Mary Kay Botanical Effects Moisturizing Lotion with SPF 30 Versus Wardah UV Shield Essential Sunscreen Gel SPF 30
Updated on July 26, 2024
Overview
Cool Features
They both contain SPF
Suited For
They're both likely to be good for dry skin, sensitive skin and scar healing
Free From
They both do not contain any common allergens, oils, parabens or sulfates
What's Inside
They both contain fragrances 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
Mary Kay Botanical Effects Moisturizing Lotion with SPF 30 36 ingredients
Wardah UV Shield Essential Sunscreen Gel SPF 30 24 ingredients
What's inside
What's inside
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
Mary Kay Botanical Effects Moisturizing Lotion with SPF 30 36 ingredients
Wardah UV Shield Essential Sunscreen Gel SPF 30 24 ingredients
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningHomosalate
Skin Conditioning
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Biosaccharide Gum-1
Skin Conditioning
Benzophenone-3
UV Absorber
Ethylhexyl Salicylate
UV Absorber
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Octocrylene
UV Absorber
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Hylocereus Undatus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Cyclohexasiloxane
Emollient
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Acrylates Crosspolymer-2
AbsorbentMethyldihydrojasmonate
MaskingIsobutyl Methyl Tetrahydropyranol
MaskingSilica
Abrasive
Disodium EDTA
Ethylene Brassylate
MaskingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin
MaskingEthyl Linalool
Masking
Triethanolamine
BufferingCyclamen Aldehyde
MaskingGamma-Undecalactone
Perfuming
Methylenedioxyphenyl Methylpropanal
Perfuming
Citronellyl Acetate
MaskingMethyl Dimethylmethylenecyclohexane Carboxylate
MaskingCitric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate
Preservative
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Homosalate, Alcohol Denat., Cyclopentasiloxane, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Benzophenone-3, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Butylene Glycol, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Octocrylene, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Hylocereus Undatus Fruit Extract, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Glycerin, Cyclohexasiloxane, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Carbomer, Sodium Acrylates Crosspolymer-2, Methyldihydrojasmonate, Isobutyl Methyl Tetrahydropyranol, Silica, Disodium EDTA, Ethylene Brassylate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Ethyl Linalool, Triethanolamine, Cyclamen Aldehyde, Gamma-Undecalactone, Methylenedioxyphenyl Methylpropanal, Citronellyl Acetate, Methyl Dimethylmethylenecyclohexane Carboxylate, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, Phenoxyethanol
Water
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV Absorber
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
4-Methylbenzylidene Camphor
UV Absorber
Acrylates Copolymer
Polyacrylamide
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Dimethicone
Emollient
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Triethanolamine
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
C13-14 Isoparaffin
Emollient
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Laureth-7
EmulsifyingDimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion Stabilising
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Disodium EDTA
Triethylene Glycol
Masking
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Dimethiconol
Emollient
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Water, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Propylene Glycol, 4-Methylbenzylidene Camphor, Acrylates Copolymer, Polyacrylamide, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Dimethicone, Panthenol, Cyclopentasiloxane, Triethanolamine, Phenoxyethanol, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Laureth-7, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Carbomer, Tocopheryl Acetate, Disodium EDTA, Triethylene Glycol, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Dimethiconol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract is an extract of the leaves of the aloe, Aloe barbadensis, Liliaceae.
Aloe is one of the most well-known natural soothing ingredients, and for good reason. It’s full of water and has a cooling, calming effect on the skin, especially when it’s sunburned, itchy, or irritated. Aloe also helps your skin stay hydrated and smooth by mimicking what healthy skin naturally produces. On top of that, it contains vitamins and nutrients that support skin recovery.Â
It doesn’t protect you from the sun, but it can help your skin bounce back after too much time in it.
Let’s get into the details:
Aloe contains antioxidant Vitamins A, C, and E, which help fight off free radicals (unstable molecules from things like pollution that can damage your skin).
It’s also rich in polysaccharides, which are natural sugars that help hydrate the skin by acting like the skin’s own moisturizing agents. These, along with other sugars like monosaccharides, help form a protective barrier that locks in moisture.
Aloe works as both a humectant and an emollient. That means it draws water into the skin (humectant) and helps trap it there (emollient), making it an effective natural moisturizer.
You’ll also find a mix of other skin-supporting ingredients in aloe, including folic acid, choline, calcium, amino acids, fatty acids, and even Vitamin B12.
Out of the 420+ species of aloe, Aloe barbadensis is the most widely used in skincare products thanks to its gentle yet effective properties.
There are over 420 species of aloe but Aloe Barbadensis is the most commonly used for topical products.
Learn more about Aloe Barbadensis Leaf ExtractAlso known as Avobenzone, this ingredient is a chemical sunscreen filter that provides protection in the UV-A range.
Avobenzone is globally approved and is the most commonly used UV-A filter in the world.
Studies have found that avobenzone becomes ineffective when exposed to UV light (it is not photostable; meaning that it breaks down in sunlight). Because of this, formulations that include avobenzone will usually contain stabilizers such as octocrylene.
However, some modern formulations (looking at you, EU!) are able to stabilize avobenzone by coating the molecules.
Avobenzone does not protect against the UV-B range, so it's important to check that the sunscreen you're using contains other UV filters that do!
The highest concentration of avobenzone permitted is 3% in the US, and 5% in the EU.
Learn more about Butyl MethoxydibenzoylmethaneCarbomer is a polymer of acrylic acid. Its main role is to create a gel consistency.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Cyclopentasiloxane, or D5, is a silicone used to improve texture of products and trap moisture.
D5 is considered lightweight and volatile. Volatile means it evaporates quickly after application. Once evaporated, D5 leaves a thin barrier that helps keep skin hydrated.
It is also an emollient. Emollients help soften the skin and prevent water loss. Silicones create a silky texture in products. D5 helps other ingredients become more spreadable.
Studies show D5 is safe to use in skincare products. We recommend speaking with a skincare professional if you have concerns.
Learn more about CyclopentasiloxaneDisodium EDTA plays a role in making products more stable by aiding other preservatives.
It is a chelating agent, meaning it neutralizes metal ions that may be found in a product.
Disodium EDTA is a salt of edetic acid and is found to be safe in cosmetic ingredients.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAPhenoxyethanol 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.
Sodium Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.
Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.
Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.
It is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.
Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.
We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.
Learn more about Sodium BenzoateTriethanolamine is an emulsifier and pH adjuster. It is created using ethylene oxide and ammonia. This gives Triethanolamine a nitrogen core and a similar scent to ammonia.
As an emulsifier, it prevents ingredients from separating and enhances texture by adding volume to a product.
PH adjusters are common in cosmetic products. The pH of a product can affect the effectiveness of other ingredients. A product with a high pH may also irritate the skin.
Learn more about TriethanolamineWater. 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 WaterIngredient Ratings
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When to use
Mary Kay Botanical Effects Moisturizing Lotion with SPF 30 36 ingredients
Wardah UV Shield Essential Sunscreen Gel SPF 30 24 ingredients
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