscreen ingredient at concentrations up to 6% for adults / children 6 months and older
Learn more about Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl TriazineDimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeHyaluronic acid (HA) is a glycosaminoglycan (basically a long sugar chain) that your skin already makes on its own. In your skin, HA lives in the extracellular matrix and acts as the body's moisture reservoir.
Topically, HA is a humectant that binds water and helps skin look more plump, smooth, and hydrated.
The only catch is that HA isn't a single thing; it actually comes in a wide range of molecular weights (~50 - 2,000+ kDA) and size matters.
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
This is why the best HA serums blend the two sizes together so you get the best of both worlds.
The majority of cosmetic HA is produced by bacterial fermentation, typically using Streptococcus or Bacillus strains. Typical use levels in skincare sit around 0.1-2%.
A clinical study using a 0.2% low-molecular weight HA gel showed improvement in facial seborrheic dermatitis with excellent tolerance.
These are some other common types of Hyaluronic Acid:
Learn more about Hyaluronic AcidPhenoxyethanol is one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.
Learn more about PhenoxyethanolWater. 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
