Versus

Tocobo Cica Calming Sun Serum SPF 50+ Versus EltaMD, Inc UV Clear Broad-Spectrum SPF 46

Sunscreen
Sunscreen
Korean Brand South Korea
American Brand United States

Updated on May 21, 2024

Overview

What they are

These products are both sunscreens. They have a total of 4 ingredients in common

Cool Features

They both contain hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, SPF and Vitamin E

Suited For

They're both likely to be good for fighting acne, anti aging, 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, oils, 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
Cica Calming Sun Serum SPF 50+

Water

Skin Conditioning

Dibutyl Adipate

Emollient

Butyloctyl Salicylate

Skin Conditioning
Non-Reef-Safe Icon

Butylene Glycol

Humectant
1 / 0 Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Ethylhexyl Triazone

UV Absorber
Chemical UV Filter Icon

Terephthalylidene Dicamphor Sulfonic Acid

UV Absorber
Chemical UV Filter Icon

Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine

Skin Conditioning
Chemical UV Filter Icon

Polyglyceryl-3 Distearate

Emulsifying
Not safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Niacinamide

Smoothing
Niacinamide IconGood for Oily Skin IconHelps reduce Skin Redness IconHelps reduce irritation IconGood for Minimizing Pores IconHelps with Anti-Aging IconGood for Dark Spots IconGood for Scar Healing IconHelps fight Acne IconHelps brighten skin Icon

Polymethylsilsesquioxane

Silicon Icon

Tromethamine

Buffering

1,2-Hexanediol

Skin Conditioning

Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate

UV Filter
Chemical UV Filter Icon

Cetearyl Alcohol

Emollient
2 / 1 Fatty Alcohol IconMay worsen Oily Skin IconBad for Acne Prone Skin IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Pentylene Glycol

Skin Conditioning

Polysilicone-15

UV Filter

Hydrolyzed Safflower Flower Extract

Skin Conditioning

Gardenia Taitensis Callus Extract

Antioxidant
Antioxidant Icon

Centella Asiatica Root Extract

Skin Conditioning
Helps reduce Skin Redness IconHelps reduce irritation Icon

Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract

Skin Conditioning
Helps reduce Skin Redness IconHelps reduce irritation Icon

Centella Asiatica Extract

Cleansing
Helps reduce Skin Redness IconHelps reduce irritation Icon

Aloe Ferox Leaf Extract

Skin Conditioning

Sodium Hyaluronate

Humectant
0 / 0 Hyaluronic Acid Icon

Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate

Emulsion Stabilising

Glyceryl Stearate

Emollient
1 / 0 Not safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Potassium Cetyl Phosphate

Emulsifying

Poly C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate

Emulsion Stabilising

Glycerin

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

Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6

Emulsion Stabilising

Glyceryl Stearate Citrate

Emollient
Not safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Inulin Lauryl Carbamate

Emulsion Stabilising

Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer

Ethylhexylglycerin

Skin Conditioning

Adenosine

Skin Conditioning
Good for Minimizing Pores IconGood for Scar Healing Icon

Dextrin

Absorbent

Tocopherol

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

Saccharomyces Ferment Filtrate

Humectant

Dimethylsilanol Hyaluronate

Humectant

Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate

Skin Conditioning

Zinc Hydrolyzed Hyaluronate

Humectant

Potassium Hyaluronate

Skin Conditioning

Hyaluronic Acid

Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid IconHelps with Anti-Aging IconGood for Scar Healing IconHelps brighten skin Icon

Asiaticoside

Antioxidant
Antioxidant IconGood for Scar Healing Icon

Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer

Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid Icon

Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate

Madecassoside

Antioxidant
Antioxidant IconHelps reduce irritation IconHelps with Anti-Aging Icon

Sodium Hyaluronate Dimethylsilanol

Humectant

Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate

Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid Icon

Madecassic Acid

Skin Conditioning
Helps reduce irritation IconHelps with Anti-Aging Icon

Asiatic Acid

Skin Conditioning

Parfum

Masking
Fragrance IconMay worsen Eczema IconMay worsen Rosacea Icon

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, Masking, Skin Conditioning

Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:

  • It is a solvent, meaning that it helps to dissolve other ingredients. This also enhances the absorption of the product into one's skin.
  • It is a humectant, which means that it helps attract moisture into the skin.
  • It helps improve product application.
  • It has mild preservative properties.

Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.

Smoothing

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 Niacinamide
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

When to use

47 Routines
100% use in am
0% use in pm
98% use every day
When to use See routines that use it ->
846 Routines
98% use in am
2% use in pm
97% use every day
When to use See routines that use it ->

Reviews

Here's what our community thinks

Tocobo Cica Calming Sun Serum SPF 50+ 51 ingredients

1.5 /5
from 2 ratings
Broke Me Out (2) Absorbs Well (1) Hydrating (1)
alexispeoples's avatar

Alexis Peoples

8 months ago
Review

I wanted to love this product sooooo bad- I thought it was THE sunscreen after trying SEVERAL through the years. I started using it a couple weeks ago when my skin was looking flawless, it absorbed well, felt hydrating and gave me a nice glow as well as helping with my overall tone. My makeup went on well with it too. However, I think this sunscreen broke me out 😭. I’ve been trying to gaslight Show more

#hydrating
#broke me out
#absorbs well
idaraakpan's avatar

Idara

2 months ago
Review

as someone who struggles with american chemical sunscreen filters but prefers the finish of chemical sunscreens i decided to give this a chance. Unfortunately it broke me out and/or caused an allergic reaction there was small tiny white heads all over my forehead. I’m hoping maybe it was the fragrance but not sure I still want to try to have hope so I will try a fragrance free asian spf and see Show more

#broke me out
#irritating
#strong scent

EltaMD, Inc UV Clear Broad-Spectrum SPF 46 17 ingredients

3.1 /5
from 19 ratings
Expensive (8) No Scent (5) Pilling (4)
nja's avatar

nja

1 year ago
Review

Feels SO comfortable on the skin, I want to keep using it. I also love that it's FA safe. But it pills after I blend out concealer with a sponge and I wonder how much of it is still on my face after that. It's supposed to be good for sensitive skin and while it's actually calming for my skin overall after I put it on, it also irritates the skin around my eyes - at the end of the day, there's Show more

#expensive
#hydrating
#irritating
#light
febbynm's avatar

febbynm

4 years ago
Review

No for me.
I actually really enjoy the consistency. It glides really nicely but oh my lord this thing PILLS like no other. It doesn’t matter if I rub, gently pat it in, or wait however amount of time after my moisturizer; it will pill making it especially impossible to wear under makeup.