Hourglass Cosmetics Veil Hydrating Skin Tint Foundation Versus EltaMD, Inc UV Daily Tinted Face Sunscreen SPF 40
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Propanediol
Solvent
Squalane
Emollient
C9-12 Alkane
SolventErythritol
Humectant
Dicaprylyl Ether
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-6 Polyricinoleate
Emulsifying
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingDistarch Phosphate
AbsorbentPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Polyglyceryl-2 Isostearate
Emulsifying
Magnesium Sulfate
Zinc Stearate
Cosmetic ColorantSodium Benzoate
Masking
Sodium Dehydroacetate
Preservative
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter Extract
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Benzoic Acid
Masking
Propylene Carbonate
SolventSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Dehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
Lecithin
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Nephelium Lappaceum Peel Extract
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantIron Oxides
Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Propanediol, Squalane, C9-12 Alkane, Erythritol, Dicaprylyl Ether, Polyglyceryl-6 Polyricinoleate, Octyldodecanol, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Distarch Phosphate, Phenoxyethanol, Polyglyceryl-2 Isostearate, Magnesium Sulfate, Zinc Stearate, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Benzoic Acid, Propylene Carbonate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Dehydroacetic Acid, Lecithin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tocopherol, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Nephelium Lappaceum Peel Extract, Citric Acid, Stearic Acid, CI 77891, Iron Oxides
Water
Skin ConditioningPetrolatum
Emollient
Isopropyl Palmitate
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Oleth-3 Phosphate
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPolyisobutene
Cetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
Octyldodecyl Neopentanoate
EmollientEthylhexyl Stearate
Emollient
Polyether-1
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
PEG-7 Trimethylolpropane Coconut Ether
Emulsifying
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate
Preservative
Citric Acid
Buffering
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Triethoxycaprylylsilane
Iron Oxides
Water, Petrolatum, Isopropyl Palmitate, Dimethicone, Cetearyl Alcohol, Oleth-3 Phosphate, Phenoxyethanol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Polyisobutene, Cetearyl Glucoside, Octyldodecyl Neopentanoate, Ethylhexyl Stearate, Polyether-1, Butylene Glycol, PEG-7 Trimethylolpropane Coconut Ether, Sodium Hyaluronate, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, Citric Acid, Tocopheryl Acetate, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Iron Oxides
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Citric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidPhenoxyethanol 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.
Sodium 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 WaterThis ingredient is a combination of red, black, and yellow iron oxide pigments. This combination of colors is usually found in foundation, because it results in a "skin" color.
The EU typically uses CI numbers for colorants when applicable, such as CI 77489. In the US, iron oxides are regulated as color additives and "iron oxides" is the most commonly used name in US cosmetic practice.
A 2021 paper looked at skincare formulations containing iron oxides and found that they reduced transmission of blue light when measured optically. In simple terms, the pigment particles helped block or scatter part of the visible light spectrum in lab testing and the authors suggest this could translate into better protection against blue-light-related skin effects.
There is also clinical and experimental research showing that tinted products containing iron oxides can reduce visible light-induced pigmentation:
Please note, whether a product reduces visible or blue light depends on things like:
In the EU's CosIng database, iron oxides are only listed as a colorant. CosIng groups ingredients by their main cosmetic role, such as colorant, preservative, or UV filter.
Though studies say iron oxides can "attenuate blue light", they're describing an optical property and not an officially recognized cosmetic function.
So CosIng isn’t contradicting the research. It’s just classifying iron oxides by what they officially are: pigments that add color.
Learn more about Iron Oxides
