First Aid Beauty Mineral Sunscreen Zinc Oxide Broad Spectrum SPF 30 Versus La Roche-Posay Anthelios Ultra Light Face Sunscreen-SPF 60

First Aid Beauty Mineral Sunscreen Zinc Oxide Broad Spectrum SPF 30 Versus La Roche-Posay Anthelios Ultra Light Face Sunscreen-SPF 60

This mineral sunscreen covers the full UV range and blocks ~97% of UVB at SPF 30.

This chemical sunscreen covers most of the UV range, lighter on the deep UVA that drives aging.

What's inside

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

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

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

Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%

Homosalate 10%

Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%

Octocrylene 7%

Cyclopentasiloxane

Alcohol Denat.

Silica

Dicaprylyl Ether

Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer

PEG-30 Dipolyhydroxystearate

Dimethicone

Cyclohexasiloxane

Polymethylsilsesquioxane

Nylon-12

Dicaprylyl Carbonate

Diethylhexyl Syringylidenemalonate

Phenoxyethanol

Lauryl PEG/PPG-18/18 Methicone

Sodium Chloride

Caprylyl Glycol

PEG-8 Laurate

Isostearyl Alcohol

Poly C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate

Disteardimonium Hectorite

P-Anisic Acid

Disodium EDTA

Cassia Alata Leaf Extract

Propylene Carbonate

Sodium Dodecylbenzenesulfonate

Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%, Homosalate 10%, Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%, Octocrylene 7%, Water, Cyclopentasiloxane, Alcohol Denat., Silica, Dicaprylyl Ether, Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer, PEG-30 Dipolyhydroxystearate, Dimethicone, Cyclohexasiloxane, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Nylon-12, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Diethylhexyl Syringylidenemalonate, Phenoxyethanol, Lauryl PEG/PPG-18/18 Methicone, Sodium Chloride, Caprylyl Glycol, PEG-8 Laurate, Isostearyl Alcohol, Poly C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate, Disteardimonium Hectorite, P-Anisic Acid, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Disodium EDTA, Cassia Alata Leaf Extract, Propylene Carbonate, Sodium Dodecylbenzenesulfonate, Tocopherol

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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.

Caprylic/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%.

Tocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.

You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.

Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.

It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.

This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.

This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.

In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.

Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.

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!

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