Estée Lauder Perfectionist Pro Multi-Defense Aqua UV Gel SPF 50 Versus Round Lab Birch Juice Moisturizing Mild-Up Sun Cream SPF 50+ PA++++
This chemical sunscreen covers most of the UV range, lighter on the deep UVA that drives aging.
This hybrid sunscreen covers the full UV range and blocks ~98% of UVB at SPF 50.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%
UV Absorber
Homosalate 5%
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexyl Salicylate 4.5%
UV Absorber
Octocrylene 2.8%
UV Absorber
Benzophenone-3 3%
UV Absorber
Water
Skin ConditioningAlcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract
Masking
Algae Extract
EmollientTriticum Vulgare Germ Extract
Skin ConditioningLaminaria Ochroleuca Extract
Skin Conditioning
Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract
Antioxidant
Squalane
Emollient
Hordeum Vulgare Extract
EmollientLilium Tigrinum Extract
Skin ConditioningOpuntia Tuna Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCaffeine
Skin Conditioning
Acrylates Copolymer
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Cholesterol
Emollient
Ergothioneine
Antioxidant
Glycerin
Humectant
Sucrose
Humectant
Alcaligenes Polysaccharides
EmollientThermus Thermophillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningSorbitan Sesquiisostearate
Emulsifying
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingAcrylates/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Copolymer
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingDehydroxanthan Gum
Emulsion StabilisingDipropylene Glycol
HumectantCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPPG-8-Ceteth-20
EmulsifyingDextrin Palmitate
Emulsifying
Cyclodextrin
AbsorbentAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSorbeth-30 Tetraisostearate
Emulsifying
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
BHT
Antioxidant
Ethylbisiminomethylguaiacol Manganese Chloride
Antioxidant
Disodium EDTA
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%, Homosalate 5%, Ethylhexyl Salicylate 4.5%, Octocrylene 2.8%, Benzophenone-3 3%, Water, Alcohol Denat., Butylene Glycol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract, Algae Extract, Triticum Vulgare Germ Extract, Laminaria Ochroleuca Extract, Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract, Squalane, Hordeum Vulgare Extract, Lilium Tigrinum Extract, Opuntia Tuna Fruit Extract, Caffeine, Acrylates Copolymer, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Caprylyl Glycol, Cholesterol, Ergothioneine, Glycerin, Sucrose, Alcaligenes Polysaccharides, Thermus Thermophillus Ferment, Sorbitan Sesquiisostearate, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Hexylene Glycol, Acrylates/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Copolymer, Sodium Hydroxide, Dehydroxanthan Gum, Dipropylene Glycol, Carbomer, PPG-8-Ceteth-20, Dextrin Palmitate, Cyclodextrin, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Sorbeth-30 Tetraisostearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, BHT, Ethylbisiminomethylguaiacol Manganese Chloride, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol
Water
Skin ConditioningZinc Oxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Cyclohexasiloxane
Emollient
Butyloctyl Salicylate
Skin Conditioning
Propanediol
Solvent
Propylheptyl Caprylate
EmollientIsododecane
EmollientCaprylyl Methicone
Skin Conditioning
Lauryl Polyglyceryl-3 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Methyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Adansonia Digitata Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningCryptomeria Japonica Leaf Extract
HumectantNelumbo Nucifera Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningSaccharomyces Ferment Filtrate
Humectant
Glyceryl Glucoside
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Triethoxycaprylylsilane
Artemisia Annua Extract
Masking
Anthemis Nobilis Flower Oil
Masking
Pinus Sylvestris Leaf Oil
Masking
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAscorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-2 Dipolyhydroxystearate
Skin Conditioning
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingMagnesium Sulfate
Water, Zinc Oxide, Cyclohexasiloxane, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Propanediol, Propylheptyl Caprylate, Isododecane, Caprylyl Methicone, Lauryl Polyglyceryl-3 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Methyl Trimethicone, Adansonia Digitata Seed Extract, Cryptomeria Japonica Leaf Extract, Nelumbo Nucifera Leaf Extract, Saccharomyces Ferment Filtrate, Glyceryl Glucoside, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hyaluronic Acid, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Artemisia Annua Extract, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Oil, Pinus Sylvestris Leaf Oil, Ethylhexylglycerin, Ascorbic Acid, Tocopherol, Glyceryl Caprylate, Caprylyl Glycol, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, 1,2-Hexanediol, Polyglyceryl-2 Dipolyhydroxystearate, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Magnesium Sulfate
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolCaprylyl 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 GlycolGlycerin (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 GlycerinPolymethylsilsesquioxane is a silicone used as a film forming agent.
When applied to the skin, this ingredient creates an invisible film on the surface. This film still allows oxygen to pass through, but prevents moisture from escaping. This can help condition and hydrate the skin. It also leaves a silky feel when applied.
Polymethylsilsesquioxane has not been shown to clog pores. It has been deemed safe to use up to 55%, but most cosmetics use much less.
If you have concerns about using this ingredient, we recommend speaking with a professional.
Learn more about PolymethylsilsesquioxaneSodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateWater. 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
