Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of EltaMD, Inc UV Sheer Broad-Spectrum SPF50+ Serum versus MDSolarSciences Mineral Crème SPF 50 .
Published on July 31, 2021
Overview
What they are
These products are both sunscreens. They have a total of 5 ingredients in common
Cool Features
They both contain SPF and Vitamin C
Suited For
They're both likely to be good for fighting acne, anti aging, brightening skin, dark spots and better texture
Free From
They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, common allergens, fragrances, 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 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.
Ingredient Info
EltaMD, Inc UV Sheer Broad-Spectrum SPF50+ Serum 22 ingredients
MDSolarSciences Mineral Crème SPF 50 21 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 🎉
Not Malassezia Safe
Ingredients in this product that are not malassezia safe:
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 😥
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 🎉
Not Malassezia Safe
Ingredients in this product that are not malassezia safe:
Not Reef Safe
Ingredients in this product that are not reef safe:
EU Allergen Free
This product is free of EU allergens 🎉
Vegan
This product is vegan 🎉
Cruelty Free
This product is cruelty-free 🎉
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
EltaMD, Inc UV Sheer Broad-Spectrum SPF50+ Serum 22 ingredients
MDSolarSciences Mineral Crème SPF 50 21 ingredients
Notable Ingredients
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
Benefits
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
Concerns
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
Notable Ingredients
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
Benefits
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
Concerns
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient 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 Sheer Broad-Spectrum SPF50+ Serum 22 ingredients
MDSolarSciences Mineral Crème SPF 50 21 ingredients
Octocrylene 10% • Zinc Oxide 15% • Butyloctyl Salicylate • Coco-Caprylate/Caprate • Isohexadecane • Butylene Glycol • Isododecane • Phenoxyethanol • Polyhydroxystearic Acid • Triethoxycaprylylsilane • Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6 • Acacia Senegal Gum • Polysilicone-11 • Xanthan Gum • Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate • Ethylhexylglycerin • Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer • Squalane • Disodium EDTA • Polysorbate 60 • Sodium Hyaluronate • Sodium Hydroxide
Titanium Dioxide 2.1% • Zinc Oxide 17% • Dimethicone • Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride • Dimethicone Crosspolymer • Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer • Butyloctyl Salicylate • Glyceryl Isostearate • Polysilicone-15 • Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate • Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract • Punica Granatum Extract • Vaccinium Macrocarpon Fruit Extract • Tocopheryl Acetate • Silica • Polyhydroxystearic Acid • Cyclotetrasiloxane • Isoceteth-10 • Peg/Ppg-18/18 Dimethicone • Triethoxycaprylylsilane • CI 77499
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 Sheer Broad-Spectrum SPF50+ Serum contains this as ingredient number 2.
MDSolarSciences Mineral Crème SPF 50 contains this as ingredient number 2.
Butyloctyl Salicylate is a photostabilizer, emollient and solvent. Its main purpose is to evenly spread out ingredients.
This ingredient is a common sunscreen ingredient carrier and photostabilizer. According to a manufacturer, it is suitable for carrying micro Titanium Dioxide, Zinc Oxide, and pigments.
Photostabilizers help stabilize UV-filters and prevents them from degrading quickly.
According to EU regulation, this ingredient can cause harmful effects to aquatic life.
Learn more about Butyloctyl SalicylateEltaMD, Inc UV Sheer Broad-Spectrum SPF50+ Serum contains this as ingredient number 3.
MDSolarSciences Mineral Crème SPF 50 contains this as ingredient number 7.
Polyhydroxystearic Acid is a soft wax made from castor oil.
It is is a texture thickener, emulsifier, and film-former. Emulsifiers prevent ingredients from separating, such as oils and waters.
Polyhydroxystearic Acid may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Polyhydroxystearic AcidEltaMD, Inc UV Sheer Broad-Spectrum SPF50+ Serum contains this as ingredient number 9.
MDSolarSciences Mineral Crème SPF 50 contains this as ingredient number 16.
Triethoxycaprylylsilane is a silicone used to bind and stabilize ingredients.
As an emulsifier, it helps prevent ingredients from separating. This can help elongate the shelf life of products.
Triethoxycaprylylsilane is often used to coat mineral sunscreens ingredients to help give a better feel. It also helps reduce oxidative stress in sunscreens.
Learn more about TriethoxycaprylylsilaneEltaMD, Inc UV Sheer Broad-Spectrum SPF50+ Serum contains this as ingredient number 10.
MDSolarSciences Mineral Crème SPF 50 contains this as ingredient number 20.
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate is a form of Vitamin C.
Vitamin C helps reduce redness, improve skin texture, reduce the effects of aging, reduce the visibility of dark spots, and brighten skin.
Your skin uses Vitamin C to produce collagen and collagen production plays a role in having a strong skin barrier and having plump skin. As an antioxidant, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate also helps reduce the signs of aging such as fine-lines and wrinkles.
Studies show Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate is more stable when combined with stabilizing ingredients.
VItamin C helps brighten skin by blocking the process of skin darkening.
Read more about other types of Vitamin C:
Learn more about Tetrahexyldecyl AscorbateEltaMD, Inc UV Sheer Broad-Spectrum SPF50+ Serum contains this as ingredient number 15.
MDSolarSciences Mineral Crème SPF 50 contains this as ingredient number 10.
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.
EltaMD, Inc UV Sheer Broad-Spectrum SPF50+ Serum 22 ingredients
MDSolarSciences Mineral Crème SPF 50 21 ingredients
Usage
Here's some more info on how this product is used by our community.
When to use
EltaMD, Inc UV Sheer Broad-Spectrum SPF50+ Serum 22 ingredients
MDSolarSciences Mineral Crème SPF 50 21 ingredients
Reviews
Here's what our community thinks
EltaMD, Inc UV Sheer Broad-Spectrum SPF50+ Serum 22 ingredients
I quite like this sunscreen by EltaMD. One of my favorite talking points about this sunscreen is the vitamin C derivative it contains, tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate (THD), which is oil-soluble. THD is able to much more readily penetrate the...
I quite like this sunscreen by EltaMD. One of my favorite talking points about this sunscreen is the vitamin C derivative it contains, tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate (THD), which is oil-soluble. THD is able to much more readily penetrate the compacted hydrophobic (water repellent) lipid matrix of the stratum corneum versus other vitamin C derivatives used in skincare. This product also contains squalane, which is an excellent low comedogenicity ranked skin emollient. Personally, I also tend to like how EltaMD formulates UV Sheer with dual physical/chemical filters. This sunscreen applies pretty light with a mild-moderate shine left on the face and it does leave a mild white cast (the least noticeable cast but most noticeable shine compared to my usage of UV Luminous/UV Shield/UV Restore). One consideration with this product is it does contain sodium hyaluronate (hyaluronic acid salt), which as a humectant can be irritating for many individuals including myself. I found that consistent use of UV Sheer didn't irritate my skin, but I would be cautious if you find yourself in a similar position nonetheless.
MDSolarSciences Mineral Crème SPF 50 21 ingredients
The consistency of this is pretty nice and it doesn't leave a bad white cast, but one of the ingredient's safety worries me enough that I don't want to use it too often.
Cyclopentasiloxane hazard statements: "Flammable liquid and...
The consistency of this is pretty nice and it doesn't leave a bad white cast, but one of the ingredient's safety worries me enough that I don't want to use it too often.
Cyclopentasiloxane hazard statements: "Flammable liquid and vapor. Suspected of damaging fertility. May cause long lasting harmful effects to aquatic life. While cyclopentasiloxane is generally safe for human use, it may have a negative impact on the environment."
Alternatives
Our Dupe Finder has found 3 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to EltaMD, Inc UV Sheer Broad-Spectrum SPF50+ Serum.
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