Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of SkinCeuticals Discoloration Defense Dark Spot Serum versus CeraVe Hydrating Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50 Face Lotion .
Last updated on February 16, 2024. Published on April 11, 2021
Overview
Cool Features
They both contain niacinamide
Suited For
They're both likely to be good for fighting acne, dry skin, brightening skin, sensitive skin, oily skin, reducing pores, scar healing and dark spots
Free From
They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, common allergens, fragrances, oils, parabens or sulfates
We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that need an update? Let us know.
Serum
Serums are highly concentrated with ingredients to provide skin with benefits. They should be used after cleansing and before moisturizing.
Sunscreen
Sunscreens help absorb or reflect UV radiation and protect skin against skin damage. Sunscreens may come in the form of lotion, gel, foam, spray, or solid-stick.
Price
Ingredient Info
SkinCeuticals Discoloration Defense Dark Spot Serum 14 ingredients
CeraVe Hydrating Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50 Face Lotion 46 ingredients
Alcohol Free
This product is free of harsh alcohols 🎉
Silicon Free
This product is free of silicons 🎉
Fragrance Free
This product is free of fragrances 🎉
Sulfate Free
This product is free of sulfates 🎉
Paraben Free
This product is free of parabens 🎉
Oil Free
This product is free of oils 🎉
Malassezia Safe
This product is free of malassezia feeding ingredients 🎉
Reef Safe
This product is free of ingredients that damage reefs 🎉
EU Allergen Free
This product is free of EU allergens 🎉
Non Vegan
This product is not vegan 😥
Not Cruelty Free
This product is not cruelty-free 😥
Alcohol Free
This product is free of harsh alcohols 🎉
Contains Silicon
Ingredients in this product that are types of silicon:
Fragrance Free
This product is free of fragrances 🎉
Sulfate Free
This product is free of sulfates 🎉
Paraben Free
This product is free of parabens 🎉
Oil Free
This product is free of oils 🎉
Not Malassezia Safe
Ingredients in this product that are not malassezia safe:
Not Reef Safe
Ingredients in this product that are not reef safe:
EU Allergen Free
This product is free of EU allergens 🎉
Non Vegan
This product is not vegan 😥
Not Cruelty Free
This product is not cruelty-free 😥
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
SkinCeuticals Discoloration Defense Dark Spot Serum 14 ingredients
CeraVe Hydrating Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50 Face Lotion 46 ingredients
Notable Ingredients
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Benefits
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Concerns
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Notable Ingredients
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Benefits
This product contains 6 ingredients that may have this attribute:
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Concerns
This product contains 4 ingredients that may have this attribute:
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Join SkinSortIngredients Compared
Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.
SkinCeuticals Discoloration Defense Dark Spot Serum 14 ingredients
CeraVe Hydrating Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50 Face Lotion 46 ingredients
Titanium Dioxide 9% • Zinc Oxide 7% • Water • Glycerin • C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate • Dimethicone • Isododecane • Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer • Glyceryl Stearate • Butyloctyl Salicylate • Dicaprylyl Carbonate • Propanediol • Stearic Acid • Aluminum Hydroxide • Peg-100 Stearate • Sorbitan Stearate • Niacinamide • Peg-8 Laurate • Ceramide NP • Ceramide AP • Ceramide EOP • Sorbitan Isostearate • Carbomer • Cetearyl Alcohol • Ceteareth-20 • Triethoxycaprylylsilane • Dimethiconol • Sodium Citrate • Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate • Sodium Dodecylbenzenesulfonate • Myristic Acid • Sodium Hyaluronate • Cholesterol • Palmitic Acid • Phenoxyethanol • Chlorphenesin • Tocopherol • Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer • Caprylyl Glycol • Citric Acid • Panthenol • Xanthan Gum • Phytosphingosine • Polyhydroxystearic Acid • Polysorbate 60 • Ethylhexylglycerin
Ingredients Side-by-side
Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.
Learn more about what what Com. / Irr. ratings are
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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. Talk about multi-purpose! If you see this, drink a glass of water. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about WaterSkinCeuticals Discoloration Defense Dark Spot Serum contains this as ingredient number 1.
CeraVe Hydrating Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50 Face Lotion contains this as ingredient number 3.
Niacinamide has emerged as an all-star ingredient due to its many benefits.
It is known to treat acne by reducing inflammation. It also helps fade dark-spots and strengthen the skin by promoting the growth of the ceramide barrier.
Other benefits include smoothing wrinkles and minimizing redness.
The cherry on top? Niacinamide can also help build keratin, a protein that keeps skin firm.
When incorporating niacinamide into your routine, look out for concentration amounts. Typically, 5% niacinamide provides benefits such as fading dark spots. However, if you have sensitive skin, it is better to begin with a smaller concentration.
Niacinamide can be mixed with other ingredients to boost benefits. For instance, it has shown to be effective when used with copper, folic acid, and zinc to treat acne.
Learn more about NiacinamideSkinCeuticals Discoloration Defense Dark Spot Serum contains this as ingredient number 3.
CeraVe Hydrating Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50 Face Lotion contains this as ingredient number 17.
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 GlycerinSkinCeuticals Discoloration Defense Dark Spot Serum contains this as ingredient number 5.
CeraVe Hydrating Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50 Face Lotion contains this as ingredient number 4.
Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant and emollient, meaning it attracts and preserves moisture.
It is a common ingredient in many products, especially those designed to hydrate skin. The primary benefits are retaining moisture, skin softening, and promoting a healthy skin barrier.
Though Caprylyl Glycol is an alcohol derived from fatty acids, it is not the kind that can dry out skin.
This ingredient is also used as a preservative to extend the life of products. It has slight antimicrobial properties.
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolSkinCeuticals Discoloration Defense Dark Spot Serum contains this as ingredient number 10.
CeraVe Hydrating Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50 Face Lotion contains this as ingredient number 39.
Chlorphenesin is a synthetic preservative. It helps protect a product against bacteria in order to extend shelf life. In most cases, Chlorphenesin is paired with other preservatives such as phenoxyethanol and caprylyl glycol.
Chlorphenesin is a biocide. This means it is able to help fight the microorganisms on our skin. It is also able to fight odor-releasing bacteria.
Chlorphenesin is soluble in both water and glycerin.
Studies show Chlorphenesin is easily absorbed by our skin. You should speak with a skincare professional if you have concerns about using Chlorphenesin.
Learn more about ChlorphenesinSkinCeuticals Discoloration Defense Dark Spot Serum contains this as ingredient number 12.
CeraVe Hydrating Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50 Face Lotion contains this as ingredient number 36.
Xanthan 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 GumSkinCeuticals Discoloration Defense Dark Spot Serum contains this as ingredient number 13.
CeraVe Hydrating Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50 Face Lotion contains this as ingredient number 42.
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.
SkinCeuticals Discoloration Defense Dark Spot Serum 14 ingredients
CeraVe Hydrating Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50 Face Lotion 46 ingredients
Usage
Here's some more info on how this product is used by our community.
When to use
SkinCeuticals Discoloration Defense Dark Spot Serum 14 ingredients
CeraVe Hydrating Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50 Face Lotion 46 ingredients
Alternatives
Our Dupe Finder has found 50 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to SkinCeuticals Discoloration Defense Dark Spot Serum.
See 50 alternativesOur Dupe Finder has found 50 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to CeraVe Hydrating Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50 Face Lotion.
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