Versed Good Defense Daily Sunscreen SPF 50 Versus Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Face Liquid Sunscreen Mineral Sensitive Skin SPF 70
This chemical sunscreen covers most of the UV range, lighter on the deep UVA that drives aging.
This mineral sunscreen covers the full UV range and blocks ~99% of UVB at SPF 70.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%
UV Absorber
Homosalate 7.3%
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%
UV Absorber
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Butyloctyl Salicylate
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexyl Methoxycrylene
Skin Conditioning
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantBetaine
Humectant
Shorea Stenoptera Seed Butter
Emollient
Vp/Hexadecene Copolymer
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Arginine
Masking
Serine
Masking
Alanine
Masking
Glycine
Buffering
Threonine
Proline
Skin Conditioning
Valine
MaskingHistidine
Humectant
Isoleucine
Skin ConditioningPhenylalanine
Masking
Aspartic Acid
Masking
Spirodela Polyrhiza Extract
Skin ConditioningPCA
Humectant
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Dibutyl Lauroyl Glutamide
Skin ConditioningDibutyl Ethylhexanoyl Glutamide
Skin ConditioningGlycolipids
Skin ConditioningDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Tromethamine
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%, Homosalate 7.3%, Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%, Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Ethylhexyl Methoxycrylene, Dipropylene Glycol, Betaine, Shorea Stenoptera Seed Butter, Vp/Hexadecene Copolymer, Ceramide NP, Arginine, Serine, Alanine, Glycine, Threonine, Proline, Valine, Histidine, Isoleucine, Phenylalanine, Aspartic Acid, Spirodela Polyrhiza Extract, PCA, Sodium PCA, Bisabolol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Dibutyl Lauroyl Glutamide, Dibutyl Ethylhexanoyl Glutamide, Glycolipids, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Sodium Lactate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Carbomer, Pentylene Glycol, Tromethamine, Phenoxyethanol
Titanium Dioxide 6.6%
Cosmetic Colorant
Zinc Oxide 14.4%
Cosmetic Colorant
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Butyloctyl Salicylate
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexyl Methoxycrylene
Skin Conditioning
Vp/Hexadecene Copolymer
Dimethicone
Emollient
Steareth-21
CleansingCalcium Sodium Borosilicate
Triacontanyl Pvp
HumectantPolyhydroxystearic Acid
Emulsifying
Aluminum Hydroxide
EmollientStearic Acid
Cleansing
Triethoxycaprylylsilane
Cetearyl Olivate
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Chloride
MaskingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Disodium EDTA
Titanium Dioxide 6.6%, Zinc Oxide 14.4%, Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Ethylhexyl Methoxycrylene, Vp/Hexadecene Copolymer, Dimethicone, Steareth-21, Calcium Sodium Borosilicate, Triacontanyl Pvp, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Aluminum Hydroxide, Stearic Acid, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Cetearyl Olivate, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Chloride, Xanthan Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sorbitan Olivate, Chlorphenesin, Caprylyl Glycol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Disodium EDTA
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Butyloctyl Salicylate is a chemical UV filter structurally similar to octisalate. It is a photostabilizer, SPF booster, emollient and solvent. This ingredient helps evenly spread out ingredients.
According to a manufacturer, it is suitable for pairing with micro Titanium Dioxide, Zinc Oxide, and pigments.
Photostabilizers help stabilize UV-filters and prevents them from degrading quickly.
Learn more about Butyloctyl SalicylateCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride (aka MCT Oil) is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping to prevent moisture loss.
Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. One perk of this ingredient is that it is very stable, resistant to oxidation, and unlikely to go rancid.
In practice, that translates to a long shelf life and a consistently elegant skin feel.
While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this. Just patch test if you have concerns.
Fractionated coconut oil and MCT Oil are both listed as Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride according to INCI. This is because INCI names are based on the ingredient’s final chemical composition and not its marketing name or source.
This ingredient is treated as the gold standard fungal acne safe oil. Even though it is coconut derived, the problematic lauric acid is stripped out.
This leaves just caprylic (C8) and capric (C10) acid. These chain lengths actually trend antifungal; a 2020 study found caprylic acid was enough to disrupt Malassezia furfur cell membrane, with a caprylic acid derivative damaging membrane structures at concentrations as low as 0.2%.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideThis ingredient is a photostabilizer and a chemical UV booster. It is marketed as an alternative to octocrylene.
You'll most likely find it in sunscreens to enhance stability and effectiveness of UV filters, antioxidants, and vitamin A derivatives. According to the manufacturer, this ingredient is better than octocrylene at stabilizing avobenzone.
Due to regulation loopholes, you'll likely see this ingredient in "100% mineral" sunscreens.
Learn more about Ethylhexyl MethoxycrylenePhenoxyethanol 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 PhenoxyethanolVP/Hexadecene Copolymer is a synthetic film-forming agent. It has both water and oil loving properties, allowing it to create a flexible, even film on the skin.
This ingredient helps enhance texture, smoothness, and wear resistance in makeup products while reducing tackiness.
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. Remember to stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water
