Plix Watermelon Protect & Hydrate 2-In-1 Formula Moisturizer + Sunscreen SPF 50 PA++++ Versus Dot & Key Skincare Strawberry Dew Tinted Sunscreen SPF 50+
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningBenzophenone-3
UV Absorber
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV Absorber
Phospholipids
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Glycerin
Humectant
Squalane
Emollient
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientCetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Silica
Abrasive
Hydroxyethyl Urea
Humectant
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Sodium Acrylates Copolymer
Lecithin
Emollient
Citrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
PEG-100 Stearate
Water, Benzophenone-3, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Butylene Glycol, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Phospholipids, Phenoxyethanol, Glycerin, Squalane, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Ascorbic Acid, Silica, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Lecithin, Citrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract, PEG-100 Stearate
Water
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV Absorber
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Benzophenone-3
UV Absorber
Phospholipids
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Isododecane
EmollientGlycerin
Humectant
Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Propanediol
Solvent
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Triethoxycaprylylsilane
Polyhydroxystearic Acid
Emulsifying
Glyceryl Citrate/Lactate/Linoleate/Oleate
Emulsifying
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion Stabilising
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientTapioca Starch
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
Fragaria Vesca Fruit
AstringentFragaria Ananassa Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate
Emulsifying
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingPolyacrylate-13
Polyisobutene
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Sodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
CI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Benzophenone-3, Phospholipids, Butylene Glycol, Isododecane, Glycerin, Phenyl Trimethicone, Propanediol, Titanium Dioxide, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Glyceryl Citrate/Lactate/Linoleate/Oleate, Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Tapioca Starch, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Fragaria Vesca Fruit, Fragaria Ananassa Fruit Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Niacinamide, Panthenol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate, Xanthan Gum, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Polyacrylate-13, Polyisobutene, Polysorbate 20, Sodium Gluconate, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, CI 77491, CI 77492
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
You probably know this ingredient as Oxybenzone, a sunscreen ingredient. It is a broad-spectrum sunscreen ingredient, meaning it can protect the skin against UVB and short UVA rays. The absorption range is 270-350 nm with peak absorption at 288 and 350 nm.
This chemical ingredient protects your skin by using chemical reactions to convert UV rays into heat and energy. UV absorbers may absorb both UVA and UVB rays. It is often combined with other sunscreen ingredients to help with stability.
Ongoing research is looking into whether oxybenzone causes skin irritation and sensitivity. However, it has been shown to trigger contact dermatitis in some studies.
Oxybenzone is allowed in certain concentrations by many countries. It is allowed up to 6% in the US, and Canada, 5% in Japan, and 10% in Australia. Other countries and regions of the US have banned this ingredient to protect coral reefs and marine ecosystems. These places include Hawaii, Key West, US Virgin Islands, marine parks in Thailand, Aruba, and Palau.
The EU currently allows the following maximum concentrations:
Studies show conflicting results about oxybenzone being absorbed into the human body. The Swedish Research Institute has advised careful use of this ingredient by pregnant women and children. We always recommend speaking with a professional if you have concerns about this ingredient and your health.
Learn more about Benzophenone-3Also 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 GlycolEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate is an organic compound that provides UVB protection. It often goes by the more common name of octinoxate. It is created from methoxycinnamic acid and 2-ethylhexanol.
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate absorbs UVB rays with wavelengths between 280-320 nm. UV absorbers protect your skin by using chemical reactions to convert UV rays into heat and energy.
UVB (290-320 nm) rays emit more energy than UVA rays. They are capable of damaging DNA, causing sunburns and are thought to be linked to skin cancer.
The state of Hawaii has banned sunscreens containing octinoxate due to its potential impact on coral reefs. More research is needed to bridge gaps in this research. The European Union allows higher levels of octinoxate in sunscreens than the US and Australia.
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate is oil soluble. It is not stable and may lose efficacy when exposed to sunlight.
Learn more about Ethylhexyl MethoxycinnamateGlycerin (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 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.
Phospholipids are a family of skin-identical lipids that makeup the structural backbone of every cell membrane in your body.
In cosmetics, they function as skin conditioning agents with emulsifier and surfactant properties. They're typically sourced from soybean or sunflower lecithin (or sometimes egg yolk or marine sources).
Because they mirror the lipids naturally found in the deeper layers of your skin, topical phospholipids help reinforce the lipid matrix, reduce transepidermal water loss, and leave skin feeling conditioned.
They're also used to form liposomes, or tiny self-assembling vesible used to stabilize actives like vitamin c or retinol. This helps these ingredients integrate into the upper layers of skin more easily.
Phospholipids are compatible with everything and the CIR Expert Panel has concluded them to be safe at current use levels.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe since phospholipids contain fatty acid chains in the C11-24 range that the malassezia yeast likes to feed on.
Some types of phospholipids include:
Learn more about PhospholipidsWater. 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
