Supergoop! Play 100% Mineral Lotion SPF 30 With Green Algae Versus Kiehl's Facial Fuel Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 20
This hybrid sunscreen covers the full UV range and blocks ~97% of UVB at SPF 30.
This chemical sunscreen covers most of the UV range, lighter on the deep UVA that drives aging.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Zinc Oxide 16%
Cosmetic Colorant
Arachidyl Alcohol
Emollient
Arachidyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingAstrocaryum Vulgare Kernel Oil
Skin Conditioning
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Butyloctyl Salicylate
Skin Conditioning
C13-14 Alkane
SolventCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Cellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Citric Acid
Buffering
Coco-Glucoside
Cleansing
Diheptyl Succinate
EmollientErythritol
Humectant
Ethyl Ferulate
Antioxidant
Glycerin
Humectant
Haematococcus Pluvialis Extract
Antioxidant
Jojoba Esters
Emollient
Lauryl Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Methyl Dihydroabietate
Microcrystalline Cellulose
AbsorbentNeopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate
EmollientPolyester-7
Skin ConditioningPolyester-8
Skin Conditioning
Polyhydroxystearic Acid
Emulsifying
Propanediol
Solvent
Sea Water
HumectantSodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Water
Skin ConditioningZinc Oxide 16%, Arachidyl Alcohol, Arachidyl Glucoside, Astrocaryum Vulgare Kernel Oil, Behenyl Alcohol, Bisabolol, Butyloctyl Salicylate, C13-14 Alkane, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer, Caprylyl Glycol, Cellulose Gum, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Citric Acid, Coco-Glucoside, Diheptyl Succinate, Erythritol, Ethyl Ferulate, Glycerin, Haematococcus Pluvialis Extract, Jojoba Esters, Lauryl Laurate, Methyl Dihydroabietate, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate, Polyester-7, Polyester-8, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Propanediol, Sea Water, Sodium Gluconate, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Tocopherol, Water
Water
Skin ConditioningHomosalate
Skin Conditioning
Octocrylene
UV Absorber
Dimethicone
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Ethylhexyl Salicylate
UV Absorber
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Parfum
Masking
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingAscorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Acrylates/Dimethicone Copolymer
Skin Conditioning
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingMenthyl Lactate
Masking
Disodium EDTA
Limonene
Perfuming
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Castanea Sativa Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Soy Protein
Humectant
Linalool
Perfuming
Citric Acid
Buffering
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Citral
Perfuming
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Homosalate, Octocrylene, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Alcohol Denat., Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Tocopherol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Hydroxide, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Polyacrylate, Parfum, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Acrylates/Dimethicone Copolymer, Caffeine, Sodium Hyaluronate, Xanthan Gum, Menthyl Lactate, Disodium EDTA, Limonene, Ceramide NP, Castanea Sativa Seed Extract, Pentylene Glycol, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Linalool, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Citral, Sodium Benzoate, Ethylhexylglycerin
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolCitric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidGlycerin (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 GlycerinTocopherol 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
