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Product Comparison

Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of CeraVe Hydrating Sunscreen Face Sheer Tint SPF 30 versus EltaMD, Inc UV AOX Elements Broad-Spectrum SPF 50 .

Last updated on February 02, 2024. Published on March 24, 2024

Overview

What they are

These products are both sunscreens. They have a total of 11 ingredients in common

Cool Features

They both contain exfoliants, hyaluronic acid, SPF and Vitamin E

Suited For

They're both likely to be good for fighting acne, anti aging, dry skin, brightening skin, sensitive skin, scar healing and dark spots

Free From

They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, common allergens, fragrances or parabens

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

Sunscreen Canadian Brand Canada
Sunscreen 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.

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 Hydrating Sunscreen Face Sheer Tint SPF 30

Starts at $16.99
Shop

Buy UV AOX Elements Broad-Spectrum SPF 50

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

Mineral UV Filter (2)
BHA
Vitamin E
Exfoliators (2)
Niacinamide
Ceramides (3)
Hyaluronic Acid

Benefits

Hydrating (5)
Good For Oily Skin (2)
Redness Reducing (5)
Reduces Irritation (3)
Reduces Large Pores (2)
Anti-Aging (4)
Dark Spots
Scar Healing (2)
Acne Fighting (3)
Brightening (3)

Concerns

Drying (2)
May Worsen Oily Skin (2)
Acne Trigger (2)
Irritating (2)
Rosacea (3)
Eczema (2)

Notable Ingredients

Mineral UV Filter (2)
Vitamin C
Vitamin E (2)
Exfoliators
Hyaluronic Acid

Benefits

Hydrating
Redness Reducing
Reduces Irritation
Skin Texture
Anti-Aging (2)
Dark Spots
Scar Healing (2)
Acne Fighting
Brightening (3)

Concerns

Drying
Acne Trigger
Irritating
Rosacea
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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.

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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: Cosmetic Colorant, UV Absorber, UV Filter
Community Rating: Mixed

Titanium dioxide is known for its UVA and UVB protection properties. It is non-comedogenic and non-irritating. Titanium Dioxide is a physical sunscreen. Physical sunscreens reflect light and prevent it from reaching your skin.

Protecting your skin against UV radiation can prevent the signs of aging. Sun damage is associated with fine-lines, wrinkles, loss of firmness, and hyperpigmentation. Titanium dioxide can help prevent premature aging.

With modern production, nano-scale or fine-grade titanium dioxide can be easily produced for cosmetics. In sunscreen, titanium dioxide absorbs UV light. Our skin is not able to absorb Titanium dioxide, even nanoparticles.

Titanium itself is the 9th most common element in the Earth's crust. Titanium dioxide is formed when oxygen is introduced and can be found in ores, dust, sand, and soil.

Pure titanium dioxide is a white powder that is used in many products to add or change color.

Learn more about Titanium Dioxide

CeraVe Hydrating Sunscreen Face Sheer Tint SPF 30 contains this as ingredient number 1.

EltaMD, Inc UV AOX Elements Broad-Spectrum SPF 50 contains this as ingredient number 2.

2
What it does: Cosmetic Colorant, Skin Protecting, UV Absorber, UV Filter
Community Rating: Liked

Zinc Oxide is a mineral broad-spectrum UV filter; it is the broadest UVA and UVB reflector approved by the FDA. While it is most commonly man-made for cosmetics, it can naturally occur in zincite, a rare mineral.

Today, traditional and nano-sized zinc oxide can be found in beauty products. Nano-sized zinc oxide can enhance a product's UV protection. While it is not believed to have a negative effect on skin, nano-zinc oxide can be harmful to coral reefs.

More about harmful reef ingredients here.

Zinc Oxide also has antibacterial and calming properties. It is not water soluble.

Zinc has been used throughout history as an ingredient in paint and medicine. An Indian text from 500BC is believed to list zinc oxide as a salve for open wound. The Ancient Greek physician Dioscorides has also mentioned the use of zinc as an ointment in 1AD.

Learn more about Zinc Oxide

CeraVe Hydrating Sunscreen Face Sheer Tint SPF 30 contains this as ingredient number 2.

EltaMD, Inc UV AOX Elements Broad-Spectrum SPF 50 contains this as ingredient number 1.

3
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

CeraVe Hydrating Sunscreen Face Sheer Tint SPF 30 contains this as ingredient number 3.

EltaMD, Inc UV AOX Elements Broad-Spectrum SPF 50 contains this as ingredient number 3.

4
What it does:
Community Rating: Disliked

Triethoxycaprylylsilane is a silicone used to bind and stabilize ingredients.

As an emulsifier, it helps prevent ingredients from separating. This can help elongate the shelf life of products.

Triethoxycaprylylsilane is often used to coat mineral sunscreens ingredients to help give a better feel. It also helps reduce oxidative stress in sunscreens.

Learn more about Triethoxycaprylylsilane

CeraVe Hydrating Sunscreen Face Sheer Tint SPF 30 contains this as ingredient number 23.

EltaMD, Inc UV AOX Elements Broad-Spectrum SPF 50 contains this as ingredient number 14.

5
What it does: Masking
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Chances are, you eat sodium chloride every day. Sodium Chloride is also known as table salt.

This ingredient has many purposes in skincare: thickener, emulsifier, and exfoliator.

You'll most likely find this ingredient in cleansers where it is used to create a gel-like texture. As an emulsifier, it also prevents ingredients from separating.

There is much debate on whether this ingredient is comedogenic. The short answer - comedogenic ratings don't tell the whole story. Learn more about comegodenic ratings here.

The concensus about this ingredient causing acne seems to be divided. Research is needed to understand if this ingredient does cause acne.

Scrubs may use salt as the primary exfoliating ingredient.

Learn more about Sodium Chloride

CeraVe Hydrating Sunscreen Face Sheer Tint SPF 30 contains this as ingredient number 25.

EltaMD, Inc UV AOX Elements Broad-Spectrum SPF 50 contains this as ingredient number 15.

6
What it does: Humectant, Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Loved

Sodium Hyaluronate is hyaluronic acid's salt form. It is commonly derived from the sodium salt of hyaluronic acid.

Like hyaluronic acid, it is great at holding water and acts as a humectant. This makes it a great skin hydrating ingredient.

Sodium Hyaluronate is naturally occurring in our bodies and is mostly found in eye fluid and joints.

These are some other common types of Hyaluronic Acid:

Learn more about Sodium Hyaluronate

CeraVe Hydrating Sunscreen Face Sheer Tint SPF 30 contains this as ingredient number 27.

EltaMD, Inc UV AOX Elements Broad-Spectrum SPF 50 contains this as ingredient number 17.

7
What it does: Abrasive, Absorbent
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Alumina is another name for the compound aluminum oxide. It is used as a thickener, absorbent, and abrasive.

As an absorbent, alumina can give a mattifying effect. It is used in mineral sunscreens to help coat nano-sized filters, such as titanium dioxide. By increasing the size of the UV filters, these ingredients stay on the skin for a longer time. By coating small sized ingredients, alumina helps thicken a product.

Alumina may be used as an abrasive, or exfoliant.

Alumina is naturally occurring in the mineral corundum. Certain varieties of corundum create rubies and sapphires. Corundum is also the crystalline form of alumina.

Learn more about Alumina

CeraVe Hydrating Sunscreen Face Sheer Tint SPF 30 contains this as ingredient number 31.

EltaMD, Inc UV AOX Elements Broad-Spectrum SPF 50 contains this as ingredient number 11.

8
What it does: Cosmetic Colorant
Community Rating: Mixed

Ci 77492 is also hydrated iron III oxide. It's sole purpose is to give a yellow hue to products.

Iron III oxides are classified as inorganic chemicals for coloring.

Synthetically created Ci 77492 is considered safer than those naturally found. This is because the synthetically created version may contain less impurities. Iron oxides are generally non-toxic and non-allergenic.

Learn more about CI 77492

CeraVe Hydrating Sunscreen Face Sheer Tint SPF 30 contains this as ingredient number 33.

EltaMD, Inc UV AOX Elements Broad-Spectrum SPF 50 contains this as ingredient number 13.

9
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.

CeraVe Hydrating Sunscreen Face Sheer Tint SPF 30 contains this as ingredient number 34.

EltaMD, Inc UV AOX Elements Broad-Spectrum SPF 50 contains this as ingredient number 12.

10
What it does: Antioxidant, Masking, Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Liked

Tocopherol (also known as Vitamin E) is a common antioxidant used to help protect the skin from free-radicals and strengthen the skin barrier. It's also fat soluble - this means our skin is great at absorbing it.

Vitamin E also helps keep your natural skin lipids healthy. Your lipid skin barrier naturally consists of lipids, ceramides, and fatty acids. Vitamin E offers extra protection for your skin’s lipid barrier, keeping your skin healthy and nourished.

Another benefit is a bit of UV protection. Vitamin E helps reduce the damage caused by UVB rays. (It should not replace your sunscreen). Combining it with Vitamin C can decrease sunburned cells and hyperpigmentation after UV exposure.

You might have noticed Vitamin E + C often paired together. This is because it is great at stabilizing Vitamin C. Using the two together helps increase the effectiveness of both ingredients.

There are often claims that Vitamin E can reduce/prevent scarring, but these claims haven't been confirmed by scientific research.

Learn more about Tocopherol

CeraVe Hydrating Sunscreen Face Sheer Tint SPF 30 contains this as ingredient number 37.

EltaMD, Inc UV AOX Elements Broad-Spectrum SPF 50 contains this as ingredient number 20.

11
What it does: Emulsifying
Community Rating: Disliked

Polyhydroxystearic Acid is a soft wax made from castor oil.

It is is a texture thickener, emulsifier, and film-former. Emulsifiers prevent ingredients from separating, such as oils and waters.

Polyhydroxystearic Acid may not be fungal acne safe.

Learn more about Polyhydroxystearic Acid

CeraVe Hydrating Sunscreen Face Sheer Tint SPF 30 contains this as ingredient number 49.

EltaMD, Inc UV AOX Elements Broad-Spectrum SPF 50 contains this as ingredient number 10.

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

34% are loved or liked
12% have mixed ratings
40% are disliked or very disliked
14% have no rating yet
30% are loved or liked
11% have mixed ratings
44% are disliked or very disliked
15% have no rating yet

Usage

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Reviews

Here's what our community thinks

CeraVe Hydrating Sunscreen Face Sheer Tint SPF 30 50 ingredients

3.0 /5
from 1 rating

EltaMD, Inc UV AOX Elements Broad-Spectrum SPF 50 27 ingredients

UV AOX Elements Broad-Spectrum SPF 50 hasn't been rated yet.
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