e.l.f. cosmetics Suntouchable! All Set for Sun SPF 45 Versus L'Oreal True Match Nude Hyaluronic Tinted Serum
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 2.9%
UV AbsorberEthylhexyl Salicylate 4.9%
UV AbsorberOctocrylene 9.5%
UV AbsorberAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialButyloctyl Salicylate
Skin ConditioningIsododecane
EmollientDiisooctyl Succinate
EmollientDiheptyl Succinate
EmollientSilica Caprylyl Silylate
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientCitrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningOpuntia Ficus-Indica Seed Oil
EmollientBisabolol
AntioxidantPvp
Emulsion StabilisingCapryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer
Skin ConditioningEthyl Ferulate
AntioxidantTocopherol
AntioxidantBeta-Sitosterol
Emulsion StabilisingSqualene
EmollientNylon-12
Lauroyl Lysine
Skin ConditioningButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 2.9%, Ethylhexyl Salicylate 4.9%, Octocrylene 9.5%, Alcohol Denat., Butyloctyl Salicylate, Isododecane, Diisooctyl Succinate, Diheptyl Succinate, Silica Caprylyl Silylate, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Citrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Seed Oil, Bisabolol, Pvp, Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer, Ethyl Ferulate, Tocopherol, Beta-Sitosterol, Squalene, Nylon-12, Lauroyl Lysine
Water
Skin ConditioningIsododecane
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialTrimethylsiloxysilicate
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantPEG-10 Dimethicone
Skin ConditioningPerlite
AbsorbentSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantNylon-12
Isopropyl Lauroyl Sarcosinate
Skin ConditioningDiisopropyl Sebacate
EmollientDisteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingHdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer
Bis-PEG/PPG-14/14 Dimethicone
EmollientMagnesium Sulfate
Synthetic Fluorphlogopite
Ethylhexyl Hydroxystearate
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCellulose
AbsorbentDipentaerythrityl Tetrahydroxystearate/Tetraisostearate
Skin ConditioningSilica Silylate
EmollientDisodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingCalcium Aluminum Borosilicate
Tocopherol
AntioxidantMoroccan Lava Clay
AbrasiveGlycerin
HumectantEmpetrum Nigrum Fruit Juice
Skin ConditioningAluminum Hydroxide
EmollientSilica
AbrasivePotassium Sorbate
PreservativeCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77163
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Isododecane, Dimethicone, Alcohol Denat., Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Butylene Glycol, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Perlite, Sodium Hyaluronate, Nylon-12, Isopropyl Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Diisopropyl Sebacate, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer, Bis-PEG/PPG-14/14 Dimethicone, Magnesium Sulfate, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Ethylhexyl Hydroxystearate, Phenoxyethanol, Cellulose, Dipentaerythrityl Tetrahydroxystearate/Tetraisostearate, Silica Silylate, Disodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate, Tocopherol, Moroccan Lava Clay, Glycerin, Empetrum Nigrum Fruit Juice, Aluminum Hydroxide, Silica, Potassium Sorbate, CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499, CI 77891, CI 77163
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Alcohol Denat. is an alcohol with a denaturant property. It is created by mixing ethanol with other additives.
The "denat" part just means "denatured"; common denaturants include Denatonium Benzoate, t-butyl alcohol, and Diethyl Phthalate. This step makes the alcohol undrinkable (and lets brand skip taxes related to beverage alcohol).
This ingredient gets a bad rep because it is irritating and drying due to its astringent property. Astringents draw out natural oils in tissue to constrict pores and dry out your skin.
However, alcohol denat. is not all that bad.
Due to its low molecular weight, alcohol denat. tends to evaporate quickly. One study on pig skin found half of applied alcohol evaporated in 10 seconds and less than 3% stayed on skin.
This also helps other ingredients become better absorbed upon application.
Studies are conflicted about whether this ingredient causes skin dehydration. One study from 2005 found adding emollients to propanol-based sanitizer decreased skin dryness and irritation. Another study found irritation only occurs if your skin is already damaged.
Small amounts of alcohol are generally tolerated by oily skin or people who live in humid environments.
The rule of thumb is this ingredient will probably not affect your skin much if it is near the end of an ingredients list.
One thing to note:
People with ALDH2 (aldehyde dehydrogenase 2) deficiency may experience skin irritation from continued alcohol use. About 8% of the world's population have this deficiency.
The Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has determined denatured alcohols to be safe for use in concentrations between 0.05% and 12% (depending on which denaturant is used).
Also...
This ingredient has antimicrobial and solvent properties.
The antimicrobial property helps preserve products and increase their shelf life. As a solvent, it helps dissolve other ingredients.
Look for formulas that contain glycerin, hyaluronic acid, or panthenol if you want to offset any drying effect.
This ingredient will trip away your skin's natural oils/lipids that help it lock in moisture. This can worsen dryness, trigger eczema flare-ups, and aggravate rosacea.
Be sure to patch test any product with this ingredient if you have dry or sensitive skin, eczema, or rosacea.
Learn more about Alcohol Denat.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.
The chemical name for this ingredient is 2,2,4,6,6-PENTAMETHYLHEPTANE.
Learn more about IsododecaneNylon-12 is a polymer. It is derived from 12-aminododecanoic acid, an omega-amino fatty acid
According to a manufacturer, it is a talc substitute. Like talc, nylon-12 gives products a satin feel. The manufacturer also claims this ingredients does not block pores and has moderate oil absorption.
This ingredient may not be reef-safe.
Learn more about Nylon-12Tocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about Tocopherol