Versus

The Ordinary Mineral UV Filters SPF 30 with Antioxidants Versus e.l.f. cosmetics Suntouchable! Whoa Glow SPF 30 - Original

Sunscreen
Sunscreen
Canadian Brand Canada
American Brand United States

Updated on May 08, 2024

Overview

What they are

These products are both vegan and cruelty-free sunscreens. They have a total of 8 ingredients in common

Cool Features

They both contain exfoliants, hyaluronic acid and SPF

Suited For

They're both likely to be good for fighting acne, anti aging, dry skin, brightening skin, sensitive skin and scar healing

Free From

They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, common allergens, fragrances, parabens or sulfates

What's Inside

They both contain silicones

We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that needs an update? Let us know.

Ingredient Info

Click any item below to learn more and see relevant ingredients

About this product

About this product

At a glance

Click on any of the items below to learn more

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

found in both products
Mineral UV Filters SPF 30 with Antioxidants

Water

Skin Conditioning

Cyclopentasiloxane

Emollient
Silicon Icon

Zinc Oxide

Cosmetic Colorant
1 / 0 Mineral UV Filter IconHelps fight Acne IconNon-Reef-Safe Icon

Titanium Dioxide

Cosmetic Colorant
0 / 0 Mineral UV Filter IconNon-Reef-Safe Icon

PEG-10 Dimethicone

Skin Conditioning
Silicon Icon

Glycerin

Humectant
0 / 0 Helps hydrate Dry Skin IconHelps brighten skin Icon

Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil

Emollient
0 / 0 Oil IconHelps hydrate Dry Skin IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone

Emulsifying
Silicon Icon

Hexyl Laurate

Emollient
Not safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate

Emulsifying
Not safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride

Masking

Dimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer

Astaxanthin

Skin Conditioning

Disodium Uridine Phosphate

Skin Conditioning

Ethyl Ferulate

Antioxidant
Antioxidant Icon

Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract

Antimicrobial

Tasmannia Lanceolata Fruit/Leaf Extract

Antioxidant
Antioxidant Icon

Haematococcus Pluvialis Extract

Antioxidant
Antioxidant Icon

Picea Mariana Bark Extract

Antioxidant
Antioxidant Icon

Arginine

Masking
Good for Scar Healing IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Aspartic Acid

Masking

Glycine

Buffering
Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Alanine

Masking

Serine

Masking

Valine

Masking

Isoleucine

Skin Conditioning

Proline

Skin Conditioning

Threonine

Histidine

Humectant

Phenylalanine

Masking

Sodium PCA

Humectant
0 / 0

PCA

Humectant

Sodium Lactate

Buffering

Glucose

Humectant

Maltose

Masking

Fructose

Humectant

Trehalose

Humectant

Urea

Buffering
Helps hydrate Dry Skin IconGood for Skin Texture IconMay worsen Eczema IconMay worsen Rosacea Icon

Allantoin

Skin Conditioning
0 / 0 Helps hydrate Dry Skin IconHelps reduce Skin Redness IconHelps reduce irritation IconGood for Scar Healing Icon

Sodium Hyaluronate

Humectant
0 / 0 Hyaluronic Acid Icon

Linoleic Acid

Cleansing
Helps hydrate Dry Skin IconMay worsen Oily Skin IconBad for Acne Prone Skin IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Oleic Acid

Emollient
May worsen Oily Skin IconBad for Acne Prone Skin IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Phytosteryl Canola Glycerides

Skin Conditioning
Not safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Palmitic Acid

Emollient
2 / 0 May worsen Oily Skin IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Stearic Acid

Cleansing
2-3 / 0 May worsen Oily Skin IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Isochrysis Galbana Extract

Skin Conditioning

Lysolecithin

Emulsifying

Lecithin

Emollient

Triolein

Skin Conditioning
Not safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Pentylene Glycol

Skin Conditioning

Dipropylene Glycol

Masking

Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate

Skin Conditioning
Not safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Polyglyceryl-5 Trioleate

Emollient
Not safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate

Skin Conditioning
Not safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Tocopherol

Antioxidant
0-3 / 0-3 Vitamin E IconAntioxidant IconHelps hydrate Dry Skin IconHelps with Anti-Aging IconGood for Scar Healing Icon

Alumina

Abrasive
Exfoliant Icon

Citric Acid

Buffering
AHA IconGood for Oily Skin IconGood for Skin Texture IconGood for Minimizing Pores IconGood for Scar Healing IconHelps brighten skin IconMay worsen Rosacea Icon

Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate

Sodium Chloride

Masking
Can worsen Dry Skin IconBad for Acne Prone Skin IconMay worsen Rosacea Icon

Sodium Hydroxide

Buffering

Phenoxyethanol

Preservative
Preservative Icon

Chlorphenesin

Antimicrobial
Preservative Icon
Suntouchable! Whoa Glow SPF 30

Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.

Skin Conditioning, Solvent

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. If you see this, drink a glass of water. Stay hydrated!

Learn more about Water
Humectant, Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting

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 Glycerin
Humectant, Moisturising

Trehalose is a disaccharide made of two glucose molecules (glucose is sugar!). Trehalose is used to help moisturize skin. It also has antioxidant properties.

As a humectant, trehalose helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This helps keep your skin hydrated.

Due to its antioxidant properties, trehalose may help with signs of aging. Antioxidants help fight free-radical molecules, unstable molecules that may damage your skin.

In medicine, trehalose and hyaluronic acid are used to help treat dry eyes.

Some animals, plants, and bacteria create trehalose as a source of energy to survive freeze or lack of water.

Learn more about Trehalose
Humectant, Skin Conditioning

Sodium Hyaluronate is hyaluronic acid's salt form. It is commonly derived from the sodium salt of hyaluronic acid.

Like hyaluronic acid, it is great at holding water and acts as a humectant. This makes it a great skin hydrating ingredient.

Sodium Hyaluronate is naturally occurring in our bodies and is mostly found in eye fluid and joints.

These are some other common types of Hyaluronic Acid:

Learn more about Sodium Hyaluronate
Emollient, Emulsifying

Palmitic Acid is a fatty acid found in our skin. In cosmetics, it is usually derived from palm oil. It is a cleanser, emollient, and emulsifier.

As an emollient, it helps hydrate the skin. The emulsifying properties keep ingredients together in a product.

Palmitic Acid may not be fungal-acne safe.

Learn more about Palmitic Acid
Cleansing, Emulsifying, Emulsion Stabilising

Stearic Acid is a fatty acid. It is an emollient, emulsifier, and texture enhancer.

As an emollient, stearic acid helps soften skin. It aids the skin's protective barrier by preventing water loss. It also provides a gentle cleansing effect without stripping away natural oils.

Stearic acid may also be used to enhance the texture of products. It can add volume and stabilize ingredients such as water and oil. This can help water and oil ingredients from separating.

Sources of stearic acid include animal or vegetable fats/oils such as coconut or shea. It can be naturally found in butter, cocoa butter, shea butter, vegetable fats, and animal tallow.

This ingredient may not be Malassezia folliculitis, or fungal-acne safe.

Learn more about Stearic Acid
Buffering, Masking

Citric Acid is an AHA derived from citrus fruits (think oranges, lemons, and limes!).

As an AHA, Citric Acid removes the top layer of skin cells from the newer layer of skin underneath. This helps skin to remove dark spots and even out skin tone.

If you spot Citric Acid near the end of an ingredient list, it's likely there as a pH adjuster rather than an active ingredient.

Read more about some other popular AHA's here:

Learn more about Citric Acid
Preservative

Phenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.

It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.

When to use

47 Routines
98% use in am
2% use in pm
96% use every day
When to use See routines that use it ->
103 Routines
96% use in am
4% use in pm
96% use every day
When to use See routines that use it ->

Reviews

Here's what our community thinks

The Ordinary Mineral UV Filters SPF 30 with Antioxidants 62 ingredients

3.7 /5
from 3 ratings
Great Value (1) Works Well (1)
hannah_strike3's avatar

hannah_strike3

1 year ago
Review

I LOVED this product, only SPF that will work for my highly senstive, acne prone, oily skin. I'm SO gutted the ordinary have discontinued it, PLEASE bring it back or find me a good alternative !

#great value
#works well
ivancsicsandras's avatar

ivancsicsandras

3 years ago
Review

White cast
I love this product's smell and texture, but leaves a white cast on skin, even when thoroughly blended.

e.l.f. cosmetics Suntouchable! Whoa Glow SPF 30 40 ingredients

3.0 /5
from 5 ratings
Oily (2) Doesn't Work (1) Light (1)
cxizzybellcx's avatar

Izzy

6 months ago
Review

I’m pretty much almost done with this product, and i will say it does good at bringing in the glow. However, if you use too much it will make you look very oily. I’ve honestly used and found better products than this, but if you’re in desperate need of one and are dry then i do recommend this. Use it very sparingly just because it will make you look somewhat oily. If you’re into that kind of look Show more

kaitlinwooley's avatar

Kaitlin Wooley

5 months ago
Review

I hate to do this because I absolutely love ELF but I don’t not like this sunscreen. I have combo skin. Oily forehead and dryer cheeks and chin and this makes my oily forehead look greasy. It also has glitter which I’m not a fan of. I also found out I’m not a fan of the “glow” or I guess dewy look it gives.

#light
#oily
#doesn't work