Versus

EltaMD, Inc UV Shield Broad-Spectrum SPF 45 Versus ISDIN Fotoprotector Fusion Water SPF 50

Sunscreen
Sunscreen
American Brand United States
Spanish Brand Spain

Updated on June 29, 2024

Overview

What they are

These products are both sunscreens. They have a total of 4 ingredients in common

Cool Features

They both contain SPF and Vitamin E

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

What's inside (and what isn't)

What's inside (and what isn't)

At a glance

Click on any of the items below to learn more

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

found in both products
Fotoprotector Fusion Water 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
Emulsifying

Polysorbate 60 is used to help stabilize products. It is a surfactant and emulsifier. These properties help keep ingredients together in a product. Surfactants help reduce surface tension between ingredients with different states, such as liquids and solids. Emulsifiers help prevent oils and waters from separating.

Polysorbate 60 is sorbitol-based and created from the ethoxylation of sorbitan. Ethoxylation is a chemical reaction used to add ethylene oxide. Sorbitan is a the dehydrated version of sorbitol, a sugar found in fruits.

In this case, the 60 comes from reacting 60 units of ethylene oxide with sorbitan.

Polysorbates are commonly used in medicine and foods.

Learn more about Polysorbate 60
Antioxidant, Skin Conditioning

Tocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.

One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.

Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.

Learn more about Tocopheryl Acetate
Buffering, Masking

Citric Acid is an AHA derived from citrus fruits (think oranges, lemons, and limes!).

As an AHA, Citric Acid removes the top layer of skin cells from the newer layer of skin underneath. This helps skin to remove dark spots and even out skin tone.

If you spot Citric Acid near the end of an ingredient list, it's likely there as a pH adjuster rather than an active ingredient.

Read more about some other popular AHA's here:

Learn more about Citric Acid

When to use

83 Routines
99% use in am
1% use in pm
98% use every day
When to use See routines that use it ->
244 Routines
100% use in am
0% use in pm
97% use every day
When to use See routines that use it ->

Reviews

Here's what our community thinks

EltaMD, Inc UV Shield Broad-Spectrum SPF 45 19 ingredients

4.5 /5
from 2 ratings
Absorbs Well (1) Broke Me Out (1) Expensive (1)
a.b.c.d.e's avatar

a.b.c.d.e

2 years ago
Review

Lesvds me glowing and hydrated
I use this every morning and it blends in perfectly with no White cast at the end and leaves my skin feeling soft, hydrated, dewy, and glowy!

Brody9304's avatar

Brody9304

1 year ago
Review

This was the first product by EltaMD I ever used, and overall my experience was good through three months of use. This SPF in particular is a dual chemical/physical filter using 9% zinc oxide and 7.5% octinoxate. Sometimes in particular with chemical UV filters irritation is an important consideration, and I bring this up because while researching this product I did find a small amount of study Show more

#expensive
#hydrating
#broke me out
#absorbs well

ISDIN Fotoprotector Fusion Water SPF 50 29 ingredients

4.3 /5
from 4 ratings
Expensive (1) Light (1) Works Well (1)
Mixch's avatar

Mixch

1 year ago
Review

Per me è un NO
Molto leggero ma fa pilling!!
Inoltre irrita le zone sensibili: pizzica, arrossa e fa uscire piccoli brufoletti rossi che spariscono interrompendone l'uso.