Glow Lab Tinted SPF 15 Facial Moisturiser Versus La Roche-Posay Uvidea Anthelios Tinted BB Cream SPF 50+
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Octocrylene 8%
UV AbsorberButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 1.3%
UV AbsorberTitanium Dioxide 4.2%
Cosmetic ColorantWater
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientCocos Nucifera Oil
MaskingCetyl Alcohol
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingDicaprylyl Ether
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientCeteareth-20
CleansingPolyglyceryl-3 Stearate
EmulsifyingSucrose Stearate
EmollientTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingIron Oxides
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil
MaskingCitronellol
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingOctocrylene 8%, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 1.3%, Titanium Dioxide 4.2%, Water, Glycerin, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Cetyl Alcohol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Dicaprylyl Ether, Glyceryl Stearate, Ceteareth-20, Polyglyceryl-3 Stearate, Sucrose Stearate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Xanthan Gum, Iron Oxides, Mica, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Citronellol, Geraniol, Limonene
Water
Skin ConditioningCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV AbsorberGlycerin
HumectantDrometrizole Trisiloxane
UV AbsorberDimethicone
EmollientAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic ColorantTerephthalylidene Dicamphor Sulfonic Acid
UV AbsorberPropylene Glycol
HumectantDiethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV FilterTriethanolamine
BufferingCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantBis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin ConditioningStearic Acid
CleansingPotassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningAluminum Hydroxide
EmollientBHT
AntioxidantButylene Glycol
HumectantButyrospermum Parkii Seedcake Extract
Skin ProtectingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCarnosine
Skin ConditioningCetyl Alcohol
EmollientDisodium EDTA
Glyceryl Stearate
EmollientMyristic Acid
CleansingMyristyl Alcohol
EmollientPalmitic Acid
EmollientPEG-100 Stearate
Phenoxyethanol
PreservativeSodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Cocoyl Sarcosinate
CleansingStearyl Alcohol
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantTromethamine
BufferingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingWater, CI 77891, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Glycerin, Drometrizole Trisiloxane, Dimethicone, Alcohol Denat., Titanium Dioxide, Terephthalylidene Dicamphor Sulfonic Acid, Propylene Glycol, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Triethanolamine, CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Stearic Acid, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Pentylene Glycol, Aluminum Hydroxide, BHT, Butylene Glycol, Butyrospermum Parkii Seedcake Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, Carbomer, Carnosine, Cetyl Alcohol, Disodium EDTA, Glyceryl Stearate, Myristic Acid, Myristyl Alcohol, Palmitic Acid, PEG-100 Stearate, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Cocoyl Sarcosinate, Stearyl Alcohol, Tocopherol, Tromethamine, Xanthan Gum
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Cetyl Alcohol is a fatty alcohol. Fatty Alcohols are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product.
Its main roles are:
Though it has "alcohol" in the name, it is not related to denatured alcohol or ethyl alcohol.
The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
Learn more about Cetyl AlcoholGlycerin (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 GlycerinGlyceryl Stearate is made by reacting glycerin with stearic acid (typically sourced from plant oils like palm or coconut). It's an emulsifier, emollient, and mild occlusive.
Emulsifiers help ingredients like oil and water stay mixed so your formula stays nicely blended and uniform in texture.
This ingredient is typically used in concentrations between 1-10%. Studies have found it to be non-sensitizing, non-phototoxic, and non-photoallergenic.
A close cousin of this ingredient is Glyceryl Stearate SE ("self-emulsifying"). This just has a small amount of sodium or potassium stearate added so it can emulsify without a co-emulsifier.
Since this ingredient is an ester of a C18 fatty acid, it may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast can potentially metabolize within the C11-C24 range.
Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.
Learn more about Glyceryl StearatePhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent 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.
Titanium dioxide is a mineral UV filter widely used in sunscreens and cosmetics.
It is one of only two UV filters officially classified as âmineralâ by regulatory agencies, the other being zinc oxide.
Titanium dioxide provides broad-spectrum protection mostly in the UVB and UVAII range, with some protection in the UVAI range.
While its UVA protection isnât as strong as zinc oxideâs, the difference is minor.
A common myth is that mineral UV filters reflect UV light. However, modern research shows titanium dioxide absorbs UV radiation like chemical filters (~95% absorption & 5% reflection).
Thanks to its non-irritating nature, titanium dioxide is suitable for sensitive, acne-prone, or redness-prone skin. It is unlikely to cause "eye sting" like other sunscreen ingredients.
A major drawback of this ingredient is its white cast and thick texture. This is why mineral sunscreens often leave a white cast and are less cosmetically elegant than chemical/hybrid sunscreens.
To improve white cast and spreadability, micronized or nano-sized titanium dioxide is often used.
There are ongoing concerns surrounding nano-titanium oxide's impact on marine ecosystems.
There is no conclusive evidence that any form of titanium oxide (or any other sunscreen ingredients) will cause harm to marine ecosystems or coral reefs. The science is still developing but many consumers are keeping a close eye on this issue.
Please note, many destinations have reef-safety sunscreen rules. For instance, the U.S. Virgin Islands advises all visitors to use non-nano mineral sunscreens.
Nano mineral sunscreens once raised safety concerns about absorption into skin.
Extensive research has shown that they do not penetrate healthy or damaged skin; they remain safely on the surface and the top layer of dead skin (stratum corneum).
You'll likely find titanium dioxide bundled with alumina, silica, or dimethicone. These ingredients help make titanium dioxide highly photostable; this prevents it from interacting with other formula components under UV light.
Learn more about Titanium DioxideWater. 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum