Merit Beauty The Uniform Tinted Mineral Sunscreen SPF 45 Versus CAY SKIN Isle Glow Face Lotion SPF 45
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Zinc Oxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
C13-15 Alkane
SolventIsoamyl Laurate
Emollient
Butyloctyl Salicylate
Skin Conditioning
Zea Mays Starch
Absorbent
Polyglyceryl-4 Diisostearate/Polyhydroxystearate/Sebacate
Emulsifying
C15-19 Alkane
SolventCoco-Caprylate
Emollient
Polyhydroxystearic Acid
Emulsifying
Magnesium Sulfate
Diglycerin
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Quaternium-90 Bentonite
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingLauroyl Lysine
Skin Conditioning
Triethyl Citrate
Masking
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Cellulose
Absorbent
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPolyglycerin-3
Humectant
Polyglycerin-4
HumectantGlycerin
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
CI 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
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%
UV Absorber
Octocrylene 10%
UV Absorber
Water
Skin ConditioningButyloctyl Salicylate
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Potassium Aluminum Silicate
Diisopropyl Sebacate
EmollientDiisopropyl Adipate
EmollientC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialLauryl Lactate
EmollientGlycerin
Humectant
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantPropanediol
Solvent
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Citrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Lens Esculenta Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningChondrus Crispus Extract
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Ferulic Acid
Antimicrobial
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter
Emollient
Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Stearate Citrate
Emollient
Silica
Abrasive
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingChlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Aminomethyl Propanol
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Santalum Album Oil
Masking
Rosa Damascena Flower Oil
Masking
Myroxylon Pereirae Oil
Masking
Cupressus Sempervirens Leaf/Nut/Stem Oil
Emollient
Coffea Arabica Seed Oil
Masking
Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
Masking
Citrus Aurantium Amara Flower Oil
Masking
Amyris Balsamifera Bark Oil
Masking
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Limonium Gerberi Extract
Skin ProtectingLimonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Benzyl Benzoate
Antimicrobial
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Iron Oxides
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%, Octocrylene 10%, Water, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Sodium Potassium Aluminum Silicate, Diisopropyl Sebacate, Diisopropyl Adipate, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Lauryl Lactate, Glycerin, Mica, Propanediol, Glyceryl Stearate, Citrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Lens Esculenta Fruit Extract, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Panthenol, Niacinamide, Ferulic Acid, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter, Cetyl Phosphate, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Silica, Caprylyl Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Chlorphenesin, Aminomethyl Propanol, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Lactate, Sodium PCA, Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract, Santalum Album Oil, Rosa Damascena Flower Oil, Myroxylon Pereirae Oil, Cupressus Sempervirens Leaf/Nut/Stem Oil, Coffea Arabica Seed Oil, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Citrus Aurantium Amara Flower Oil, Amyris Balsamifera Bark Oil, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Limonium Gerberi Extract, Limonene, Linalool, Benzyl Benzoate, Titanium Dioxide, 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.
Butyloctyl 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 SalicylateCaprylic/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 TriglycerideCaprylyl 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 GlycolGlycerin (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 GlycerinPropanediol 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
