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Product Comparison

Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of Cetaphil Sheer Mineral Face Liquid Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 50 versus Dr. Brandt Skincare Liquid Sun Shield SPF 50 .

Published on July 26, 2022

Overview

What they are

These products are both sunscreens. They have a total of 12 ingredients in common

Cool Features

They both contain Vitamin E

Suited For

They're both likely to be good for brightening skin

Free From

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

What's Inside

They both contain 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 American Brand United States
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 Sheer Mineral Face Liquid Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 50

Starts at $14.49
Shop

Buy Liquid Sun Shield SPF 50

Starts at $65.00

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
50
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
Vitamin E
Niacinamide

Benefits

Good For Oily Skin
Redness Reducing (2)
Reduces Irritation (2)
Reduces Large Pores
Dark Spots
Scar Healing
Acne Fighting (2)
Brightening (2)

Concerns

Drying
Acne Trigger
Rosacea

Notable Ingredients

Vitamin C
Vitamin E (2)

Benefits

Hydrating (2)
Brightening (3)

Concerns

May Worsen Oily Skin
Irritating
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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: Skin Conditioning, Solvent
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Butyloctyl Salicylate is a photostabilizer, emollient and solvent. Its main purpose is to evenly spread out ingredients.

This ingredient is a common sunscreen ingredient carrier and photostabilizer. According to a manufacturer, it is suitable for carrying micro Titanium Dioxide, Zinc Oxide, and pigments.

Photostabilizers help stabilize UV-filters and prevents them from degrading quickly.

According to EU regulation, this ingredient can cause harmful effects to aquatic life.

Learn more about Butyloctyl Salicylate

Cetaphil Sheer Mineral Face Liquid Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 50 contains this as ingredient number 4.

Dr. Brandt Skincare Liquid Sun Shield SPF 50 contains this as ingredient number 8.

2
What it does: Emollient, Humectant, Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Liked

Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant and emollient, meaning it attracts and preserves moisture.

It is a common ingredient in many products, especially those designed to hydrate skin. The primary benefits are retaining moisture, skin softening, and promoting a healthy skin barrier.

Though Caprylyl Glycol is an alcohol derived from fatty acids, it is not the kind that can dry out skin.

This ingredient is also used as a preservative to extend the life of products. It has slight antimicrobial properties.

Learn more about Caprylyl Glycol

Cetaphil Sheer Mineral Face Liquid Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 50 contains this as ingredient number 6.

Dr. Brandt Skincare Liquid Sun Shield SPF 50 contains this as ingredient number 38.

3
What it does: Emollient, Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Dimethicone is a silicone used for making products smooth and silky. It also has the added benefit of sealing in hydration. The amount of dimethicone found in beauty products is considered safe and non-comedogenic, meaning it won't clog pores.

Dimethicone has been found increase absorption in skin, boosting the benefits of other ingredients. While there is concern for the safety of dimethicone, the levels used in skincare are safe for use.

Cetaphil Sheer Mineral Face Liquid Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 50 contains this as ingredient number 8.

Dr. Brandt Skincare Liquid Sun Shield SPF 50 contains this as ingredient number 5.

4
What it does: Emollient, Moisturising
Community Rating: Disliked

Dimethiconol is a silicone that resembles the popular dimethicone. Like other silicones, it is an emollient. Emollients create a thin film on skin to prevent moisture from escaping.

This ingredient helps to create a silky texture and improve spreadability. Due to its high molecular weight and thickness, it is often combined with cyclopentasiloxane.

Cetaphil Sheer Mineral Face Liquid Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 50 contains this as ingredient number 9.

Dr. Brandt Skincare Liquid Sun Shield SPF 50 contains this as ingredient number 30.

5
What it does: Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Mixed

Ethylhexylglycerin (we can't pronounce this either) is commonly used as a preservative and skin softener. It is derived from glyceryl.

You might see Ethylhexylglycerin often paired with other preservatives such as phenoxyethanol. Ethylhexylglycerin has been found to increase the effectiveness of these other preservatives.

Cetaphil Sheer Mineral Face Liquid Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 50 contains this as ingredient number 10.

Dr. Brandt Skincare Liquid Sun Shield SPF 50 contains this as ingredient number 25.

6
What it does: Emulsifying, Skin Conditioning, Solvent
Community Rating: Disliked

Hexylene Glycol is a surfactant. Glycols are a class of alcohols. Hexylene Glycol is a surfactant and emulsifier.

As a surfactant, Hexylene Glycol helps gather dirt and oil on your skin to be washed away.

As an emulsifier, Hexylene Glycol helps keep water and oil together. This prevents them from separating in a product. Hexylene Glycol also thins out the texture of a product by lessening viscosity.

Hexylene Glycol has a small molecular weight.

Learn more about Hexylene Glycol

Cetaphil Sheer Mineral Face Liquid Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 50 contains this as ingredient number 11.

Dr. Brandt Skincare Liquid Sun Shield SPF 50 contains this as ingredient number 39.

7
What it does: Emollient, Solvent
Community Rating: Disliked

Isododecane is a fragrance, emollient, and solvent.

As an emollient, it helps your skin stay soft and hydrated. Emollients help trap moisture into your skin.

Isododecane's role as a solvent makes it a great texture enhancer. It spreads smoothly on skin and does not leave a sticky feeling behind. Isododecane also helps prevent color transfer in makeup products.

Isododecane is not absorbed into skin.

Learn more about Isododecane

Cetaphil Sheer Mineral Face Liquid Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 50 contains this as ingredient number 12.

Dr. Brandt Skincare Liquid Sun Shield SPF 50 contains this as ingredient number 2.

8
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.

Cetaphil Sheer Mineral Face Liquid Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 50 contains this as ingredient number 18.

Dr. Brandt Skincare Liquid Sun Shield SPF 50 contains this as ingredient number 21.

9
What it does:
Community Rating: Disliked

Polymethylsilsesquioxane is a silicone used as a film forming agent.

When applied to the skin, this ingredient creates an invisible film on the surface. This film still allows oxygen to pass through, but prevents moisture from escaping. This can help condition and hydrate the skin. It also leaves a silky feel when applied.

Polymethylsilsesquioxane has not been shown to clog pores. It has been deemed safe to use up to 55%, but most cosmetics use much less.

If you have concerns about using this ingredient, we recommend speaking with a professional.

Learn more about Polymethylsilsesquioxane

Cetaphil Sheer Mineral Face Liquid Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 50 contains this as ingredient number 19.

Dr. Brandt Skincare Liquid Sun Shield SPF 50 contains this as ingredient number 16.

10
What it does: Solvent
Community Rating: Liked

Propanediol helps absorb ingredients into your skin, boosting their benefits. It can act as an emollient, making your skin softer. Propanediol can help products last longer by boosting the properties of preservatives within the formulation.

Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use.

It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.

Learn more about Propanediol

Cetaphil Sheer Mineral Face Liquid Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 50 contains this as ingredient number 20.

Dr. Brandt Skincare Liquid Sun Shield SPF 50 contains this as ingredient number 4.

11
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

Cetaphil Sheer Mineral Face Liquid Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 50 contains this as ingredient number 24.

Dr. Brandt Skincare Liquid Sun Shield SPF 50 contains this as ingredient number 40.

12
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

Cetaphil Sheer Mineral Face Liquid Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 50 contains this as ingredient number 26.

Dr. Brandt Skincare Liquid Sun Shield SPF 50 contains this as ingredient number 1.

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

31% are loved or liked
8% have mixed ratings
38% are disliked or very disliked
23% have no rating yet
23% are loved or liked
10% have mixed ratings
50% are disliked or very disliked
18% have no rating yet

Usage

Here's some more info on how this product is used by our community.

When to use

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Reviews

Here's what our community thinks

Cetaphil Sheer Mineral Face Liquid Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 50 26 ingredients

3.0 /5
from 5 reviews
sophii444's Avatar'
Jan 4, 2024

It doesn't feel very hydrating and leaves a white cast on my face.

It doesn't feel very hydrating and leaves a white cast on my face.

Pilling
UnidentifiedFlyingOkra's Avatar'
Aug 22, 2023

just ok
Slightly more drying, irritating, clogging, and expensive(lol) than my current US drugstore mineral favorite - Banana Boat Baby/Sensitive. Despite a lovely, runny texture still leaves almost as much of a white cast on my...

just ok
Slightly more drying, irritating, clogging, and expensive(lol) than my current US drugstore mineral favorite - Banana Boat Baby/Sensitive. Despite a lovely, runny texture still leaves almost as much of a white cast on my white/fair-toned skin than BBB which is classically thick & goopy stuff - both are likely incompatible with darker skin tones unfortunately. FA safe and overall probably better option for fungal acne sufferers than most other US drugstore sunscreens, but at less than half the price, a bigger tube, and a formula that works slightly better for my skin, I'll stick with BBB going forward 'til I have more time to research chemical filters. Good luck in your search!

cobratoes's Avatar'
Feb 18, 2024

Good as fungal safe. Matte, but I found it to be too drying after a while.

Good as fungal safe. Matte, but I found it to be too drying after a while.

Dr. Brandt Skincare Liquid Sun Shield SPF 50 40 ingredients

Liquid Sun Shield SPF 50 hasn't been rated yet.
Rate it now

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