Explore Routine Login

Product Comparison

Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of cleen beauty Face Moisturizer with Mineral Sunscreen, Broad Spectrum SPF 30 versus EltaMD, Inc UV Sheer Broad-Spectrum SPF50+ Serum .

Published on July 24, 2021

Overview

Cool Features

They both contain hyaluronic acid and SPF

Suited For

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

Free From

They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, common allergens, fragrances, oils, 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.

General Moisturizer American Brand United States
Sunscreen American Brand United States

General Moisturizer

All-purpose moisturizers hydrate the top layer of skin cells.

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 Face Moisturizer with Mineral Sunscreen, Broad Spectrum SPF 30

Shop

Buy UV Sheer Broad-Spectrum SPF50+ Serum

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
Vitamin E (2)
Hyaluronic Acid

Benefits

Hydrating (3)
Anti-Aging
Scar Healing
Acne Fighting
Brightening (3)

Concerns

May Worsen Oily Skin (2)
Acne Trigger
Irritating

Notable Ingredients

Chemical UV Filter
Mineral UV Filter
Vitamin C
Hyaluronic Acid

Benefits

Hydrating
Redness Reducing
Skin Texture
Anti-Aging
Dark Spots
Acne Fighting
Brightening

Concerns

Eczema
Join our community

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

Join SkinSort

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: 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

cleen beauty Face Moisturizer with Mineral Sunscreen, Broad Spectrum SPF 30 contains this as ingredient number 1.

EltaMD, Inc UV Sheer Broad-Spectrum SPF50+ Serum contains this as ingredient number 2.

2
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.

cleen beauty Face Moisturizer with Mineral Sunscreen, Broad Spectrum SPF 30 contains this as ingredient number 4.

EltaMD, Inc UV Sheer Broad-Spectrum SPF50+ Serum contains this as ingredient number 6.

3
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

cleen beauty Face Moisturizer with Mineral Sunscreen, Broad Spectrum SPF 30 contains this as ingredient number 13.

EltaMD, Inc UV Sheer Broad-Spectrum SPF50+ Serum contains this as ingredient number 7.

4
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

cleen beauty Face Moisturizer with Mineral Sunscreen, Broad Spectrum SPF 30 contains this as ingredient number 16.

EltaMD, Inc UV Sheer Broad-Spectrum SPF50+ Serum contains this as ingredient number 21.

5
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

cleen beauty Face Moisturizer with Mineral Sunscreen, Broad Spectrum SPF 30 contains this as ingredient number 18.

EltaMD, Inc UV Sheer Broad-Spectrum SPF50+ Serum contains this as ingredient number 9.

6
What it does:
Community Rating: Disliked

We don't have a description for Polysilicone-11.

cleen beauty Face Moisturizer with Mineral Sunscreen, Broad Spectrum SPF 30 contains this as ingredient number 19.

EltaMD, Inc UV Sheer Broad-Spectrum SPF50+ Serum contains this as ingredient number 13.

7
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.

cleen beauty Face Moisturizer with Mineral Sunscreen, Broad Spectrum SPF 30 contains this as ingredient number 20.

EltaMD, Inc UV Sheer Broad-Spectrum SPF50+ Serum contains this as ingredient number 16.

8
What it does: Emollient, Skin Conditioning, Solvent
Community Rating: Mixed

Isohexadecane is added to enhance texture, emulsify, and to help cleanse. It is an isoparrafin. It is a component of petrolatum.

Due to its large size, Isohexadecane is not absorbed by the skin. Instead, it sits on top and acts as an emollient. Emollients help keep your skin soft and smooth by trapping moisture within.

Isohexadecane is often used in products designed to help oily skin. It is lightweight and non-greasy while helping to moisturize. When mixed with silicones, it gives a product a silky feel.

Learn more about Isohexadecane

cleen beauty Face Moisturizer with Mineral Sunscreen, Broad Spectrum SPF 30 contains this as ingredient number 21.

EltaMD, Inc UV Sheer Broad-Spectrum SPF50+ Serum contains this as ingredient number 5.

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.

cleen beauty Face Moisturizer with Mineral Sunscreen, Broad Spectrum SPF 30 contains this as ingredient number 24.

EltaMD, Inc UV Sheer Broad-Spectrum SPF50+ Serum contains this as ingredient number 8.

10
What it does:
Community Rating: Disliked

Disodium EDTA plays a role in making products more stable by aiding other preservatives.

It is a chelating agent, meaning it neutralizes metal ions that may be found in a product.

Disodium EDTA is a salt of edetic acid and is found to be safe in cosmetic ingredients.

Learn more about Disodium EDTA

cleen beauty Face Moisturizer with Mineral Sunscreen, Broad Spectrum SPF 30 contains this as ingredient number 25.

EltaMD, Inc UV Sheer Broad-Spectrum SPF50+ Serum contains this as ingredient number 19.

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

24% are loved or liked
16% have mixed ratings
56% are disliked or very disliked
4% have no rating yet
18% are loved or liked
18% have mixed ratings
64% are disliked or very disliked
0% have no rating yet

Usage

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

Reviews

Here's what our community thinks

cleen beauty Face Moisturizer with Mineral Sunscreen, Broad Spectrum SPF 30 25 ingredients

Face Moisturizer with Mineral Sunscreen, Broad Spectrum SPF 30 hasn't been rated yet.
Rate it now

EltaMD, Inc UV Sheer Broad-Spectrum SPF50+ Serum 22 ingredients

5.0 /5
from 1 rating
Absorbs Well (1) Expensive (1) Hydrating (1) Light (1) Light Scent (1) Works Well (1)
BrodyTosi's avatar

BrodyTosi

4 months ago · Sensitive Skin
Review

I quite like this sunscreen by EltaMD. One of my favorite talking points about this sunscreen is the vitamin C derivative it contains,...

I quite like this sunscreen by EltaMD. One of my favorite talking points about this sunscreen is the vitamin C derivative it contains, tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate (THD), which is oil-soluble. THD is able to much more readily penetrate the compacted hydrophobic (water repellent) lipid matrix of the stratum corneum versus other vitamin C derivatives used in skincare. This product also contains squalane, which is an excellent low comedogenicity ranked skin emollient. Personally, I also tend to like how EltaMD formulates UV Sheer with dual physical/chemical filters. This sunscreen applies pretty light with a mild-moderate shine left on the face and it does leave a mild white cast (the least noticeable cast but most noticeable shine compared to my usage of UV Luminous/UV Shield/UV Restore). One consideration with this product is it does contain sodium hyaluronate (hyaluronic acid salt), which as a humectant can be irritating for many individuals including myself. I found that consistent use of UV Sheer didn't irritate my skin, but I would be cautious if you find yourself in a similar position nonetheless.

Alternatives

Our Dupe Finder has found 50 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to cleen beauty Face Moisturizer with Mineral Sunscreen, Broad Spectrum SPF 30.

See 50 alternatives

Our Dupe Finder has found 3 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to EltaMD, Inc UV Sheer Broad-Spectrum SPF50+ Serum.

See 3 alternatives
Loading similar comparisons...