Pixy UV Primer Sunscreen SPF 50+ PA++++ Versus Skinmade Skin Boost Broad-Spectrum + Blue Light Sunscreen SPF 50+ PA++++
This chemical sunscreen covers most of the UV range, lighter on the deep UVA that drives aging, though its SPF isn't confirmed on file yet.
This hybrid sunscreen covers the full UV range and blocks ~98% of UVB at SPF 50.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV Absorber
Glycerin
Humectant
Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV Filter
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Isostearic Acid
Cleansing
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingParfum
Masking
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Collagen
Emollient
BHT
Antioxidant
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Citric Acid
Buffering
Water, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Glycerin, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Pentylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Isostearic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Potassium Hydroxide, Caprylyl Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Parfum, Tocopherol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Hydrolyzed Collagen, BHT, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Citric Acid
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Water
Antioxidant
Glycerin
Humectant
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Isohexadecane
EmollientZinc Oxide
Cosmetic Colorant
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialDiethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV Filter
Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexyl Triazone
UV Absorber
Lauryl PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Terephthalylidene Dicamphor Sulfonic Acid
UV Absorber
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Opuntia Ficus-Indica Extract
Skin Conditioning
Ascorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Chlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-2 Dipolyhydroxystearate
Skin Conditioning
Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Magnesium Aspartate
Skin ConditioningZinc Gluconate
Skin Conditioning
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingMagnesium Sulfate
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Iron Oxides
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Ectoin
Skin Conditioning
Epigallocatechin Gallate
Antioxidant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Triethoxycaprylylsilane
Lactic Acid/Glycolic Acid Copolymer
Skin ConditioningHeptapeptide-15 Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Copper Gluconate
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Water, Glycerin, Cyclopentasiloxane, Isohexadecane, Zinc Oxide, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Lauryl PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Terephthalylidene Dicamphor Sulfonic Acid, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Extract, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Niacinamide, Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer, Panthenol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Allantoin, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Polyglyceryl-2 Dipolyhydroxystearate, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Magnesium Aspartate, Zinc Gluconate, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Magnesium Sulfate, Caprylyl Glycol, Iron Oxides, Adenosine, Ectoin, Epigallocatechin Gallate, Xanthan Gum, Phenoxyethanol, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Lactic Acid/Glycolic Acid Copolymer, Heptapeptide-15 Palmitate, Ceramide EOP, Ceramide NP, Copper Gluconate, Ethylhexylglycerin
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caprylyl 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 GlycolDiethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate (DHHB) is a chemical UV-A absorber. It is formulated for high UVA protection (320-400 nm).
DHHB is well-liked for:
DHHB has been approved by the EU, Japan, Taiwan, and South America for use up to 10%. Unfortunately, it has not been approved for use in the US or Canada due to slow regulatory processes.
This ingredient is soluble in oils, fats, and lipids.
Learn more about Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl BenzoateGlycerin (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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol is one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.
Learn more about PhenoxyethanolXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum
