Ipca Acne-UV Silicone Sunscreen Gel SPF 50+ Versus The Derma Co 1% Hyaluronic Sunscreen Oil-Free Gel SPF 50
This hybrid sunscreen covers the full UV range and blocks ~98% of UVB at SPF 50.
This chemical 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
Cyclopentasiloxane
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialNeopentyl Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate
EmollientSilica
AbrasiveBis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
UV AbsorberDiethylhexyl Butamido Triazone
UV AbsorberPolyhydroxystearic Acid
EmulsifyingPEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone
EmulsifyingZinc Oxide
Cosmetic ColorantTriethoxycaprylylsilane
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic ColorantAluminum Hydroxide
EmollientStearic Acid
CleansingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantMethylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol
UV FilterWater
Skin ConditioningDecyl Glucoside
CleansingPropylene Glycol
HumectantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingGlycerin
HumectantPolylysine
Polysorbate 80
EmulsifyingParfum
MaskingCyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Neopentyl Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Silica, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Diethylhexyl Butamido Triazone, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, PEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone, Zinc Oxide, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Titanium Dioxide, Aluminum Hydroxide, Stearic Acid, Tocopheryl Acetate, Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol, Water, Decyl Glucoside, Propylene Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Glycerin, Polylysine, Polysorbate 80, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
HumectantTerephthalylidene Dicamphor Sulfonic Acid
UV AbsorberButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV AbsorberPhenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid
UV AbsorberGlycerin
HumectantEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV AbsorberCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingTriethanolamine
BufferingTapioca Starch
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Ethylhexyl Salicylate
UV AbsorberMethylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol
UV FilterDecyl Glucoside
CleansingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingIsododecane
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantCetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientCeteareth-20
CleansingGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientXylitylglucoside
HumectantAnhydroxylitol
HumectantXylitol
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingPolyester-7
Skin ConditioningNeopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate
EmollientSodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentVaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract
Skin ProtectingAllantoin
Skin ConditioningEthoxydiglycol
HumectantCapsicum Annuum Fruit Extract
AntimicrobialZinc PCA
HumectantSodium Gluconate
ChelatingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantBHT
AntioxidantWater, Propylene Glycol, Terephthalylidene Dicamphor Sulfonic Acid, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid, Glycerin, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Triethanolamine, Tapioca Starch, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol, Decyl Glucoside, Xanthan Gum, Isododecane, Sodium Hyaluronate, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Ceteareth-20, Glyceryl Stearate, Xylitylglucoside, Anhydroxylitol, Xylitol, Niacinamide, Polyester-7, Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate, Sodium Polyacrylate, Vaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract, Allantoin, Ethoxydiglycol, Capsicum Annuum Fruit Extract, Zinc PCA, Sodium Gluconate, Tocopheryl Acetate, BHT
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Decyl Glucoside is a plant-derived surfactant and emulsion stabilizer. It is created by reacting glucose with the fatty acids from plants.
Like all surfactants, it works by lowering the surface tension between water and oil. This makes it so that dirt, sebum, and makeup can be lifted off your skin and rinsed away. It also produces a dense and creamy foam.
Because it has a neutral charge, it is compatible with a wide range of ingredients and stays stable across a broad pH range/water hardiness conditions.
Patch testing has shown it to have the lowest irritation potential among common cleansing surfactants (like SLS).
Typical use levels range from 5-20% in rinse-off cleansers.
One thing worth knowing: The American Contact Dermatitis Society named the parent family, alkyl glucosides, "Allergen of the Year" in 2017. The prevalence of allergy is pretty low but be sure to patch test if you've reacted to "gentle" or sulfate-free cleansers before.
This ingredient is fungal acne safe because the fatty alcohol portion of this ingredient is not within the C11-24 chain length that Malassezia can metabolize.
Learn more about Decyl GlucosideGlycerin (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 GlycerinThis ingredient is also known as Tinosorb M or Bisoctrizole and is a bit of an overachiever in the sunscreen world.
It's a hybrid broad-spectrum filter that covers UVA and UVB (~280-400nm) with peak absorption around 305nm for UVB or 360nm for UVA (and a tiny bit in blue-light territory as well).
One of its best party tricks is photostability; it doesn't break down with repeated sun exposure and doesn't generate free radicals in the process either. You'll also see it paired with wobbly filters like avobenzone because it helps stabilize them.
The safety profile is assuring as well. Because it's a large molecule, it doesn't easily absorb into skin and rarely causes irritation.
It's approved in the EU, Asia, and Australia up to 10% and most formulas land somewhere in the 2-10% range.
You won't find it as a sunscreen active in the US, but it can make an appearance as a formula-protecting UV-absorber.
Learn more about Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl TetramethylbutylphenolPropylene Glycol is a synthetic, colorless, odorless liquid that has been a staple in cosmetics for decades. It is a skin conditioning agent, humectant, and solvent.
As a humectant, it draw water to the skin to reduce flaking and restore suppleness. It's also a solvent that helps dissolve other actives and keeps formulas stable across temperature changes.
The CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be nontoxic and clinical studies show no sensitization at cosmetic use concentrations.
True allergic reactions are quite rare: a 15-year retrospective study of 6,751 patients found only 0.31% had a positive reaction (and less than half were considered clinically relevant).
It seemed that when sensitization does occur, it's most commonly linked to topical medication (like corticosteroids) and not cosmetics. Allergic contact dermatitis also appears largely limited to individuals with underlying skin conditions.
Overall, propylene glycol is a well-studied ingredient that most people can tolerate without issue.
Learn more about Propylene GlycolTocopheryl Acetate is a stable, shelf-friendly form of vitamin E.
Formulators love it because plain vitamin E oxidizes quickly once it hits air. This acetate version stays stable and resists going off, helping to extend a product's shelf life.
It's actually inactive on its own and works like a slow-release "storage" form; the enzymes in your skin called esterases gradually convert it into active vitamin E over time.
One in vivo study showed 5% of the acetate in the living layer of the epidermis converted to vitamin E after 5 days of application. This study also found the skin gained protection against UV damage even though the conversion was slow and small.
Once converted, vitamin E acts as a skin's main fat-soluble antioxidant that fights free radicals to protect skin from damage.
Topical vitamin E generally boosts the skin's photoprotection, and it reduced UV-damage in animal models.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
Overall, it has a pretty solid safety profile and has been found to be non-irritating and non-comedogenic. Allergic reactions may happen but stay rare due to how widely the ingredient gets used.
The concentration will vary depending on the formula; industry data shows 0.1% in baby lotions, 3% in lipsticks, and 5% in foot powders. You can also find this ingredient at 100% in a pure vitamin E oil.
Most leave-on skincare keeps it at the lower end, often between 0.5-1%.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateWater. 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