e.l.f. cosmetics Suntouchable! Whoa Glow SPF 30 Versus One. Two. Free! Daily Sun Protection Fluid SPF 50
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%
UV AbsorberHomosalate 9%
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Salicylate 5%
UV AbsorberOctocrylene 7%
UV AbsorberWater
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantPolyglyceryl-3 Distearate
EmulsifyingCI 77163
Cosmetic ColorantNiacinamide
SmoothingAluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate
AbsorbentTrehalose
HumectantSilica
AbrasivePanthenol
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSqualane
EmollientAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Stearate Citrate
EmollientCetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingStearyl Caprylate
EmollientStearic Acid
CleansingPalmitic Acid
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientStearyl Heptanoate
EmollientPolyacrylate-13
Polyisobutene
Polysorbate 20
EmulsifyingEthylhexyl Hydroxystearate
EmollientSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingTriethoxycaprylylsilane
Acrylates/Polytrimethylsiloxymethacrylate Copolymer
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPotassium Sorbate
PreservativePhenoxyethanol
PreservativeDisodium EDTA
Sodium Benzoate
MaskingCitric Acid
BufferingIron Oxides
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%, Homosalate 9%, Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%, Octocrylene 7%, Water, Glycerin, Polyglyceryl-3 Distearate, CI 77163, Niacinamide, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Trehalose, Silica, Panthenol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Squalane, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Stearyl Caprylate, Stearic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Dimethicone, Cetearyl Alcohol, Stearyl Heptanoate, Polyacrylate-13, Polyisobutene, Polysorbate 20, Ethylhexyl Hydroxystearate, Sorbitan Isostearate, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Acrylates/Polytrimethylsiloxymethacrylate Copolymer, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Potassium Sorbate, Phenoxyethanol, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Benzoate, Citric Acid, Iron Oxides
Water
Skin ConditioningDibutyl Adipate
EmollientDiethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV FilterPropylheptyl Caprylate
EmollientDicaprylyl Ether
EmollientEthylhexyl Salicylate
UV AbsorberEthylhexyl Triazone
UV AbsorberBis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin ConditioningPhenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid
UV AbsorberMethylpropanediol
SolventGlycerin
HumectantUndecane
EmollientDisodium Cetearyl Sulfosuccinate
CleansingCetearyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientTridecane
PerfumingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPhenylpropanol
MaskingLactobacillus/Dipteryx Odorata Seed Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningLeuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
AntimicrobialTocopherol
AntioxidantWater, Dibutyl Adipate, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Propylheptyl Caprylate, Dicaprylyl Ether, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid, Methylpropanediol, Glycerin, Undecane, Disodium Cetearyl Sulfosuccinate, Cetearyl Glucoside, Cetearyl Alcohol, Tridecane, Sodium Hydroxide, Caprylyl Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Phenylpropanol, Lactobacillus/Dipteryx Odorata Seed Ferment Filtrate, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Tocopherol
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, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolCetearyl alcohol is a waxy mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is an emollient and emulsifier.
Despite having "alcohol" in its name, it has nothing to do with drying solvent alcohols; the FDA also allows "alcohol-free" products to contain fatty alcohols like this ingredient.
It plays several roles in a formula:
Typical use levels for this ingredient sit around 1-10% and the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has affirmed safety at concentrations up to 25% in leave-on products.
Multiple assessments have found it to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing to most people.
However, there have been some cases of allergic contact dermatitis in patients with chronically compromised skin barriers.
Cetearyl alcohol has a comedogenic rating of 2 and irritancy rating of 1. Both of these numbers come from the 1989 study that used rabbit ears; a "2" means mildly comedogenic and a "1" means low irritancy.
Here's the catch: rabbit skin is more sensitive than human skin and throws a lot of false positives. A 1996 reappraisal found that ingredients rated 1-2 in the rabbit ear tests are generally safe for humans.
Remember comedogenic ratings are unable to assess the entire formula of a product or how it will react on your skin. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure about certain ingredients.
This ingredient is not fungal acne safe. Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol with chain lengths that fall within the range that Malassezia can metabolize.
A 2019 study has also observed Malassezia growth in the presence of this ingredient, confirming it to be not-fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholEthylhexyl Salicylate is an organic compound used to block UV rays. It primarily absorbs UVB rays but offers a small amount of UVA protection as well.
Commonly found in sunscreens, Ethylhexyl Salicylate is created from salicylic acid and 2-ethylhexanol. You might know salicylic acid as the effective acne fighter ingredient and BHA.
The ethylhexanol in this ingredient is a fatty alcohol and helps hydrate your skin, similar to oils. It is an emollient, which means it traps moisture into the skin.
According to manufacturers, Ethylhexyl Salicylate absorbs UV wavelength of 295-315 nm, with a peak absorption at 307-310 nm. UVA rays are linked to long term skin damage, such as hyperpigmentation. UVB rays emit more energy and are capable of damaging our DNA. UVB rays cause sunburn.
Learn more about Ethylhexyl SalicylateGlycerin (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 GlycerinWater. 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