Merit Beauty The Uniform Tinted Mineral Sunscreen SPF 45 Versus bareMinerals Complexion Rescue All-Over Luminizer Mineral SPF 20
This hybrid sunscreen covers the full UV range and blocks ~98% of UVB at SPF 45.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Zinc Oxide
Cosmetic ColorantWater
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventC13-15 Alkane
SolventIsoamyl Laurate
EmollientButyloctyl Salicylate
Skin ConditioningZea Mays Starch
AbsorbentPolyglyceryl-4 Diisostearate/Polyhydroxystearate/Sebacate
EmulsifyingC15-19 Alkane
SolventCoco-Caprylate
EmollientPolyhydroxystearic Acid
EmulsifyingMagnesium Sulfate
Diglycerin
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingQuaternium-90 Bentonite
Hydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantDisteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingLauroyl Lysine
Skin ConditioningTriethyl Citrate
MaskingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingCellulose
AbsorbentEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPolyglycerin-3
HumectantPolyglycerin-4
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantTocopherol
AntioxidantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantZinc Oxide, Water, Propanediol, C13-15 Alkane, Isoamyl Laurate, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Zea Mays Starch, Polyglyceryl-4 Diisostearate/Polyhydroxystearate/Sebacate, C15-19 Alkane, Coco-Caprylate, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Magnesium Sulfate, Diglycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Quaternium-90 Bentonite, Hydroxyacetophenone, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Lauroyl Lysine, Triethyl Citrate, Caprylyl Glycol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sorbitan Isostearate, Cellulose, Ethylhexylglycerin, Polyglycerin-3, Polyglycerin-4, Glycerin, Tocopherol, CI 77891, CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic ColorantWater
Skin ConditioningCoconut Alkanes
EmollientPropanediol
SolventSqualane
EmollientMica
Cosmetic ColorantTrehalose
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantSorbitan Sesquiisostearate
EmulsifyingAgar
MaskingIsostearic Acid
CleansingPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingSilica
AbrasiveGlobularia Cordifolia Callus Culture Extract
Skin ConditioningSalicornia Herbacea Extract
Skin ConditioningMelilotus Officinalis Extract
AstringentSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
EmollientAluminum Hydroxide
EmollientHydrogen Dimethicone
Polyglyceryl-4 Laurate/Succinate
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingButylene Glycol
HumectantLauroyl Lysine
Skin ConditioningCellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingCalcium Chloride
AstringentSuccinoglycan
Skin ConditioningSynthetic Fluorphlogopite
Magnesium Chloride
Potassium Chloride
Coumarin
PerfumingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativePhenoxyethanol
PreservativeIron Oxides
CI 15850
Cosmetic ColorantTitanium Dioxide, Water, Coconut Alkanes, Propanediol, Squalane, Mica, Trehalose, Glycerin, Sorbitan Sesquiisostearate, Agar, Isostearic Acid, Polysorbate 60, Silica, Globularia Cordifolia Callus Culture Extract, Salicornia Herbacea Extract, Melilotus Officinalis Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Aluminum Hydroxide, Hydrogen Dimethicone, Polyglyceryl-4 Laurate/Succinate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Butylene Glycol, Lauroyl Lysine, Cellulose Gum, Calcium Chloride, Succinoglycan, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Magnesium Chloride, Potassium Chloride, Coumarin, Potassium Sorbate, Phenoxyethanol, Iron Oxides, CI 15850
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride (aka MCT Oil) is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping to prevent moisture loss.
Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. One perk of this ingredient is that it is very stable, resistant to oxidation, and unlikely to go rancid.
In practice, that translates to a long shelf life and a consistently elegant skin feel.
While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this. Just patch test if you have concerns.
Fractionated coconut oil and MCT Oil are both listed as Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride according to INCI. This is because INCI names are based on the ingredient’s final chemical composition and not its marketing name or source.
This ingredient is treated as the gold standard fungal acne safe oil. Even though it is coconut derived, the problematic lauric acid is stripped out.
This leaves just caprylic (C8) and capric (C10) acid. These chain lengths actually trend antifungal; a 2020 study found caprylic acid was enough to disrupt Malassezia furfur cell membrane, with a caprylic acid derivative damaging membrane structures at concentrations as low as 0.2%.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideGlycerin (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 GlycerinThis ingredient comes from a fatty acid (lauric acid) and amino acid (lysine). It is used to add a silky feel to cosmetics.
According to a manufacturer, its fatty acid base leaves a silky feeling on the skin. It also has emollient properties because of this. Emollients help soften skin by preventing water from evaporating.
Lauroyl lysine is barely soluble in water.
Learn more about Lauroyl LysinePropanediol 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 Water