The Ordinary Mineral UV Filters SPF 30 with Antioxidants Versus COSRX Ultra-Light Invisible Sunscreen SPF 50 PA++++
This mineral sunscreen covers the full UV range and blocks ~97% of UVB at SPF 30.
This chemical sunscreen covers the full UV range and blocks ~98% of UVB at SPF 50.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Zinc Oxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
PEG-10 Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Hexyl Laurate
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate
Emulsifying
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Dimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer
Astaxanthin
Skin Conditioning
Disodium Uridine Phosphate
Skin ConditioningEthyl Ferulate
Antioxidant
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialTasmannia Lanceolata Fruit/Leaf Extract
Antioxidant
Haematococcus Pluvialis Extract
Antioxidant
Picea Mariana Bark Extract
Antioxidant
Arginine
Masking
Aspartic Acid
Masking
Glycine
Buffering
Alanine
Masking
Serine
Masking
Valine
MaskingIsoleucine
Skin ConditioningProline
Skin Conditioning
Threonine
Histidine
Humectant
Phenylalanine
Masking
Sodium PCA
Humectant
PCA
Humectant
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
Glucose
Humectant
Maltose
MaskingFructose
Humectant
Trehalose
Humectant
Urea
Buffering
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Linoleic Acid
Cleansing
Oleic Acid
Emollient
Phytosteryl Canola Glycerides
Skin Conditioning
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Isochrysis Galbana Extract
Skin ConditioningLysolecithin
EmulsifyingLecithin
Emollient
Triolein
Skin Conditioning
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantPolyglyceryl-10 Oleate
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-5 Trioleate
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Alumina
Abrasive
Citric Acid
Buffering
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Sodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Water, Cyclopentasiloxane, Zinc Oxide, Titanium Dioxide, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Glycerin, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Hexyl Laurate, Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Dimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer, Astaxanthin, Disodium Uridine Phosphate, Ethyl Ferulate, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Tasmannia Lanceolata Fruit/Leaf Extract, Haematococcus Pluvialis Extract, Picea Mariana Bark Extract, Arginine, Aspartic Acid, Glycine, Alanine, Serine, Valine, Isoleucine, Proline, Threonine, Histidine, Phenylalanine, Sodium PCA, PCA, Sodium Lactate, Glucose, Maltose, Fructose, Trehalose, Urea, Allantoin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Linoleic Acid, Oleic Acid, Phytosteryl Canola Glycerides, Palmitic Acid, Stearic Acid, Isochrysis Galbana Extract, Lysolecithin, Lecithin, Triolein, Pentylene Glycol, Dipropylene Glycol, Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate, Polyglyceryl-5 Trioleate, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Tocopherol, Alumina, Citric Acid, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Water
MaskingDiethylhexyl Succinate
EmollientPropanediol
Solvent
Water
Skin ConditioningDrometrizole Trisiloxane
UV Absorber
Ethylhexyl Triazone
UV Absorber
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV Filter
Terephthalylidene Dicamphor Sulfonic Acid
UV Absorber
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Methyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Hamamelis Virginiana Leaf Water
Astringent
Tromethamine
BufferingSodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingArachidyl Alcohol
Emollient
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningArachidyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingSodium Metaphosphate
BufferingAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Water, Diethylhexyl Succinate, Propanediol, Water, Drometrizole Trisiloxane, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Niacinamide, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Terephthalylidene Dicamphor Sulfonic Acid, 1,2-Hexanediol, Behenyl Alcohol, Methyl Trimethicone, Hamamelis Virginiana Leaf Water, Tromethamine, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Arachidyl Alcohol, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Arachidyl Glucoside, Sodium Metaphosphate, Adenosine, Tocopherol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Allantoin, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Allantoin is a soothing ingredient known for its protective and moisturizing properties; it's basically a quiet workhorse ingredient you can find in a huge range of cosmetics.
Though it can be derived from the comfrey plant, allantoin is produced synthetically for cosmetic products to ensure purity.
Research shows it can encourage your skin cells to turn over and renew by stimulating keratinocyte and fibroblast proliferation.
It also has mild keratolytic properties to help loosen and shed dead skin cells without being harsh.
Studies also suggest allantoin can help calm inflammation by dialing down some of the chemical signals your skin sends out when it is irritated.
This ingredient is typically used in the 0.1-0.5% range, and the FDA recognizes it as a skin protectant in OTC products up to 2%.
Overall, allantoin is a wonderful addition to most routines; it is stable across a wide pH range (~4-8), works well with other ingredients, and is considered non-sensitizing/non-irritating.
Fun fact: Allantoin is naturally occurring in comfrey root, beets, chamomile, and wheat sprouts. Our bodies even produce it as a byproduct of uric acid metabolism.
Learn more about AllantoinCitric 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 AcidSodium 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 HyaluronateTocopherol 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
