Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of EltaMD, Inc UV Clear Broad-Spectrum SPF 46 versus Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Dark Spot Sun Defense Broad Spectrum SPF 50 .
Last updated on November 08, 2023. Published on May 23, 2021
Overview
What they are
These products are both sunscreens. They have a total of 6 ingredients in common
Cool Features
They both contain AHA, hyaluronic acid, SPF and Vitamin E
Suited For
They're both likely to be good for fighting acne, anti aging, brightening skin, oily skin, reducing pores, scar healing, dark spots and better texture
Free From
They both do not contain any parabens or sulfates
We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that need an update? Let us know.
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.
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
Ingredient Info
EltaMD, Inc UV Clear Broad-Spectrum SPF 46 17 ingredients
Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Dark Spot Sun Defense Broad Spectrum SPF 50 57 ingredients
Alcohol Free
This product is free of harsh alcohols 🎉
Contains Silicon
Ingredients in this product that are types of silicon:
Fragrance Free
This product is free of fragrances 🎉
Sulfate Free
This product is free of sulfates 🎉
Paraben Free
This product is free of parabens 🎉
Oil Free
This product is free of oils 🎉
Malassezia Safe
This product is free of malassezia feeding ingredients 🎉
Not Reef Safe
Ingredients in this product that are not reef safe:
EU Allergen Free
This product is free of EU allergens 🎉
Non Vegan
This product is not vegan 😥
Not Cruelty Free
This product is not cruelty-free 😥
Contains Alcohol
Ingredients in this product that are types of alcohol:
Silicon Free
This product is free of silicons 🎉
Contains Fragrance
Ingredients in this product that are forms of fragrance:
Sulfate Free
This product is free of sulfates 🎉
Paraben Free
This product is free of parabens 🎉
Contains Oils
Ingredients in this product that are types of oil:
Not Malassezia Safe
Ingredients in this product that are not malassezia safe:
- Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
- Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
- Coconut Alkanes
- Echium Plantagineum Seed Oil
- Isopropyl Titanium Triisostearate
- Oenothera Biennis Oil
- Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
- Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38
- Peg-60 Almond Glycerides
- Polyhydroxystearic Acid
- Polysorbate 60
- Stearic Acid
- Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate
Not Reef Safe
Ingredients in this product that are not reef safe:
Contains EU Allergens
Ingredients in this product that are EU allergens:
Non Vegan
This product is not vegan 😥
Cruelty Free
This product is cruelty-free 🎉
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
EltaMD, Inc UV Clear Broad-Spectrum SPF 46 17 ingredients
Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Dark Spot Sun Defense Broad Spectrum SPF 50 57 ingredients
Notable Ingredients
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Benefits
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Concerns
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Benefits
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
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This product contains 6 ingredients that may have this attribute:
Concerns
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
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This product contains 3 ingredients that may have this attribute:
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Join SkinSortIngredients Compared
Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.
EltaMD, Inc UV Clear Broad-Spectrum SPF 46 17 ingredients
Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Dark Spot Sun Defense Broad Spectrum SPF 50 57 ingredients
Zinc Oxide 9% • Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate 7.5% • Water • Cyclomethicone • Niacinamide • Octyldodecyl Neopentanoate • Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer • Polyisobutene • Peg-7 Trimethylolpropane Coconut Ether • Sodium Hyaluronate • Tocopheryl Acetate • Lactic Acid • Oleth-3 Phosphate • Phenoxyethanol • Butylene Glycol • Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate • Triethoxycaprylylsilane
Titanium Dioxide • Zinc Oxide • Acrylates/Carbamate Copolymer • Aluminum Hydroxide • Ascorbyl Glucoside • Benzyl Alcohol • BHA • Bis-Ethylhexyl Hydroxydimethoxy Benzylmalonate • Boerhavia Diffusa Root Extract • Butylene Glycol • C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate • Caprylyl Glycol • Carbomer • Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil • Citric Acid • Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Oil • Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Extract • Coco-Caprylate/Caprate • Coconut Alkanes • Disodium EDTA • Echium Plantagineum Seed Oil • Glycerin • Glycolic Acid • Hydrogenated Lecithin • Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer • Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin • Isohexadecane • Isononyl Isononanoate • Isopropyl Titanium Triisostearate • Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate • Melatonin • Nordihydroguaiaretic Acid • Oenothera Biennis Oil • Olea Europaea Fruit Oil • Oleanolic Acid • Oryza Sativa Extract • Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38 • Peg-60 Almond Glycerides • Pentylene Glycol • Phenoxyethanol • Phospholipids • Polyhydroxystearic Acid • Polysorbate 60 • Potassium Sorbate • Propanediol • Saccharide Isomerate • Sodium Benzoate • Sodium Citrate • Sodium Hyaluronate • Sodium PCA • Sphingolipids • Stearic Acid • Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate • Tocopherol • Water • Xanthan Gum • Zinc PCA
Ingredients Side-by-side
Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.
Learn more about what what Com. / Irr. ratings are
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 OxideEltaMD, Inc UV Clear Broad-Spectrum SPF 46 contains this as ingredient number 1.
Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Dark Spot Sun Defense Broad Spectrum SPF 50 contains this as ingredient number 2.
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. Talk about multi-purpose! If you see this, drink a glass of water. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about WaterEltaMD, Inc UV Clear Broad-Spectrum SPF 46 contains this as ingredient number 3.
Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Dark Spot Sun Defense Broad Spectrum SPF 50 contains this as ingredient number 55.
This is a synthetic polymer. It helps improve the texture of products by adding thickness and gel-like feel.
It is also an emulsifer, meaning it prevents ingredients such as oil and water from separating. It also helps evenly disperse other ingredients.
EltaMD, Inc UV Clear Broad-Spectrum SPF 46 contains this as ingredient number 7.
Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Dark Spot Sun Defense Broad Spectrum SPF 50 contains this as ingredient number 25.
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 HyaluronateEltaMD, Inc UV Clear Broad-Spectrum SPF 46 contains this as ingredient number 10.
Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Dark Spot Sun Defense Broad Spectrum SPF 50 contains this as ingredient number 49.
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.
EltaMD, Inc UV Clear Broad-Spectrum SPF 46 contains this as ingredient number 14.
Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Dark Spot Sun Defense Broad Spectrum SPF 50 contains this as ingredient number 40.
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.
EltaMD, Inc UV Clear Broad-Spectrum SPF 46 contains this as ingredient number 15.
Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Dark Spot Sun Defense Broad Spectrum SPF 50 contains this as ingredient number 10.
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.
EltaMD, Inc UV Clear Broad-Spectrum SPF 46 17 ingredients
Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Dark Spot Sun Defense Broad Spectrum SPF 50 57 ingredients
Usage
Here's some more info on how this product is used by our community.
When to use
EltaMD, Inc UV Clear Broad-Spectrum SPF 46 17 ingredients
Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Dark Spot Sun Defense Broad Spectrum SPF 50 57 ingredients
Reviews
Here's what our community thinks
EltaMD, Inc UV Clear Broad-Spectrum SPF 46 17 ingredients
nja
Feels SO comfortable on the skin, I want to keep using it. I also love that it's FA safe. But it pills after I blend out concealer with a sponge...
Feels SO comfortable on the skin, I want to keep using it. I also love that it's FA safe. But it pills after I blend out concealer with a sponge and I wonder how much of it is still on my face after that. It's supposed to be good for sensitive skin and while it's actually calming for my skin overall after I put it on, it also irritates the skin around my eyes - at the end of the day, there's always tiny little red bumps and I need to apply either LRP Cicaplast or Uriage Bariederm-Cica on that area before bed so that they go away by the next morning. I'm tired of doing this every day. I'm changing it to Bea Skincare sunscreen as soon as possible (had my eye on it for some time because the INCI seems so clean) and giving this to my less sensitive boyfriend.
EDIT: tried Bea sunscreen and didn't work out :/
febbynm
No for me.
I actually really enjoy the consistency. It glides really nicely but oh my lord this thing PILLS like no other. It doesn’t matter if I...
No for me.
I actually really enjoy the consistency. It glides really nicely but oh my lord this thing PILLS like no other. It doesn’t matter if I rub, gently pat it in, or wait however amount of time after my moisturizer; it will pill making it especially impossible to wear under makeup.
Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Dark Spot Sun Defense Broad Spectrum SPF 50 57 ingredients
Alternatives
Our Dupe Finder has found 18 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to EltaMD, Inc UV Clear Broad-Spectrum SPF 46.
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