Versus

EltaMD, Inc Foaming Facial Cleanser Versus Colorescience Sunforgettable Total Protection Face Shield Classic SPF 50

Face Cleanser
Sunscreen
American Brand United States
American Brand United States

Updated on July 23, 2024

Overview

What they are

These products are both vegan . They have a total of 7 ingredients in common

Suited For

They're both likely to be good for dry skin

Free From

They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, common allergens, 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 needs an update? Let us know.

Ingredient Info

Click any item below to learn more and see relevant ingredients

About this product

About this product

At a glance

Click on any of the items below to learn more

Benefits

Concerns

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

found in both products
Sunforgettable Total Protection Face Shield Classic SPF 50

Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.

Skin Conditioning, Solvent

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. If you see this, drink a glass of water. Stay hydrated!

Learn more about Water
Preservative

Phenoxyethanol 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.

Buffering

Sodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.

In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.

Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.

"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.

Learn more about Sodium Hydroxide
Absorbent, Emulsion Stabilising, Skin Conditioning

Maltodextrin is a polysaccharide. It is derived from starch such as rice, corn, wheat, or potato starch.

In food, Maltodextrin is used to improve the texture and thicken a product. Due to its structure, it can help create a gel texture. As an emulsion stabilizer, it helps keep the ingredients in a product together.

As a polysaccharide, Maltodextrin has moisturizing properties. Polysaccharides are a type of carbohydrate. The top layer of skin uses polysaccharides to retain water, keeping the skin hydrated.

Maltodextrin is water soluble and has a sweet taste.

Learn more about Maltodextrin
Masking

Chances are, you eat sodium chloride every day. Sodium Chloride is also known as table salt.

This ingredient has many purposes in skincare: thickener, emulsifier, and exfoliator.

You'll most likely find this ingredient in cleansers where it is used to create a gel-like texture. As an emulsifier, it also prevents ingredients from separating.

There is much debate on whether this ingredient is comedogenic. The short answer - comedogenic ratings don't tell the whole story. Learn more about comegodenic ratings here.

The concensus about this ingredient causing acne seems to be divided. Research is needed to understand if this ingredient does cause acne.

Scrubs may use salt as the primary exfoliating ingredient.

Learn more about Sodium Chloride
Emulsifying, Skin Conditioning, Solvent

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

Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate is a chelating agent. Chelating agents help prevent metal ions from binding to other ingredients. This helps prevent unwanted effects and reactions from a product. These metal ions may come from water and are found in miniscule amounts.

Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate can also help other preservatives be more effective.

When to use

79 Routines
41% use in am
59% use in pm
99% use every day
When to use See routines that use it ->
65 Routines
97% use in am
3% use in pm
86% use every day
When to use See routines that use it ->

Reviews

Here's what our community thinks

EltaMD, Inc Foaming Facial Cleanser 25 ingredients

3.7 /5
from 3 ratings
Expensive (2) Broke Me Out (1) Hydrating (1)
shelbid's avatar

Shelbi D

29 days ago
Review

Felt difficult to wash off/stuck on my skin and cause me to break out like crazy.

#expensive
#broke me out
#no scent
AmandaInSF's avatar

Amanda P

5 months ago
Review

I love this cleanser, wish it was cheaper. It’s moisturizing and leaves my skin feeling fresh. Also the foaming effect is kinda fun!

#expensive
#hydrating
#works well

Colorescience Sunforgettable Total Protection Face Shield Classic SPF 50 39 ingredients

5.0 /5
from 2 ratings
Absorbs Well (1) Expensive (1) Hydrating (1)
spellcaster's avatar

spell caster

8 months ago
Review

I was quite impressed with this sunscreen and I like the fact that is mineral and suitable for fungal acne prone skin. It has a tint which is very minimal but it adds a slight layer of colour to your skin. Its not matte but the finish seems to settle after a few minutes into a natural glow. The price is quite high and unless you need a fungal acne safe sunscreen, I wouldn’t necessarily pay that Show more

#expensive
#hydrating
#absorbs well
#works well