e.l.f. cosmetics Camo CC Cream SPF 30 Versus Maybelline Dream Fresh Skin Hydrating BB cream, 8-in-1 Skin Perfecting Beauty Balm with Broad Spectrum SPF 30
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate 7.5%
UV Absorber
Titanium Dioxide 4.45%
Cosmetic Colorant
Zinc Oxide 13.72%
Cosmetic Colorant
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
Emollient
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Butylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate
EmollientButyloctyl Salicylate
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate
Emulsifying
Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Cyclohexasiloxane
Emollient
Acrylates/Polytrimethylsiloxymethacrylate Copolymer
Skin ConditioningHexyl Laurate
Emollient
Magnesium Sulfate
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Triethoxycaprylylsilane
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingHydrated Silica
Abrasive
Aluminum Hydroxide
EmollientPropylene Carbonate
SolventDimethicone/Methicone Copolymer
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Soluble Collagen
Humectant
Canola Oil
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Daucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil
Emollient
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingDaucus Carota Sativa Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Beta-Carotene
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate 7.5%, Titanium Dioxide 4.45%, Zinc Oxide 13.72%, Water, Dimethicone, Cyclopentasiloxane, Butylene Glycol, Phenyl Trimethicone, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Butylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Cyclohexasiloxane, Acrylates/Polytrimethylsiloxymethacrylate Copolymer, Hexyl Laurate, Magnesium Sulfate, Phenoxyethanol, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Hydrated Silica, Aluminum Hydroxide, Propylene Carbonate, Dimethicone/Methicone Copolymer, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Niacinamide, Panthenol, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Soluble Collagen, Canola Oil, Glycerin, Daucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil, Carbomer, Daucus Carota Sativa Root Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Beta-Carotene, Polysorbate 20, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, 1,2-Hexanediol, CI 77891, CI 77492, CI 77491, CI 77499
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Water
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Silica
Abrasive
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Octyldodecyl Xyloside
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Isohexadecane
EmollientHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPEG-30 Dipolyhydroxystearate
Emulsifying
Sodium Dehydroacetate
Preservative
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Disodium EDTA
Citric Acid
Buffering
Polysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Iron Oxides
Titanium Dioxide, Water, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Glycerin, Octyldodecanol, Silica, Pentylene Glycol, Octyldodecyl Xyloside, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Isohexadecane, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, PEG-30 Dipolyhydroxystearate, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Caprylyl Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Citric Acid, Polysorbate 80, Potassium Sorbate, Propylene Glycol, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Iron Oxides
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caprylyl 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 GlycolDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAGlycerin (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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol 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.
Titanium dioxide is a mineral UV filter widely used in sunscreens and cosmetics.
It is one of only two UV filters officially classified as âmineralâ by regulatory agencies, the other being zinc oxide.
Titanium dioxide provides broad-spectrum protection mostly in the UVB and UVAII range, with some protection in the UVAI range.
While its UVA protection isnât as strong as zinc oxideâs, the difference is minor.
A common myth is that mineral UV filters reflect UV light. However, modern research shows titanium dioxide absorbs UV radiation like chemical filters (~95% absorption & 5% reflection).
Thanks to its non-irritating nature, titanium dioxide is suitable for sensitive, acne-prone, or redness-prone skin. It is unlikely to cause "eye sting" like other sunscreen ingredients.
A major drawback of this ingredient is its white cast and thick texture. This is why mineral sunscreens often leave a white cast and are less cosmetically elegant than chemical/hybrid sunscreens.
To improve white cast and spreadability, micronized or nano-sized titanium dioxide is often used.
There are ongoing concerns surrounding nano-titanium oxide's impact on marine ecosystems.
There is no conclusive evidence that any form of titanium oxide (or any other sunscreen ingredients) will cause harm to marine ecosystems or coral reefs. The science is still developing but many consumers are keeping a close eye on this issue.
Please note, many destinations have reef-safety sunscreen rules. For instance, the U.S. Virgin Islands advises all visitors to use non-nano mineral sunscreens.
Nano mineral sunscreens once raised safety concerns about absorption into skin.
Extensive research has shown that they do not penetrate healthy or damaged skin; they remain safely on the surface and the top layer of dead skin (stratum corneum).
You'll likely find titanium dioxide bundled with alumina, silica, or dimethicone. These ingredients help make titanium dioxide highly photostable; this prevents it from interacting with other formula components under UV light.
Learn more about Titanium DioxideWater. 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 Water
