Versus

KAHI Aqua Balm SPF 50 PA++++ Versus Round Lab Birch Moisturizing Sunscreen SPF 50+ PA++++

Sunscreen
Sunscreen
Korean Brand South Korea
Korean Brand South Korea

Updated on February 08, 2024

Overview

What they are

These products are both sunscreens. They have a total of 6 ingredients in common

Cool Features

They both contain SPF and Vitamin E

Suited For

They're both likely to be good for anti aging, dry skin, reducing pores and scar healing

Free From

They both do not contain any sulfates

What's Inside

They both contain fragrances, oils and silicones

We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that needs an update? Let us know.

Ingredient Info

Click any item below to learn more and see relevant ingredients

About this product

About this product

At a glance

Click on any of the items below to learn more

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

found in both products
Aqua Balm SPF 50 PA++++

Butylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate

Emollient

Dimethicone

Emollient
1 / 0 Silicon Icon

Silica

Abrasive
Exfoliant IconMay worsen Eczema IconMay worsen Rosacea Icon

Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate

UV Absorber
0 / 0 Chemical UV Filter IconMay cause irritation IconNon-Reef-Safe Icon

Polyethylene

Abrasive
Exfoliant Icon

Butyloctyl Salicylate

Skin Conditioning
Non-Reef-Safe Icon

Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer

Diphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone

Skin Conditioning
Silicon Icon

Dicaprylyl Carbonate

Emollient

Ethylhexyl Salicylate

UV Absorber
0 / 0 Chemical UV Filter IconNon-Reef-Safe IconMay worsen Rosacea Icon

Cetyl Ethylhexanoate

Emollient

Triethylhexanoin

Masking

Paraffin

Perfuming
Fragrance IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate

UV Filter
Chemical UV Filter Icon

Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine

Skin Conditioning
Chemical UV Filter Icon

Octocrylene

UV Absorber
Chemical UV Filter IconNon-Reef-Safe IconMay worsen Eczema Icon

Sorbitan Isostearate

Emulsifying
1-2 / 0 Not safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Microcrystalline Wax

Emulsion Stabilising
Not safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Glycyrrhiza Uralensis Extract

Emollient

Caesalpinia Spinosa Fruit Extract

Skin Protecting

Bacillus Ferment

Skin Conditioning
Not safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Candida/Garcinia Cambogia Ferment

Kappaphycus Alvarezii Extract

Skin Conditioning

Oryza Sativa Germ Oil

Emollient
Oil IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Schisandra Chinensis Fruit Extract

Skin Conditioning

Hydrolyzed Collagen

Emollient
Helps hydrate Dry Skin IconHelps with Anti-Aging Icon

Lithospermum Erythrorhizon Root Extract

Skin Conditioning

Curcuma Longa Root Extract

Masking
Fragrance Icon

Phytosteryl/Isostearyl/Cetyl/Stearyl/Behenyl Dimer Dilinoleate

Skin Conditioning

Hydrogenated Polyisobutene

Emollient
1 / 2

Ethylhexyl Hydroxystearate

Emollient
Not safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Disteardimonium Hectorite

Stabilising

Propylene Carbonate

Solvent

Caprylyl Glycol

Emollient

Glyceryl Caprylate

Emollient

Adenosine

Skin Conditioning
Good for Minimizing Pores IconGood for Scar Healing Icon

Aluminum Hydroxide

Emollient

Triethoxycaprylylsilane

Tocopherol

Antioxidant
0-3 / 0-3 Vitamin E IconAntioxidant IconHelps hydrate Dry Skin IconHelps with Anti-Aging IconGood for Scar Healing Icon

Water

Skin Conditioning

Butylene Glycol

Humectant
1 / 0 Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

1,2-Hexanediol

Skin Conditioning

Soluble Proteoglycan

Skin Conditioning

Sodium Dna

Skin Conditioning

Parfum

Masking
Fragrance IconMay worsen Eczema IconMay worsen Rosacea Icon

Butylparaben

Masking
Preservative IconParaben IconCan worsen Dry Skin IconNon-Reef-Safe IconMay worsen Eczema Icon

Hexyl Cinnamal

Perfuming
Fragrance IconMay cause irritation IconEU Allergen Icon

Benzyl Salicylate

Perfuming
Fragrance IconMay cause irritation IconEU Allergen Icon

Hydroxycitronellal

Perfuming
Fragrance IconMay cause irritation IconEU Allergen Icon

Citronellol

Perfuming
Fragrance IconMay cause irritation IconEU Allergen Icon

Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone

Perfuming
Fragrance IconMay cause irritation IconEU Allergen Icon

Linalool

Perfuming
Fragrance IconMay cause irritation IconEU Allergen IconMay worsen Eczema IconMay worsen Rosacea Icon

Titanium Dioxide

Cosmetic Colorant
0 / 0 Mineral UV Filter IconNon-Reef-Safe Icon

CI 77163

Cosmetic Colorant

Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract

Skin Conditioning
Birch Moisturizing Sunscreen SPF 50+ PA++++

Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.

Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate (DHHB) is a chemical UV-A absorber. It is formulated for high UVA protection (320-400 nm).

DHHB is well-liked for:

DHHB has been approved by the EU, Japan, Taiwan, and South America for use up to 10%. Unfortunately, it has not been approved for use in the US or Canada due to slow regulatory processes.

This ingredient is soluble in oils, fats, and lipids.

Learn more about Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
Skin Conditioning

Adenosine is in every living organism. It is one of four components in nucleic acids that helps store our DNA.

Adenosine has many benefits when used. These benefits include hydrating the skin, smoothing skin, and reducing wrinkles. Once applied, adenosine increases collagen production. It also helps with improving firmness and tissue repair.

Studies have found adenosine may also help with wound healing.

In skincare products, Adenosine is usually derived from yeast.

Learn more about Adenosine
Antioxidant, Masking, Skin Conditioning

Tocopherol (also known as Vitamin E) is a common antioxidant used to help protect the skin from free-radicals and strengthen the skin barrier. It's also fat soluble - this means our skin is great at absorbing it.

Vitamin E also helps keep your natural skin lipids healthy. Your lipid skin barrier naturally consists of lipids, ceramides, and fatty acids. Vitamin E offers extra protection for your skin’s lipid barrier, keeping your skin healthy and nourished.

Another benefit is a bit of UV protection. Vitamin E helps reduce the damage caused by UVB rays. (It should not replace your sunscreen). Combining it with Vitamin C can decrease sunburned cells and hyperpigmentation after UV exposure.

You might have noticed Vitamin E + C often paired together. This is because it is great at stabilizing Vitamin C. Using the two together helps increase the effectiveness of both ingredients.

There are often claims that Vitamin E can reduce/prevent scarring, but these claims haven't been confirmed by scientific research.

Learn more about Tocopherol
Skin Conditioning, Solvent

Water. 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. Stay hydrated!

Learn more about Water
Humectant, Masking, Skin Conditioning

Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:

  • It is a solvent, meaning that it helps to dissolve other ingredients. This also enhances the absorption of the product into one's skin.
  • It is a humectant, which means that it helps attract moisture into the skin.
  • It helps improve product application.
  • It has mild preservative properties.

Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.

Skin Conditioning, Solvent

1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse. 

It is a:

  • Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
  • Emollient, helping to soften skin
  • Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
  • Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives 

When to use

2 Routines
100% use in am
0% use in pm
100% use every day
2,211 Routines
97% use in am
3% use in pm
96% use every day
When to use See routines that use it ->

Reviews

Here's what our community thinks

KAHI Aqua Balm SPF 50 PA++++ 55 ingredients

Aqua Balm SPF 50 PA++++ hasn't been rated yet.
Rate it now

Round Lab Birch Moisturizing Sunscreen SPF 50+ PA++++ 40 ingredients

3.9 /5
from 59 ratings
Light (25) Absorbs Well (24) Works Well (22)
Alllisda_idiot's avatar

Alllisda_idiot

10 months ago
Review

It's not the most hydrating sunscreen I've ever used and its texture is reminiscent of a slightly thick serum or an emulsion. It feels good on my skin and did not break me out. No white cast whatsoever, didn't require any blending in, and applied without a tacky finish. One of the sunscreens with the least pilling I've tried, but did very very very slightly pill on the area around the eyes after a Show more

#light
#absorbs well
#no scent
#works well
Lapaki's avatar

Lapaki

1 year ago
Review

This reef-safe chemical sunscreen stands out with its naturally glowy and non-greasy finish. It has the texture of a medium moist cream, spreads nicely and dries quickly in just a few minutes, making it easy to apply. It leaves no greasy or sticky residue, and there's no white cast or pilling to worry about. Notably, this sunscreen is highly moisturizing and can effectively replace the need for an Show more

#hydrating
#light
#absorbs well
#no scent