Murad Oil and Pore Control Mattifier Broad Spectrum SPF 45 PA++++ Versus SkinCeuticals Advanced Brightening UV Defense SPF50 Sunscreen
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%
UV Absorber
Homosalate 10%
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%
UV Absorber
Octocrylene 5%
UV Absorber
Water
Skin ConditioningTapioca Starch
Polysilicone-11
Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Propanediol Dicaprylate
EmollientButylene Glycol
Humectant
Coconut Alkanes
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
C20-22 Alkyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingEnantia Chlorantha Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningButyl Avocadate
Skin Conditioning
Retinyl Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Zinc Gluconate
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Oleanolic Acid
Skin ConditioningUrea
Buffering
Yeast Amino Acids
HumectantTrehalose
Humectant
Inositol
Humectant
Taurine
BufferingBetaine
Humectant
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Coco-Glucoside
Cleansing
C20-22 Alcohols
Emulsion Stabilising
Laureth-12
EmulsifyingPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Citral
Perfuming
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%, Homosalate 10%, Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%, Octocrylene 5%, Water, Tapioca Starch, Polysilicone-11, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Propanediol Dicaprylate, Butylene Glycol, Coconut Alkanes, Cetearyl Alcohol, C20-22 Alkyl Phosphate, Enantia Chlorantha Bark Extract, Butyl Avocadate, Retinyl Palmitate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Allantoin, Zinc Gluconate, Glycerin, Oleanolic Acid, Urea, Yeast Amino Acids, Trehalose, Inositol, Taurine, Betaine, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Coco-Glucoside, C20-22 Alcohols, Laureth-12, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Sodium Hydroxide, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum, Limonene, Linalool, Citral
Water
Skin ConditioningAlcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Ethylhexyl Triazone
UV Absorber
Drometrizole Trisiloxane
UV Absorber
Isononyl Isononanoate
EmollientIsopropyl Lauroyl Sarcosinate
Skin ConditioningButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Diisopropyl Sebacate
EmollientBis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Dimethicone
Emollient
Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol
UV Filter
Octocrylene
UV Absorber
Propanediol
Solvent
Ethylhexyl Salicylate
UV Absorber
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Silica
Abrasive
Tranexamic Acid
Astringent
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
PEG-10 Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Cetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantGlycerin
Humectant
PEG-20
HumectantAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingInulin Lauryl Carbamate
Emulsion StabilisingT-Butyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Water, Alcohol Denat., Ethylhexyl Triazone, Drometrizole Trisiloxane, Isononyl Isononanoate, Isopropyl Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Diisopropyl Sebacate, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Niacinamide, Dimethicone, Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol, Octocrylene, Propanediol, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Silica, Tranexamic Acid, Tocopherol, Phenoxyethanol, PEG-10 Dimethicone, CI 77891, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Caprylyl Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Cetearyl Glucoside, Mica, Glycerin, PEG-20, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Carbomer, Inulin Lauryl Carbamate, T-Butyl Alcohol
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Also 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 MethoxydibenzoylmethaneButylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolCetearyl alcohol is a waxy mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is an emollient and emulsifier.
Despite having "alcohol" in its name, it has nothing to do with drying solvent alcohols; the FDA also allows "alcohol-free" products to contain fatty alcohols like this ingredient.
It plays several roles in a formula:
Typical use levels for this ingredient sit around 1-10% and the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has affirmed safety at concentrations up to 25% in leave-on products.
Multiple assessments have found it to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing to most people.
However, there have been some cases of allergic contact dermatitis in patients with chronically compromised skin barriers.
Cetearyl alcohol has a comedogenic rating of 2 and irritancy rating of 1. Both of these numbers come from the 1989 study that used rabbit ears; a "2" means mildly comedogenic and a "1" means low irritancy.
Here's the catch: rabbit skin is more sensitive than human skin and throws a lot of false positives. A 1996 reappraisal found that ingredients rated 1-2 in the rabbit ear tests are generally safe for humans.
Remember comedogenic ratings are unable to assess the entire formula of a product or how it will react on your skin. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure about certain ingredients.
This ingredient is not fungal acne safe. Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol with chain lengths that fall within the range that Malassezia can metabolize.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholEthylhexyl Salicylate is an organic compound used to block UV rays. It primarily absorbs UVB rays but offers a small amount of UVA protection as well.
Commonly found in sunscreens, Ethylhexyl Salicylate is created from salicylic acid and 2-ethylhexanol. You might know salicylic acid as the effective acne fighter ingredient and BHA.
The ethylhexanol in this ingredient is a fatty alcohol and helps hydrate your skin, similar to oils. It is an emollient, which means it traps moisture into the skin.
According to manufacturers, Ethylhexyl Salicylate absorbs UV wavelength of 295-315 nm, with a peak absorption at 307-310 nm. UVA rays are linked to long term skin damage, such as hyperpigmentation. UVB rays emit more energy and are capable of damaging our DNA. UVB rays cause sunburn.
Learn more about Ethylhexyl SalicylateGlycerin (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 GlycerinOctocrylene protects skin from sun damage. It absorbs UV-B with peak absorption of 304 nm. It is a common sunscreen ingredient and often paired with avobenzone, a UVA filter. This is because octocrylene stabilizes other sunscreen ingredients by protecting them from degradation when exposed to sunlight. Octocrylene is a photostable ingredient and loses about 10% of SPF in 95 minutes.
Octocrylene also acts as an emollient, meaning it helps skin retain moisture and softens skin. It is oil-soluble and hydrophobic, enhancing water-resistant properties in a product.
Those who are using ketoprofen, a topical anti-inflammatory drug, may experience an allergic reaction when using octocrylene. It is best to speak with a healthcare professional about using sunscreens with octocrylene.
The EU allows a maximum of these concentrations:
Learn more about OctocrylenePhenoxyethanol 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.
Water. 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
