Estée Lauder Perfectionist Pro Multi-Defense Aqua UV Gel SPF 50 Versus SkinCeuticals Physical Fusion UV Defense 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
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Zinc Oxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
Emollient
Isododecane
EmollientC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialUndecane
EmollientTriethylhexanoin
MaskingIsohexadecane
EmollientNylon-12
Caprylyl Methicone
Skin Conditioning
Butyloctyl Salicylate
Skin Conditioning
Phenethyl Benzoate
Emollient
Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer
Silica
Abrasive
Tridecane
Perfuming
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientDicaprylyl Ether
Emollient
Talc
Abrasive
Dimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer
Aluminum Stearate
Cosmetic ColorantPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Alumina
Abrasive
Polyhydroxystearic Acid
Emulsifying
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Magnesium Sulfate
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Iron Oxides
PEG-8 Laurate
Emulsifying
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingTriethoxycaprylylsilane
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Propylene Carbonate
SolventArtemia Extract
Skin ConditioningBenzoic Acid
Masking
C9-15 Fluoroalcohol Phosphate
Skin ConditioningPEG-9
HumectantTitanium Dioxide, Zinc Oxide, Water, Dimethicone, Isododecane, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Undecane, Triethylhexanoin, Isohexadecane, Nylon-12, Caprylyl Methicone, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Phenethyl Benzoate, Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer, Silica, Tridecane, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Dicaprylyl Ether, Talc, Dimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer, Aluminum Stearate, Pentylene Glycol, PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Alumina, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Magnesium Sulfate, Caprylyl Glycol, Iron Oxides, PEG-8 Laurate, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Tocopherol, Propylene Carbonate, Artemia Extract, Benzoic Acid, C9-15 Fluoroalcohol Phosphate, PEG-9
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caprylyl 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 GlycolPhenoxyethanol is one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.
Learn more about PhenoxyethanolWater. 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
