Skin science article
Belif Aqua Bomb Broad Spectrum SPF 50 Versus First Aid Beauty Mineral Sunscreen Zinc Oxide Broad Spectrum SPF 30
Belif Aqua Bomb Broad Spectrum SPF 50 Versus First Aid Beauty Mineral Sunscreen Zinc Oxide Broad Spectrum SPF 30 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
Belif Aqua Bomb Broad Spectrum SPF 50 Versus First Aid Beauty Mineral Sunscreen Zinc Oxide Broad Spectrum SPF 30
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 ~97% of UVB at SPF 30.
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Homosalate 9%
Octocrylene 9%
Ethylhexyl Salicylate 4.5%
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 2.7%
Water
Glycerin
Dimethicone
Isododecane
Cetearyl Alcohol
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
Acrylates/Polytrimethylsiloxymethacrylate Copolymer
1,2-Hexanediol
Panthenol
Benzotriazolyl Dodecyl P-Cresol
Glyceryl Caprylate
Glyceryl Stearate
Polymethyl Methacrylate
Magnesium Aluminum Silicate
Cetearyl Olivate
Inulin Lauryl Carbamate
Sorbitan Olivate
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Xanthan Gum
Citrus Aurantifolia Oil
Tromethamine
Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Butylene Glycol
Trisodium EDTA
Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
Isohexadecane
Avena Sativa Kernel Extract
Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract
Nepeta Cataria Extract
Rubus Idaeus Leaf Extract
Baptisia Tinctoria Root Extract
Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract
Stellaria Media Extract
Morinda Citrifolia Fruit Extract
Limonene
Citronellol
Geraniol
Citral
Linalool
Homosalate 9%, Octocrylene 9%, Ethylhexyl Salicylate 4.5%, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 2.7%, Water, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Isododecane, Cetearyl Alcohol, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Acrylates/Polytrimethylsiloxymethacrylate Copolymer, 1,2-Hexanediol, Panthenol, Benzotriazolyl Dodecyl P-Cresol, Glyceryl Caprylate, Glyceryl Stearate, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Cetearyl Olivate, Inulin Lauryl Carbamate, Sorbitan Olivate, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Xanthan Gum, Citrus Aurantifolia Oil, Tromethamine, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Butylene Glycol, Trisodium EDTA, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Isohexadecane, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Nepeta Cataria Extract, Rubus Idaeus Leaf Extract, Baptisia Tinctoria Root Extract, Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract, Stellaria Media Extract, Morinda Citrifolia Fruit Extract, Limonene, Citronellol, Geraniol, Citral, Linalool
Zinc Oxide 20%
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Coconut Alkanes
Coco-Glucoside
Avena Sativa Kernel Meal
Tocopherol
Persea Gratissima Oil
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Arachidyl Alcohol
Behenyl Alcohol
Arachidyl Glucoside
Polyhydroxystearic Acid
Benzyl Alcohol
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Zinc Oxide 20%, Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Coconut Alkanes, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Coco-Glucoside, Avena Sativa Kernel Meal, Tocopherol, Persea Gratissima Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Arachidyl Alcohol, Behenyl Alcohol, Arachidyl Glucoside, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Benzyl Alcohol, Xanthan Gum, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
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Alternatives
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Cetearyl alcohol is a waxy mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is an emollient and emulsifier.
Despite having "alcohol" in its name, it has nothing to do with drying solvent alcohols; the FDA also allows "alcohol-free" products to contain fatty alcohols like this ingredient.
It plays several roles in a formula:
Typical use levels for this ingredient sit around 1-10% and the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has affirmed safety at concentrations up to 25% in leave-on products.
Multiple assessments have found it to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing to most people.
However, there have been some cases of allergic contact dermatitis in patients with chronically compromised skin barriers.
Cetearyl alcohol has a comedogenic rating of 2 and irritancy rating of 1. Both of these numbers come from the 1989 study that used rabbit ears; a "2" means mildly comedogenic and a "1" means low irritancy.
Here's the catch: rabbit skin is more sensitive than human skin and throws a lot of false positives. A 1996 reappraisal found that ingredients rated 1-2 in the rabbit ear tests are generally safe for humans.
Remember comedogenic ratings are unable to assess the entire formula of a product or how it will react on your skin. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure about certain ingredients.
This ingredient is not fungal acne safe. Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol with chain lengths that fall within the range that Malassezia can metabolize.
A 2019 study has also observed Malassezia growth in the presence of this ingredient, confirming it to be not-fungal acne safe.
Glycerin (or glycerol) is a compound naturally found in your skin. It's a powerhouse humectant that pulls water into the stratum corneum.
Topically, glycerin does several things at once:
Your skin makes glycerin on its own (mostly from sebaceous oil breakdown) and shuttles it to your outermost layer of skin, or your epidermis, via aquaporin-3.
Aquaporin-3 is a transporter that is essential for normal skin hydration, elasticity, and repair. Interestingly, mice lacking in AQP3 have dry and less elastic skin that can be fully corrected with glycerin.
This ingredient is non-irritating, plays well with almost every ingredient, and works across all skin types. Typical use is anywhere between 3-10% but can go up to 79% in some leave-on products.
Just know very high concentrations (>40%) can feel tacky in low humidity.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
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!
Xanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.