Tower 28 Beauty SunnyDays Tinted SPF 30 Versus Mac Cosmetics Studio Fix Fluid SPF 15 24HR Matte Foundation + Oil Control
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Zinc Oxide 12.6%
Cosmetic Colorant
Water
Skin ConditioningIsononyl Isononanoate
EmollientC9-12 Alkane
SolventButyloctyl Salicylate
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-6 Polyricinoleate
Emulsifying
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Ethylhexyl Methoxycrylene
Skin Conditioning
Trimethylsiloxysilicate
Emollient
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantPolyglyceryl-2 Isostearate
Emulsifying
Sodium Chloride
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingPolyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate
Emulsifying
Polyhydroxystearic Acid
Emulsifying
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Isostearic Acid
Cleansing
Lecithin
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-6 Polyhydroxystearate
Emulsifying
Jojoba Esters
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Phytate
ChelatingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Water
MaskingCentella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Opuntia Tuna Fruit
Skin ConditioningSalvia Officinalis Extract
Antimicrobial
Iron Oxides
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantZinc Oxide 12.6%, Water, Isononyl Isononanoate, C9-12 Alkane, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Polyglyceryl-6 Polyricinoleate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Ethylhexyl Methoxycrylene, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Mica, Polyglyceryl-2 Isostearate, Sodium Chloride, Phenoxyethanol, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Isostearic Acid, Lecithin, Polyglyceryl-6 Polyhydroxystearate, Jojoba Esters, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Phytate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Water, Centella Asiatica Extract, Opuntia Tuna Fruit, Salvia Officinalis Extract, Iron Oxides, CI 77891
Water
Skin ConditioningMethyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Dimethicone
Emollient
Trimethylsiloxysilicate
Emollient
PEG-10 Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Isododecane
EmollientPolyethylene
Abrasive
Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Magnesium Sulfate
Algae Extract
Emollient
Laminaria Saccharina Extract
Skin Protecting
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Salix Nigra Bark Extract
Skin ProtectingTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Lecithin
Emollient
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingSilica
Abrasive
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion Stabilising
Triethoxycaprylylsilane
Dimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer
Methoxy Amodimethicone/Silsesquioxane Copolymer
Skin Conditioning
Sorbitan Sesquioleate
Emulsifying
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Sodium Citrate
BufferingLaureth-7
EmulsifyingMethyldihydrojasmonate
MaskingPropylene Carbonate
SolventAlumina
Abrasive
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantPentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
BHT
Antioxidant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sorbic Acid
Preservative
Chloroxylenol
Antimicrobial
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Methyl Trimethicone, Dimethicone, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Butylene Glycol, Isododecane, Polyethylene, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Magnesium Sulfate, Algae Extract, Laminaria Saccharina Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Salix Nigra Bark Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Caffeine, Lecithin, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Silica, Xanthan Gum, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Dimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer, Methoxy Amodimethicone/Silsesquioxane Copolymer, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Salicylic Acid, Sodium Citrate, Laureth-7, Methyldihydrojasmonate, Propylene Carbonate, Alumina, Dipropylene Glycol, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, BHT, Phenoxyethanol, Sorbic Acid, Chloroxylenol, CI 77891, CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ci 77891 is a white pigment from Titanium dioxide. It is naturally found in minerals such as rutile and ilmenite.
It's main function is to add a white color to cosmetics. It can also be mixed with other colors to create different shades.
Ci 77891 is commonly found in sunscreens due to its ability to block UV rays.
Learn more about CI 77891Disteardimonium Hectorite comes from the clay mineral named hectorite. It is used to add thickness to a product.
It can also help stabilize a product by helping to disperse other ingredients.
Hectorite is a rare, white clay mineral.
Learn more about Disteardimonium HectoriteLecithin is a term for a group of substances found in the cell membranes of plants, animals, and humans. They are made up of phospholipids.
Thanks to its amphiphilic structure (water-loving head and oil-loving tail), it is a true multitasker:
It plays well with most ingredients and is typically used at 0.1-1%. However, concentrations up to 50% have been reported in moisturizers.
Learn more about LecithinPhenoxyethanol is one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.
Learn more about PhenoxyethanolThis silicone is an emollient. Emollients create a thin film on the skin to prevent moisture from escaping.
It is not soluble in water and helps increase water-resistance in products.
According to a manufacturer, it can blend seamlessly with silicone oils, such as Cyclopentasiloxane.
Learn more about TrimethylsiloxysilicateWater. 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
