Kosas Revealer Skin-Improving Foundation SPF 25 Versus Ultra Violette Daydream Screen SPF 50 Tinted Veil
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
Zinc Oxide 7.5%
Cosmetic Colorant
Water
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Olivate
Skin Conditioning
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Undecane
EmollientPolyglyceryl-2 Dipolyhydroxystearate
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantCalcium Sodium Borosilicate
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate
Emulsifying
Galactoarabinan
Tridecane
Perfuming
Propanediol
Solvent
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Oleate
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Squalane
Emollient
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Arnica Montana Flower Extract
Masking
Artemisia Capillaris Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningEthyl Ferulate
Antioxidant
Sodium Gluconate
ChelatingPolyhydroxystearic Acid
Emulsifying
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Lecithin
Emollient
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Phenethyl Alcohol
MaskingCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantIron Oxides
Zinc Oxide 7.5%, Water, Ethylhexyl Olivate, Octyldodecanol, Undecane, Polyglyceryl-2 Dipolyhydroxystearate, Glycerin, Mica, Calcium Sodium Borosilicate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Niacinamide, Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate, Galactoarabinan, Tridecane, Propanediol, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Oleate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Panthenol, Squalane, Caffeine, Arnica Montana Flower Extract, Artemisia Capillaris Flower Extract, Ethyl Ferulate, Sodium Gluconate, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Maltodextrin, Pentylene Glycol, Lecithin, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Tocopherol, Phenethyl Alcohol, CI 77891, Iron Oxides
Water
Skin ConditioningHomosalate
Skin Conditioning
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Dicaprylyl Ether
Emollient
Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol
UV Filter
Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
UV Absorber
Propanediol
Solvent
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientCetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Ethylhexyl Triazone
UV Absorber
Glycerin
Humectant
Polyglyceryl-2 Dipolyhydroxystearate
Skin Conditioning
Lauryl Glucoside
CleansingOryza Sativa Bran Wax
Skin Conditioning
Microcrystalline Cellulose
AbsorbentPoly C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate
Emulsion StabilisingHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Saccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Cellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingPolyhydroxystearic Acid
Emulsifying
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate
CleansingPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Disodium EDTA
ChelatingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Citrate
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantIron Oxides
Water, Homosalate, Octyldodecanol, Dicaprylyl Ether, Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Propanediol, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Cetyl Alcohol, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Glycerin, Polyglyceryl-2 Dipolyhydroxystearate, Lauryl Glucoside, Oryza Sativa Bran Wax, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Poly C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Decyl Glucoside, Saccharide Isomerate, Cellulose Gum, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Propylene Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Xanthan Gum, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Citrate, Citric Acid, CI 77891, 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.
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.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe. It is a primary fatty alcohol with a chain length above 12 carbons. A study from 2019 show Malassezia can feed on fatty alcohols in this range, so it may trigger fungal acne in those prone to it.
Learn more about Cetyl AlcoholCi 77891 is a white pigment from Titanium dioxide. It is naturally found in minerals such as rutile and ilmenite.
It's main function is to add a white color to cosmetics. It can also be mixed with other colors to create different shades.
Ci 77891 is commonly found in sunscreens due to its ability to block UV rays.
Learn more about CI 77891Glycerin (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 GlycerinOctyldodecanol is a fatty alcohol sourced from plant oils like coconut or palm (or made synthetically).
It is:
You'll likely see this in many BHA products because this is the go-to solvent for salicylic acid.
This ingredient is typically used at levels between 2-20%.
Regarding fungal acne:
In 2019, this ingredient was tested against multiple Malassezia species (the yeast that causes fungal acne) and showed no growth.
Polyglyceryl-2 Dipolyhydroxystearate isn't fungal acne safe.
Polyhydroxystearic Acid is a vegetable-derived soft wax made from castor oil. It's an emulsion stabilizer, thickener, and film former.
You'll likely see it in sunscreens because it helps disperse pigments and UV-reflecting minerals like titanium dioxide and zinc oxide evenly.
Depending on the concentration, it can drastically change the texture of a product from pasty solid (like lipstick) to sprayable liquid.
The CIR Expert Panel for Cosmetic Ingredient Safety has concluded this ingredient to be safe in cosmetics. The highest reported use concentration is 14.2% in lipsticks.
Learn more about Polyhydroxystearic AcidPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolWater. 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
