Nivea Sun UV Specialist Silky UV Stick SPF 50+ Versus e.l.f. cosmetics Suntouchable Invisi-Stick SPF 50
This chemical sunscreen covers most of the UV range, lighter on the deep UVA that drives aging.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Silica
Abrasive
Synthetic Wax
Abrasive
Butylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate
EmollientDibutyl Adipate
EmollientOctyldodecanol
Emollient
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialDiethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV Filter
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Ethylhexyl Triazone
UV Absorber
Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin Conditioning
Helianthus Annuus Seed Cera
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate
Emulsifying
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Hydrogenated Rapeseed Oil
Emollient
Stearalkonium Hectorite
Gel FormingPropylene Carbonate
SolventCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSilica, Synthetic Wax, Butylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Dibutyl Adipate, Octyldodecanol, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Helianthus Annuus Seed Cera, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Hydrogenated Rapeseed Oil, Stearalkonium Hectorite, Propylene Carbonate, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin
Octocrylene 10%
UV Absorber
Homosalate 7.3%
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%
UV Absorber
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%
UV Absorber
Diphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Paraffinum Liquidum
Emollient
Hydroxystearic Acid
Cleansing
Triethylhexanoin
MaskingDibutyl Lauroyl Glutamide
Skin ConditioningSilica
Abrasive
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Polyamide-8
EmollientSilica Silylate
Emollient
Oryzanol
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningBisabolol
Antioxidant
Triethoxycaprylylsilane
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Citrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Octocrylene 10%, Homosalate 7.3%, Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%, Diphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone, Paraffinum Liquidum, Hydroxystearic Acid, Triethylhexanoin, Dibutyl Lauroyl Glutamide, Silica, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Polyamide-8, Silica Silylate, Oryzanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Bisabolol, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Tocopherol, Water, Butylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Citrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate is a lightweight emollient made by combinig benzoic acid with fatty alcohols that are 12-15 carbons long.
In cosmetics, it plays several roles:
The Cosmetic Review Expert Panel has concluded the alkyl benzoate group to be safe as used in cosmetics; it wasn't found to be a skin irritant and unlikely to be absorbed due to its low water solubility.
This report recorded almost 1000 reported uses with concentrations up to 59% in leave-on products but your cosmetics will typically use 0.5-15% depending on the product.
It's often called a "SPF booster": this is because it keeps UV filters properly dissolved and evenly distributed to support a sunscreen's performance. It doesn't actually raise SPF on its own.
Overall, this ingredient is well tolerated.
This ingredient is fungal acne safe because it is an ester of benzoic acid.
Think of this ingredient as two parts stuck together: an oily part and an acid part. Malassezia only gets a meal when it can snip off a fatty acid to eat. With C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, the acid part is benzoic acid, which isn't a fatty acid and which the yeast can't use as food.
Benzoic acid is actually used as a preservative to stop yeast from growing.
The oily part is a blend of C12-15 fatty alcohols but fatty alcohols in this size range can support only a little Malassezia growth (mostly for one species of Malassezia as well).
In the ingredient, those alcohols stay locked inside the molecule. The yeast can only reach them by snipping the benzoate bond, and that type of bond is harder for it to cut than a normal fatty bond.
So not much gets released. And whatever does get snipped comes packaged with benzoic acid, which discourages yeast growth.
Learn more about C12-15 Alkyl BenzoateEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinSilica, also known as silicon dioxide, is a naturally occurring mineral. It is used as a fine, spherical, and porous powder in cosmetics.
Though it has exfoliant properties, the function of silica varies depending on the product.
The unique structure of silica enhances the spreadability and adds smoothness, making it a great texture enhancer.
It is also used as an active carrier, emulsifier, and mattifier due to its ability to absorb excess oil.
In some products, tiny microneedles called spicules are made from silica or hydrolyzed sponge. When you rub them in, they lightly polish away dead skin layers and enhance the penetration of active ingredients.
Learn more about Silica
