Merit Beauty The Uniform Tinted Mineral Sunscreen SPF 45 Versus Jane Iredale Dream Tint Tinted Moisturizer SPF 15
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No 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
Titanium Dioxide 5%
Cosmetic Colorant
Water
Skin ConditioningStearic Acid
Cleansing
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Octyldodecyl Neopentanoate
EmollientLeuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Lactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantSpirulina Platensis Extract
Skin ProtectingHydrolyzed Rhodophyceae Extract
Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
Masking
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Sambucus Nigra Extract
Skin ConditioningBoron Nitride
Absorbent
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract
Antimicrobial
Punica Granatum Extract
AstringentLavandula Angustifolia Oil
Masking
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Polyhydroxystearic Acid
Emulsifying
Alumina
Abrasive
Linalool
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
CI 77489
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77288
Cosmetic ColorantTitanium Dioxide 5%, Water, Stearic Acid, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Octyldodecyl Neopentanoate, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Lactobacillus Ferment, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Spirulina Platensis Extract, Hydrolyzed Rhodophyceae Extract, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Sambucus Nigra Extract, Boron Nitride, Mica, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract, Punica Granatum Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, 1,2-Hexanediol, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Alumina, Linalool, Limonene, Geraniol, CI 77489, CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499, CI 77288
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 TriglycerideCi 77491 is also hydrated iron III oxide. It's sole purpose is to give a red/pink hue to products.
Iron III oxides are classified as inorganic chemicals for coloring.
Synthetically created Ci 77491 is considered safer than those naturally found. This is because the synthetically created version may contain less impurities. Iron oxides are generally non-toxic and non-allergenic.
Learn more about CI 77491CI 77492 is also hydrated iron III oxide. It's sole purpose is to give a yellow hue to products.
Iron III oxides are classified as inorganic chemicals for coloring.
Synthetically created CI 77492 is considered safer than those naturally found. This is because the synthetically created version may contain less impurities. Iron oxides are generally non-toxic and non-allergenic.
Learn more about CI 77492Ci 77499 is also hydrated iron III oxide. It is created from mixing red and black iron oxides. This helps give shades of darkness to a product.
Iron III oxides are classified as inorganic chemicals for coloring.
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 GlycerinPolyhydroxystearic Acid is a vegetable-derived soft wax made from castor oil. It's an emulsion stabilizer, thickener, and film former.
You'll likely see it in sunscreens because it helps disperse pigments and UV-reflecting minerals like titanium dioxide and zinc oxide evenly.
Depending on the concentration, it can drastically change the texture of a product from pasty solid (like lipstick) to sprayable liquid.
The CIR Expert Panel for Cosmetic Ingredient Safety has concluded this ingredient to be safe in cosmetics. The highest reported use concentration is 14.2% in lipsticks.
Learn more about Polyhydroxystearic AcidWater. 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
