SkinCeuticals Ultra Facial UV Defense Sunscreen SPF50 Versus Supergoop! Mineral Mattescreen SPF 40 PA+++
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV Absorber
Drometrizole Trisiloxane
UV Absorber
Glycerin
Humectant
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Terephthalylidene Dicamphor Sulfonic Acid
UV Absorber
Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV Filter
Triethanolamine
BufferingBis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin Conditioning
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Sodium Cocoyl Sarcosinate
Cleansing
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTromethamine
BufferingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingDisodium EDTA
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Butyrospermum Parkii Seedcake Extract
Skin Protecting
Aluminum Hydroxide
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Water, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Drometrizole Trisiloxane, Glycerin, Propylene Glycol, Dimethicone, Titanium Dioxide, Alcohol Denat., Pentylene Glycol, Terephthalylidene Dicamphor Sulfonic Acid, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Triethanolamine, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Stearic Acid, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Tocopherol, Sodium Cocoyl Sarcosinate, Phenoxyethanol, PEG-100 Stearate, Palmitic Acid, Xanthan Gum, Tromethamine, Caprylyl Glycol, Carbomer, Disodium EDTA, Cetyl Alcohol, Butylene Glycol, Butyrospermum Parkii Seedcake Extract, Aluminum Hydroxide, Glyceryl Stearate
Titanium Dioxide 1.33%
Cosmetic Colorant
Zinc Oxide 17.42%
Cosmetic Colorant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion Stabilising
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Methyl Dihydroabietate
Polyhydroxystearic Acid
Emulsifying
C9-12 Alkane
SolventGlycerin
Humectant
CI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater
Skin ConditioningCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Silica
Abrasive
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
CI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantHedychium Coronarium Root Extract
MaskingLactobacillus/Arundinaria Gigantea Leaf Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningLeuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantTitanium Dioxide 1.33%, Zinc Oxide 17.42%, Dimethicone, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Methyl Dihydroabietate, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, C9-12 Alkane, Glycerin, CI 77492, Ethylhexylglycerin, Water, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Silica, Stearic Acid, CI 77491, CI 77499, Hedychium Coronarium Root Extract, Lactobacillus/Arundinaria Gigantea Leaf Ferment Filtrate, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, CI 77891
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Dimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeGlycerin (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 GlycerinStearic Acid is a fatty acid that is already found in your skin. It's one of the free fatty acids that works alongside ceramides and cholesterols to maintain your barrier.
In cosmetics, it is a multitasker:
Safety-wise, the CIR Expert Panel has concluded it to be safe in cosmetics when formulated to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing.
Free stearic acid is a C18 fatty acid that the Malassezia yeast can substrate, so this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Stearic AcidTitanium dioxide is a mineral UV filter widely used in sunscreens and cosmetics.
It is one of only two UV filters officially classified as âmineralâ by regulatory agencies, the other being zinc oxide.
Titanium dioxide provides broad-spectrum protection mostly in the UVB and UVAII range, with some protection in the UVAI range.
While its UVA protection isnât as strong as zinc oxideâs, the difference is minor.
A common myth is that mineral UV filters reflect UV light. However, modern research shows titanium dioxide absorbs UV radiation like chemical filters (~95% absorption & 5% reflection).
Thanks to its non-irritating nature, titanium dioxide is suitable for sensitive, acne-prone, or redness-prone skin. It is unlikely to cause "eye sting" like other sunscreen ingredients.
A major drawback of this ingredient is its white cast and thick texture. This is why mineral sunscreens often leave a white cast and are less cosmetically elegant than chemical/hybrid sunscreens.
To improve white cast and spreadability, micronized or nano-sized titanium dioxide is often used.
There are ongoing concerns surrounding nano-titanium oxide's impact on marine ecosystems.
There is no conclusive evidence that any form of titanium oxide (or any other sunscreen ingredients) will cause harm to marine ecosystems or coral reefs. The science is still developing but many consumers are keeping a close eye on this issue.
Please note, many destinations have reef-safety sunscreen rules. For instance, the U.S. Virgin Islands advises all visitors to use non-nano mineral sunscreens.
Nano mineral sunscreens once raised safety concerns about absorption into skin.
Extensive research has shown that they do not penetrate healthy or damaged skin; they remain safely on the surface and the top layer of dead skin (stratum corneum).
You'll likely find titanium dioxide bundled with alumina, silica, or dimethicone. These ingredients help make titanium dioxide highly photostable; this prevents it from interacting with other formula components under UV light.
Learn more about Titanium DioxideWater. 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
