Versus

Round Lab Birch Moisturizing Sunscreen SPF 50+ PA++++ Versus Anessa Mineral UV Sunscreen Mild Gel SPF 35 PA+++

Sunscreen
Sunscreen
Korean Brand South Korea
Japanese Brand Japan

Updated on February 05, 2025

Overview

What they are

These products are both sunscreens. They have a total of 6 ingredients in common

Cool Features

They both contain hyaluronic acid, SPF and Vitamin E

Suited For

They're both likely to be good for fighting acne, anti aging, dry skin, brightening skin, sensitive skin, scar healing and dark spots

Free From

They both do not contain any common allergens or parabens

What's Inside

They both contain oils and silicones

We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that needs an update? Let us know.

Ingredient Info

Click any item below to learn more and see relevant ingredients

About this product

About this product

At a glance

Click on any of the items below to learn more

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

found in both products
Birch Moisturizing Sunscreen SPF 50+ PA++++
Mineral UV Sunscreen Mild Gel SPF 35 PA+++

Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.

Skin Conditioning, Solvent

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. Stay hydrated!

Learn more about Water
Humectant, Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting

Glycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.

A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.

As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.

Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.

Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.

In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.

This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.

Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.

Learn more about Glycerin
Humectant, Masking, Skin Conditioning

Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:

  • It is a solvent, meaning that it helps to dissolve other ingredients. This also enhances the absorption of the product into one's skin.
  • It is a humectant, which means that it helps attract moisture into the skin.
  • It helps improve product application.
  • It has mild preservative properties.

Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.

Humectant, Skin Conditioning

Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate comes from licorice root.

Extracts of licorice have demonstrated to have antibacterial, anti‐inflammatory, antiviral, antioxidant properties.

One component, glabridin, has extra potent antioxidant and soothing properties. It has also been found to block pigmentation from UVB rays in guinea pigs.

Licorice Root also contains a flavonoid. Flavonoids are a natural substance from in plants. Flavonoids also have antioxidant properties.

Another component, glycyrrhizin, has been found to have anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial benefits. This may make licorice root extract effective at treating acne. However, more research is needed to support this.

Liquiritin is one of the flavone compounds found in licorice. It has been found to help lighten skin by preventing tyrosinase from reacting with tyrosine. When the two react, protein is converted to melanin. Melanin is the substance in your body that gives your features pigmentation.

Licorice root is native to Southern Europe and Asia. It has been used in traditional Chinese medicine to help with respiratory issues.

Learn more about Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Emollient, Emulsion Stabilising

A type of fatty alcohol. Fatty Alcohols are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product. They are usually derived from natural fats and oils and therefore do not have the same drying or irritating effect as traditional alcohols.

Emollients help keep your skin soft and hydrated by creating a film that traps moisture in.

Behenyl Alcohol is usually derived from the fats in vegetable oils.

In 2000, Behenyl Alcohol was approved by the US as medicine to reduce the duration of cold sores.

Learn more about Behenyl Alcohol
Antioxidant, Masking, Skin Conditioning

Tocopherol (also known as Vitamin E) is a common antioxidant used to help protect the skin from free-radicals and strengthen the skin barrier. It's also fat soluble - this means our skin is great at absorbing it.

Vitamin E also helps keep your natural skin lipids healthy. Your lipid skin barrier naturally consists of lipids, ceramides, and fatty acids. Vitamin E offers extra protection for your skin’s lipid barrier, keeping your skin healthy and nourished.

Another benefit is a bit of UV protection. Vitamin E helps reduce the damage caused by UVB rays. (It should not replace your sunscreen). Combining it with Vitamin C can decrease sunburned cells and hyperpigmentation after UV exposure.

You might have noticed Vitamin E + C often paired together. This is because it is great at stabilizing Vitamin C. Using the two together helps increase the effectiveness of both ingredients.

There are often claims that Vitamin E can reduce/prevent scarring, but these claims haven't been confirmed by scientific research.

Learn more about Tocopherol

When to use

2,212 Routines
97% use in am
3% use in pm
96% use every day
When to use See routines that use it ->
2 Routines
100% use in am
0% use in pm
50% use every day

Reviews

Here's what our community thinks

Round Lab Birch Moisturizing Sunscreen SPF 50+ PA++++ 40 ingredients

3.9 /5
from 59 ratings
Light (25) Absorbs Well (24) Works Well (22)
Alllisda_idiot's avatar

Alllisda_idiot

10 months ago
Review

It's not the most hydrating sunscreen I've ever used and its texture is reminiscent of a slightly thick serum or an emulsion. It feels good on my skin and did not break me out. No white cast whatsoever, didn't require any blending in, and applied without a tacky finish. One of the sunscreens with the least pilling I've tried, but did very very very slightly pill on the area around the eyes after a Show more

#light
#absorbs well
#no scent
#works well
Lapaki's avatar

Lapaki

1 year ago
Review

This reef-safe chemical sunscreen stands out with its naturally glowy and non-greasy finish. It has the texture of a medium moist cream, spreads nicely and dries quickly in just a few minutes, making it easy to apply. It leaves no greasy or sticky residue, and there's no white cast or pilling to worry about. Notably, this sunscreen is highly moisturizing and can effectively replace the need for an Show more

#hydrating
#light
#absorbs well
#no scent

Anessa Mineral UV Sunscreen Mild Gel SPF 35 PA+++ 38 ingredients

3.0 /5
from 1 rating
Hydrating (1)
nurseva's avatar

Enfer Meryo

4 months ago
Review

Definitely safe for my sensitive skin & leaves a semi matte “glow.” Comes out of the tube with a purple hue. It does take longer to blend than my previous Japanese sunscreen. And it leaves the slightest white cast on my melanated skin (Fitzpatrick III or IV). Often can find it on sale which makes it a good value. I’ll probably return to my previous sunscreen after finishing this tube.

#hydrating