Skin Aqua Tone Up UV Essence SPF 50+ Versus Pipiqiu Ultra Light Sunscreen Moisturizer Bright & Protect SPF 50
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAlcohol
Antimicrobial
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV Absorber
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Diphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV Filter
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Oenothera Biennis Flower Extract
AstringentBarm Extract
Skin ConditioningBis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane
EmollientMethyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin Conditioning
Acrylates Copolymer
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTriethanolamine
BufferingAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Silica
Abrasive
PEG-12 Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Polystyrene
Polyvinyl Alcohol
Disodium EDTA
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAlumina
Abrasive
BHT
Antioxidant
Polyglyceryl-2 Triisostearate
Emulsifying
Synthetic Fluorphlogopite
Tin Oxide
Abrasive
CI 73360
Cosmetic ColorantCI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantParfum
Masking
Water, Alcohol, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Butylene Glycol, Diphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Titanium Dioxide, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Oenothera Biennis Flower Extract, Barm Extract, Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Acrylates Copolymer, Polysorbate 60, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Triethanolamine, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Silica, PEG-12 Dimethicone, Polystyrene, Polyvinyl Alcohol, Disodium EDTA, Xanthan Gum, Alumina, BHT, Polyglyceryl-2 Triisostearate, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Tin Oxide, CI 73360, CI 42090, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
Smoothing
Glycerin
Humectant
Isopropyl Myristate
Emollient
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV Absorber
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Octocrylene
UV Absorber
Betaine
Humectant
PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate
Emulsifying
Ethyl Macadamiate
Skin Conditioning
Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract
Masking
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Tranexamic Acid
Astringent
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantRosa Damascena Flower Water
Masking
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Malic Acid
Buffering
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide As
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide Ns
Skin Conditioning
Cholesterol
Emollient
Acetyl Cysteine
Antioxidant
Vaccinium Vitis-Idaea Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Citrus Unshiu Peel Extract
Masking
Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans
HumectantHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Litchi Chinensis Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Mangifera Indica Pulp Extract
Skin ConditioningCeramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
C13-16 Isoalkane
SolventStyrene/Acrylates Copolymer
Heptyl Undecylenate
EmollientPEG-9 Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
DMDM Hydantoin
Preservative
Hydrated Silica
Abrasive
Lecithin
Emollient
Hydrogen Dimethicone
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
2,3-Butanediol
HumectantPropanediol
Solvent
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Sodium Sulfite
Preservative
Water, Niacinamide, Glycerin, Isopropyl Myristate, Cyclopentasiloxane, Propylene Glycol, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Butylene Glycol, Octocrylene, Betaine, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Ethyl Macadamiate, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Tranexamic Acid, Ceramide NP, Hyaluronic Acid, CI 77891, Rosa Damascena Flower Water, Allantoin, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Tocopherol, Malic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ceramide AP, Ceramide As, Ceramide Ns, Cholesterol, Acetyl Cysteine, Vaccinium Vitis-Idaea Fruit Extract, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Citrus Unshiu Peel Extract, Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Extract, Litchi Chinensis Seed Extract, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Mangifera Indica Pulp Extract, Ceramide EOP, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, C13-16 Isoalkane, Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer, Heptyl Undecylenate, PEG-9 Dimethicone, DMDM Hydantoin, Hydrated Silica, Lecithin, Hydrogen Dimethicone, 1,2-Hexanediol, Phenoxyethanol, 2,3-Butanediol, Propanediol, Glyceryl Stearate, Sodium Sulfite
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer is a synthetically created polymer. It's used as a film-forming agent and used to thicken the consistency of products.
Think of it as a supportive ingredient that helps your gel-creams feel silky, "cloud cream-like", and spread evenly without being greasy.
The Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel evaluated it (along with 22 other acryloyldimethyltaurate polymers) and concluded it's:
Due to its large molecular size, it sits on the surface of skin rather than penetrating it.
Learn more about Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp CopolymerButylene 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 GlycolThis ingredient is also known as Octinoxate and is one of the oldest and most widely used chemical UV filters in skincare.
It has a simple job: soap up UVB radiation (290-320 nm), the wavelengths responsible for sunburn and a big chunk of long-term sun damage.
In formulas, it's always paired with a separate UVA filter because octinoxate solely protects skin from UVB.
Because it's an oil-soluble liquid, it's easy to blend into the oil phase of lotions/creams and gives a cosmetically elegant feel.
The one quirk about formulating this ingredient is photostability; the molecule slowly changes shape into a less effective version when sunlight hits it. So the longer you're in the sun, the weaker its protection gets. The drop can be more than 30% in some formulas.
It also doesn't play nice with Avobenzone (the common UVA filter) since avobenzone destabilizes octinoxate and the two degrade each other. But don't worry: brands have solved this issue by adding photostabilizers like Tinosorb S to prevent degradation and keep SPF stable under heavy UV exposure.
The maximum allowed level is 10% in the EU and Australia, 7.5% in the US and Canada, and 20% in Japan.
The Cosmetic Ingredient Review Panel has concluded this ingredient to be safe in cosmetics up to 10%.
One last thing worth knowing for context:
Octinoxate has been the subject of ongoing review in Europe where the Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety's (SCCS) 2025 final opinion is that this ingredient is an endocrine-active substance.
Lab and animal studies suggest it can act a bit like a hormone in the body (mildly mimicking estrogen and slightly blocking male hormones). It's important to know this hasn't really been shown to happen in everyday human use.
This ingredient is also banned in Hawaii over coral reef concerns.
Learn more about Ethylhexyl MethoxycinnamateSodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateWater. 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
