La Roche-Posay Effaclar Micro-Exfoliating Astringent Toner Versus MDSolarSciences Gleam + Glow SPF 50
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%
UV Absorber
Octocrylene 2.75%
UV Absorber
Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%
UV Absorber
Water
Skin ConditioningButyloctyl Salicylate
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Zea Mays Oil
Emulsifying
Polyester-8
Skin Conditioning
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Polysilicone-15
UV Filter
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingCeramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialNiacinamide
Smoothing
Tremella Fuciformis Extract
Humectant
Vitis Vinifera Callus Culture Extract
Macadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Sesamum Indicum Seed Oil
Emollient
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
Masking
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Diatomaceous Earth
Abrasive
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Ferric Hexapeptide-35
Skin Conditioning
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Chamomilla Recutita Extract
Skin Conditioning
Laminaria Digitata Extract
Skin Protecting
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
Antioxidant
Rosa Moschata Seed Oil
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Tbhq
Antioxidant
Phenylpropanol
Masking
Lecithin
Emollient
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingTeprenone
Skin ConditioningProline
Skin Conditioning
Sorbitol
Humectant
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCholesterol
Emollient
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingSynthetic Fluorphlogopite
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantMica
Cosmetic ColorantButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%, Octocrylene 2.75%, Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%, Water, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Glycerin, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Dimethicone, Zea Mays Oil, Polyester-8, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Polysilicone-15, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Phytosphingosine, Allantoin, Panthenol, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Niacinamide, Tremella Fuciformis Extract, Vitis Vinifera Callus Culture Extract, Macadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Sesamum Indicum Seed Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Caffeine, Diatomaceous Earth, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Ferric Hexapeptide-35, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Extract, Laminaria Digitata Extract, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Rosa Moschata Seed Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Sodium Polyacrylate, Tbhq, Phenylpropanol, Lecithin, Sodium Hydroxide, Teprenone, Proline, Sorbitol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Xanthan Gum, Cholesterol, Carbomer, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, CI 77891, CI 77499, CI 77492, CI 77491, Mica
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Glycerin (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 GlycerinWater. 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
