Shu Uemura Unlimited Block : Booster Hydrating Primer SPF 50+ PA+++ Versus Decorte Sun Shelter Tone Up CC SPF 50+
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAlcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Ethylhexyl Salicylate
UV Absorber
Isononyl Isononanoate
EmollientOctocrylene
UV Absorber
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Ethylhexyl Triazone
UV Absorber
Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin Conditioning
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantMethylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol
UV Filter
Propanediol
Solvent
Isopropyl Lauroyl Sarcosinate
Skin ConditioningSilica
Abrasive
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Diisopropyl Sebacate
EmollientCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Homosalate
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Glycerin
Humectant
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Caramel
Cosmetic ColorantCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingInulin Lauryl Carbamate
Emulsion StabilisingTin Oxide
Abrasive
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAlumina
Abrasive
Isopropyl Titanium Triisostearate
Emollient
Sorbitol
Humectant
Zea Mays Kernel Extract
Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningCI 17200
Cosmetic ColorantPaeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract
Skin ProtectingSorbic Acid
Preservative
Citric Acid
Buffering
Water, Alcohol Denat., Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Isononyl Isononanoate, Octocrylene, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, CI 77891, Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol, Propanediol, Isopropyl Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Silica, Cetearyl Alcohol, Diisopropyl Sebacate, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Mica, Phenoxyethanol, Homosalate, Butylene Glycol, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Cetearyl Glucoside, Tocopherol, Glycerin, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Caprylyl Glycol, Caramel, Carbomer, Inulin Lauryl Carbamate, Tin Oxide, Propylene Glycol, Adenosine, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Xanthan Gum, Alumina, Isopropyl Titanium Triisostearate, Sorbitol, Zea Mays Kernel Extract, Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract, CI 17200, Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract, Sorbic Acid, Citric Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningCyclomethicone
Emollient
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV Absorber
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Dimethicone
Emollient
PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV Filter
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Methyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Talc
Abrasive
Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol
UV Filter
Glycerin
Humectant
Citrus Aurantifolia Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningTremella Fuciformis Extract
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Hydroxyproline
Skin ConditioningLoess Extract
Skin ConditioningRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialHydrolyzed Collagen
Emollient
Soluble Collagen
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
BHT
Antioxidant
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantAlumina
Abrasive
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingStearalkonium Hectorite
Gel FormingStearic Acid
Cleansing
Stearoyl Glutamic Acid
CleansingPhytosteryl/Isostearyl/Cetyl/Stearyl/Behenyl Dimer Dilinoleate
Skin Conditioning
Triethoxycaprylylsilane
Nylon-12
Polyethylene
Abrasive
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
Lauryl PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Lauroyl Lysine
Skin Conditioning
Diisostearyl Malate
EmollientSodium Chloride
MaskingAluminum Hydroxide
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Zinc Oxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Iron Oxides
Water, Cyclomethicone, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Alcohol, Dimethicone, PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Methyl Trimethicone, Talc, Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol, Glycerin, Citrus Aurantifolia Fruit Extract, Tremella Fuciformis Extract, Tocopherol, Hydroxyproline, Loess Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Soluble Collagen, Butylene Glycol, BHT, Dipropylene Glycol, Alumina, Octyldodecanol, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Stearalkonium Hectorite, Stearic Acid, Stearoyl Glutamic Acid, Phytosteryl/Isostearyl/Cetyl/Stearyl/Behenyl Dimer Dilinoleate, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Nylon-12, Polyethylene, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Lauryl PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Lauroyl Lysine, Diisostearyl Malate, Sodium Chloride, Aluminum Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum, Titanium Dioxide, Zinc Oxide, Iron Oxides
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Alumina is another name for the compound aluminum oxide. It is a white powder used as a thickener, absorbent, and abrasive.
As an absorbent, alumina can give a mattifying effect. It is used in mineral sunscreens to help coat nano-sized filters, such as titanium dioxide. By increasing the size of the UV filters, these ingredients stay on the skin for a longer time. By coating small sized ingredients, alumina helps thicken a product.
Alumina may be used as an abrasive, or exfoliant.
Alumina is naturally occurring in the mineral corundum. Certain varieties of corundum create rubies and sapphires. Corundum is also the crystalline form of alumina.
Learn more about AluminaButylene 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 GlycolGlycerin (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 GlycerinMethylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol (Tinosorb M) is a hybrid and broad-spectrum UV ingredient. It is both a UV absorber and filter.
UV absorbers are an agent that absorbs UV rays. They protect your skin by using chemical reactions to convert UV rays into heat and energy. UV filters physically reduce the amount of UV rays from reaching your skin.
Tinosorb M covers a range of 280-400 nm and is photostable. This ingredient is neither oil or water soluble.
Tinosorb M is not available in the US. However, it is available in the EU and Asia.
It's sister, Tinosorb S, is set to be approved in the US by late 2025 (fingers crossed!).
Learn more about Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl TetramethylbutylphenolPhenoxyethanol 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.
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate is a cleansing agent and emulsifier.
It rounds up dirt, oil, and grime, so they can be rinsed off easily as a cleanser. On the emulsifier side, it keeps your formula smooth and well-mixed by playing peacekeeper for ingredients that don't naturally get along (like oil and water).
Because it has a C12 (lauric acid) fatty acid chain, this ingredient can potentially feed the Malassezia yeast that causes fungal acne. The Malassezia yeast prefers esters with C11-C24 fatty acids If you're prone to flare-ups, you might want to patch-test or skip this one.
This ingredient is an ester of lauric acid and Polyglycerin-10.
Learn more about Polyglyceryl-10 LaurateTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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
