Skin science article
Isntree Hyaluronic Acid Watery Sun Gel SPF 50+ PA++++ Versus Paula's Choice Resist Super-Light Wrinkle Defense SPF 30
Isntree Hyaluronic Acid Watery Sun Gel SPF 50+ PA++++ Versus Paula's Choice Resist Super-Light Wrinkle Defense SPF 30 This chemical sunscreen covers the full UV range and blocks ~98% of UVB at SPF 50. This mineral sunscreen covers the full UV range and blocks
Isntree Hyaluronic Acid Watery Sun Gel SPF 50+ PA++++ Versus Paula's Choice Resist Super-Light Wrinkle Defense SPF 30
This chemical sunscreen covers the full UV range and blocks ~98% of UVB at SPF 50.
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
Water
Butylene Glycol
Ethylhexyl Salicylate
Homosalate
Dibutyl Adipate
Niacinamide
Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Cyclopentasiloxane
Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol
Polysilicone-15
Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
1,2-Hexanediol
Pentylene Glycol
Pinus Pinaster Bark Extract
Ceramide NP
Centella Asiatica Extract
Glycerin
Portulaca Oleracea Extract
Houttuynia Cordata Extract
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Ficus Carica Fruit Extract
Sodium Hyaluronate
Ceteth-10
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Decyl Glucoside
Propanediol
Tocopherol
Astaxanthin
Hyaluronic Acid
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Ascorbyl Propyl Hyaluronate
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Adenosine
Xanthan Gum
Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone
Tromethamine
Carbomer
Propylene Glycol
Ethylhexylglycerin
Water, Butylene Glycol, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Homosalate, Dibutyl Adipate, Niacinamide, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Cyclopentasiloxane, Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol, Polysilicone-15, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Pentylene Glycol, Pinus Pinaster Bark Extract, Ceramide NP, Centella Asiatica Extract, Glycerin, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Ficus Carica Fruit Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ceteth-10, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Decyl Glucoside, Propanediol, Tocopherol, Astaxanthin, Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Ascorbyl Propyl Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Adenosine, Xanthan Gum, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Tromethamine, Carbomer, Propylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin
Zinc Oxide
PEG-12 Dimethicone
PEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone
Lauroyl Lysine
Sodium Chloride
Trihydroxystearin
Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Resveratrol
Quercetin
Epigallocatechin Gallate
Tocopheryl Acetate
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Bisabolol
Salix Nigra Bark Extract
Punica Granatum Extract
Haematococcus Pluvialis Extract
Hydrolyzed Corn Starch
Polysorbate 80
Hydrated Silica
Triethoxycaprylylsilane
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
Isopropyl Titanium Triisostearate
Caprylyl Glycol
Hexylene Glycol
Iron Oxides
Phenoxyethanol
Water, Cyclopentasiloxane, Zinc Oxide, PEG-12 Dimethicone, PEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone, Lauroyl Lysine, Sodium Chloride, Trihydroxystearin, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Resveratrol, Quercetin, Epigallocatechin Gallate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Adenosine, Bisabolol, Salix Nigra Bark Extract, Punica Granatum Extract, Haematococcus Pluvialis Extract, Hydrolyzed Corn Starch, Polysorbate 80, Hydrated Silica, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Isopropyl Titanium Triisostearate, Caprylyl Glycol, Hexylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Iron Oxides, Phenoxyethanol
Reviews
Alternatives
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Adenosine is a purine nucleoside that your body already makes in every cell. In skincare, it acts mainly as a skin conditioning and anti-aging agent.
The way it works is fairly well mapped out:
Your skin has cells called fibroblasts that build collagen (the stuff that keeps skin firm and smooth). Adenosine basically flips a switch on these cells that tells them to get to work making more collagen and other proteins. These cells slow down on their own as skin ages, so Adenosine helps give them a little nudge to keep going.
The clinical backing is pretty solid too.
A blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial of 126 women aged 45-65 tested a 0.1% cream twice daily and found real improvements in crow's feet and frown lines using a precise 3D skin-mapping technique; these changes showed up by week 3 and held at 2 months.
A later study using Adenosine-loaded dissolving microneedle patches reported gains in wrinkle depth, dermal density, elasticity, and hydration.
On concentrations, South Korea's Ministry of Food and Drug Safety has set 0.04% as the approved functional anti-wrinkle level. You'll typically see this ingredient used somewhere in the 0.04-0.1% range since it works at low doses.
This ingredient has been found safe for cosmetics with the data showing no irritation or sensitization.
Overall, this is a great ingredient for any anti-aging routine and has no photosensitizing effect, so it suits both AM and PM use.
Cyclopentasiloxane (D5) is a lightweight silicone that mostly acts as an emollient and solvent in cosmetics. Its the reason your products feel silky, fast-spreading, and non-greasy.
Since D5 is volatile, it does its thing and then evaporates off the skin quickly.
The safety profile of this ingredient is reassuring; the US CIR Expert Panel concluded D5 is safe as used in cosmetics and Health Canada concluded that D5 is not harmful to human health or the environment as currently used in cosmetics
There's a study that people mention about D5 in a rat study showing tumors. This study is related to long-term inhalation of high D5 levels.
Regulatory bodies have judged this study to be not applicable in topical skincare since skin absorption of D5 is very low and we're not really inhaling huge amounts of D5.
The only restriction for this ingredient is environmental. The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) restricted D5 in wash-off cosmetics at or above 0.1% due to their persistence in water.
Ethylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
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!