La Roche-Posay Anthelios Tinted Mineral Light Fluid Sunscreen SPF 50 Versus e.l.f. cosmetics Halo Glow Skin Tint SPF 50
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningIsododecane
EmollientC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialDimethicone
Emollient
Undecane
EmollientTriethylhexanoin
MaskingIsohexadecane
EmollientStyrene/Acrylates Copolymer
Nylon-12
Caprylyl Methicone
Skin Conditioning
Butyloctyl Salicylate
Skin Conditioning
Phenethyl Benzoate
Emollient
Silica
Abrasive
Tridecane
Perfuming
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientDicaprylyl Ether
Emollient
Talc
Abrasive
Dimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer
Aluminum Stearate
Cosmetic ColorantPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
C9-15 Fluoroalcohol Phosphate
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Diethylhexyl Syringylidenemalonate
Skin ProtectingPEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Magnesium Sulfate
PEG-8 Laurate
Emulsifying
PEG-9
HumectantPolyhydroxystearic Acid
Emulsifying
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Benzoic Acid
Masking
Iron Oxides
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Propylene Carbonate
SolventCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingCassia Alata Leaf Extract
AstringentAlumina
Abrasive
Aluminum Hydroxide
EmollientWater, Isododecane, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Dimethicone, Undecane, Triethylhexanoin, Isohexadecane, Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer, Nylon-12, Caprylyl Methicone, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Phenethyl Benzoate, Silica, Tridecane, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Dicaprylyl Ether, Talc, Dimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer, Aluminum Stearate, Pentylene Glycol, C9-15 Fluoroalcohol Phosphate, Tocopherol, Phenoxyethanol, Stearic Acid, Diethylhexyl Syringylidenemalonate, PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Magnesium Sulfate, PEG-8 Laurate, PEG-9, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Maltodextrin, Benzoic Acid, Iron Oxides, Propylene Glycol, Propylene Carbonate, Caprylyl Glycol, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Cassia Alata Leaf Extract, Alumina, Aluminum Hydroxide
Zinc Oxide 12%
Cosmetic Colorant
Water
Skin ConditioningC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialIsododecane
EmollientLauryl PEG-8 Dimethicone
Surfactant
Tridecyl Salicylate
Skin ConditioningCalcium Sodium Borosilicate
Propanediol
Solvent
Butyloctyl Salicylate
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Methicone
Skin Conditioning
Dimethicone
Emollient
Niacinamide
Smoothing
C13-15 Alkane
SolventSilica
Abrasive
Octyldodecyl Neopentanoate
EmollientPolyglyceryl-2 Dipolyhydroxystearate
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate
Emulsifying
Sodium Chloride
MaskingDisteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Lecithin
Emollient
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-4 Diisostearate/Polyhydroxystearate/Sebacate
Emulsifying
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Aluminum Hydroxide
EmollientSodium Hydroxide
BufferingCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantZinc Oxide 12%, Water, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Isododecane, Lauryl PEG-8 Dimethicone, Tridecyl Salicylate, Calcium Sodium Borosilicate, Propanediol, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Caprylyl Methicone, Dimethicone, Niacinamide, C13-15 Alkane, Silica, Octyldodecyl Neopentanoate, Polyglyceryl-2 Dipolyhydroxystearate, Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate, Sodium Chloride, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Phenoxyethanol, Bisabolol, Lecithin, Caprylyl Glycol, Allantoin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hexylene Glycol, Polyglyceryl-4 Diisostearate/Polyhydroxystearate/Sebacate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Aluminum Hydroxide, Sodium Hydroxide, CI 77891, CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Aluminum Hydroxide is a form of aluminum. It can be naturally found in nature as the mineral gibbsite. In cosmetics, Aluminum Hydroxide is used as a colorant, pH adjuster, and absorbent.
As a colorant, Aluminum Hydroxide may add opacity, or reduce the transparency. Aluminum hydroxide is contains both basic and acidic properties.
According to manufacturers, this ingredient is an emollient and humectant. This means it helps hydrate the skin.
In medicine, this ingredient is used to help relieve heartburn and help heal ulcers.
There is currently no credible scientific evidence linking aluminum hydroxide in cosmetics to increased cancer risk.
Major health organizations allow the use of aluminum hydroxide in personal care products and have not flagged it as a carcinogenic risk at typical usage levels.
Learn more about Aluminum HydroxideButyloctyl Salicylate is a chemical UV filter structurally similar to octisalate. It is a photostabilizer, SPF booster, emollient and solvent. This ingredient helps evenly spread out ingredients.
According to a manufacturer, it is suitable for pairing with micro Titanium Dioxide, Zinc Oxide, and pigments.
Photostabilizers help stabilize UV-filters and prevents them from degrading quickly.
Learn more about Butyloctyl SalicylateC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate is a lightweight emollient made by combinig benzoic acid with fatty alcohols that are 12-15 carbons long.
In cosmetics, it plays several roles:
The Cosmetic Review Expert Panel has concluded the alkyl benzoate group to be safe as used in cosmetics; it wasn't found to be a skin irritant and unlikely to be absorbed due to its low water solubility.
This report recorded almost 1000 reported uses with concentrations up to 59% in leave-on products but your cosmetics will typically use 0.5-15% depending on the product.
It's often called a "SPF booster": this is because it keeps UV filters properly dissolved and evenly distributed to support a sunscreen's performance. It doesn't actually raise SPF on its own.
Overall, this ingredient is well tolerated.
This ingredient is fungal acne safe because it is an ester of benzoic acid.
Think of this ingredient as two parts stuck together: an oily part and an acid part. Malassezia only gets a meal when it can snip off a fatty acid to eat. With C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, the acid part is benzoic acid, which isn't a fatty acid and which the yeast can't use as food.
Benzoic acid is actually used as a preservative to stop yeast from growing.
The oily part is a blend of C12-15 fatty alcohols but fatty alcohols in this size range can support only a little Malassezia growth (mostly for one species of Malassezia as well).
In the ingredient, those alcohols stay locked inside the molecule. The yeast can only reach them by snipping the benzoate bond, and that type of bond is harder for it to cut than a normal fatty bond.
So not much gets released. And whatever does get snipped comes packaged with benzoic acid, which discourages yeast growth.
Learn more about C12-15 Alkyl BenzoateCaprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolCaprylyl Methicone is a synthetic and lightweight silicone fluid. It gives products a silky, dry-touch finish without the heaviness of pure oils.
Though the EU CosIng Database lists this ingredient as a skin conditioner, it is also used for sensory reasons. It spreads easily, cuts greasiness, and reduces tackiness.
This ingredient is volatile which means it will mostly evaporate (but it evaporates slower than older cyclomethicones, like Cyclotetrasiloxane).
Typical concentration ranges from 1-30% depending on if it's being used to tweak the feel of a product or acting as the main emollient.
Learn more about Caprylyl MethiconeDimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeDisteardimonium Hectorite comes from the clay mineral named hectorite. It is used to add thickness to a product.
It can also help stabilize a product by helping to disperse other ingredients.
Hectorite is a rare, white clay mineral.
Learn more about Disteardimonium HectoriteIsododecane is a fragrance, emollient, and solvent.
As an emollient, it helps your skin stay soft and hydrated. Emollients help trap moisture into your skin.
Isododecane's role as a solvent makes it a great texture enhancer. It spreads smoothly on skin and does not leave a sticky feeling behind. Isododecane also helps prevent color transfer in makeup products.
Isododecane is not absorbed into skin.
The chemical name for this ingredient is 2,2,4,6,6-PENTAMETHYLHEPTANE.
Learn more about IsododecanePhenoxyethanol 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.
Silica, also known as silicon dioxide, is a naturally occurring mineral. It is used as a fine, spherical, and porous powder in cosmetics.
Though it has exfoliant properties, the function of silica varies depending on the product.
The unique structure of silica enhances the spreadability and adds smoothness, making it a great texture enhancer.
It is also used as an active carrier, emulsifier, and mattifier due to its ability to absorb excess oil.
In some products, tiny microneedles called spicules are made from silica or hydrolyzed sponge. When you rub them in, they lightly polish away dead skin layers and enhance the penetration of active ingredients.
Learn more about SilicaWater. 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 Water
