CeraVe Hydrating Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50 Face Lotion Versus Nivea Sun Protect & Moisture Pump Spray SPF 20
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Titanium Dioxide 9%
Cosmetic ColorantZinc Oxide 7%
Cosmetic ColorantWater
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialDimethicone
EmollientIsododecane
EmollientStyrene/Acrylates Copolymer
Glyceryl Stearate
EmollientButyloctyl Salicylate
Skin ConditioningDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientPropanediol
SolventStearic Acid
CleansingAluminum Hydroxide
EmollientPEG-100 Stearate
Sorbitan Stearate
EmulsifyingNiacinamide
SmoothingPEG-8 Laurate
EmulsifyingCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningCeramide EOP
Skin ConditioningSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientCeteareth-20
CleansingTriethoxycaprylylsilane
Dimethiconol
EmollientSodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingSodium Dodecylbenzenesulfonate
CleansingMyristic Acid
CleansingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantCholesterol
EmollientPalmitic Acid
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialTocopherol
AntioxidantHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientCitric Acid
BufferingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPhytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningPolyhydroxystearic Acid
EmulsifyingPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTitanium Dioxide 9%, Zinc Oxide 7%, Water, Glycerin, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Dimethicone, Isododecane, Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer, Glyceryl Stearate, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Propanediol, Stearic Acid, Aluminum Hydroxide, PEG-100 Stearate, Sorbitan Stearate, Niacinamide, PEG-8 Laurate, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Sorbitan Isostearate, Carbomer, Cetearyl Alcohol, Ceteareth-20, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Dimethiconol, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Sodium Dodecylbenzenesulfonate, Myristic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Cholesterol, Palmitic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin, Tocopherol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Caprylyl Glycol, Citric Acid, Panthenol, Xanthan Gum, Phytosphingosine, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Polysorbate 60, Ethylhexylglycerin
Water
Skin ConditioningAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialGlycerin
HumectantEthylhexyl Salicylate
UV AbsorberIsopropyl Palmitate
EmollientDibutyl Adipate
EmollientButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV AbsorberC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialBis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPhenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid
UV AbsorberTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantHydrogenated Rapeseed Oil
EmollientCopernicia Cerifera Cera
EmollientCetyl Palmitate
EmollientC18-38 Alkyl Hydroxystearoyl Stearate
EmollientSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingMicrocrystalline Cellulose
AbsorbentXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeTrisodium EDTA
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Chloride
MaskingLinalool
PerfumingBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingAlpha-Isomethyl Ionone
PerfumingCitronellol
PerfumingAnise Alcohol
PerfumingParfum
MaskingWater, Alcohol Denat., Glycerin, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Isopropyl Palmitate, Dibutyl Adipate, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Glyceryl Stearate, Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid, Tocopheryl Acetate, Hydrogenated Rapeseed Oil, Copernicia Cerifera Cera, Cetyl Palmitate, C18-38 Alkyl Hydroxystearoyl Stearate, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Xanthan Gum, Cellulose Gum, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Trisodium EDTA, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Chloride, Linalool, Benzyl Alcohol, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Citronellol, Anise Alcohol, Parfum
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate is made up of Benzoic Acid and long chain alcohols. It has a low molecular weight.
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate is an emollient and texture enhancer. Due to its solubility, it is often used in sunscreens to help evenly distribute active ingredients.
As an emollient, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate helps soften and hydrate your skin. Emollients create a film on your skin that traps moisture within.
This ingredient has been reported to cause eye irritation.
Learn more about C12-15 Alkyl BenzoateCaprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolGlycerin (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 GlycerinGlyceryl Stearate is made by reacting glycerin with stearic acid (typically sourced from plant oils like palm or coconut). It's an emulsifier, emollient, and mild occlusive.
Emulsifiers help ingredients like oil and water stay mixed so your formula stays nicely blended and uniform in texture.
This ingredient is typically used in concentrations between 1-10%. Studies have found it to be non-sensitizing, non-phototoxic, and non-photoallergenic.
A close cousin of this ingredient is Glyceryl Stearate SE ("self-emulsifying"). This just has a small amount of sodium or potassium stearate added so it can emulsify without a co-emulsifier.
Since this ingredient is an ester of a C18 fatty acid, it may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast can potentially metabolize within the C11-C24 range.
Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.
Learn more about Glyceryl StearatePhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent 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.
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. 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