Paula's Choice 5% Vitamin C Sheer Moisturizer SPF 50 Versus Some By Mi V10 Hyal Hydra Capsule Sunscreen SPF 50+ PA++++

Paula's Choice 5% Vitamin C Sheer Moisturizer SPF 50 Versus Some By Mi V10 Hyal Hydra Capsule Sunscreen SPF 50+ PA++++

This hybrid sunscreen covers the full UV range and blocks ~98% of UVB at SPF 50.

This chemical sunscreen covers the full UV range and blocks ~98% of UVB at SPF 50.

What's inside

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane

Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate

Ethylhexyl Salicylate

Octocrylene

Water

Glycerin

Silica

3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid

Ascorbyl Glucoside

Dimethicone

Propanediol

Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate

Acetyl Zingerone

Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer

Diethylhexyl Syringylidenemalonate

Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer

Porphyra Umbilicalis Extract

Hydrogenated Lecithin

Ricinus Communis Seed Oil

Sodium Hydroxide

Tocopherol

Xanthan Gum

Ethylhexylglycerin

Laureth-4

Phenoxyethanol

Potassium Sorbate

Sodium Benzoate

Titanium Dioxide

Iron Oxides

Entada Phaseoloides Bark/Seed Extract

Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Octocrylene, Water, Glycerin, Silica, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Dimethicone, Propanediol, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Acetyl Zingerone, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Diethylhexyl Syringylidenemalonate, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Porphyra Umbilicalis Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Sodium Hydroxide, Tocopherol, Xanthan Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Laureth-4, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Titanium Dioxide, Iron Oxides, Entada Phaseoloides Bark/Seed Extract

Alcohol

Dibutyl Adipate

Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine

C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate

Caprylyl Methicone

Ethylhexyl Triazone

Polysilicone-15

Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate

Coco-Caprylate/Caprate

Ethylhexyl Palmitate

Hexyl Laurate

Niacinamide

Phenethyl Benzoate

Tridecyl Trimellitate

Polymethylsilsesquioxane

Pentylene Glycol

1,2-Hexanediol

Sodium Hyaluronate

Dibutyl Lauroyl Glutamide

Dibutyl Ethylhexanoyl Glutamide

Silica Dimethyl Silylate

Panthenol

Hydroxyacetophenone

C30-45 Alkyldimethylsilyl Polypropylsilsesquioxane

Parfum

Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate

Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer

Adenosine

Limonene

Disodium EDTA

Butylene Glycol

Acetyl Glucosamine

Linalool

Cynanchum Atratum Extract

Althaea Rosea Flower Extract

Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer

Caprylyl Glycol

Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride

Ceramide NP

Biotin

Cyanocobalamin

Hyaluronic Acid

Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin

Polyglyceryl-10 Diisostearate

Linoleic Acid

Ascorbic Acid

Bioflavonoids

Menadione

Retinol

7-Dehydrocholesterol

Water, Alcohol, Dibutyl Adipate, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Caprylyl Methicone, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Polysilicone-15, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Hexyl Laurate, Niacinamide, Phenethyl Benzoate, Tridecyl Trimellitate, Glycerin, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Pentylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Dibutyl Lauroyl Glutamide, Dibutyl Ethylhexanoyl Glutamide, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Panthenol, Hydroxyacetophenone, C30-45 Alkyldimethylsilyl Polypropylsilsesquioxane, Parfum, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Adenosine, Limonene, Disodium EDTA, Butylene Glycol, Acetyl Glucosamine, Linalool, Cynanchum Atratum Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Althaea Rosea Flower Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Caprylyl Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Tocopherol, Ceramide NP, Biotin, Cyanocobalamin, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Polyglyceryl-10 Diisostearate, Linoleic Acid, Ascorbic Acid, Bioflavonoids, Menadione, Retinol, 7-Dehydrocholesterol

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.

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.

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.

Hydrogenated Lecithin is a more stable version of lecithin.

It's made by taking lecithin (a phospholipid commonly found in soybeans and egg yolks) and hydrogenating it. This just means the unsaturated fatty acids are turned into saturated ones so they don't go bad as easily.

This ingredient is an emollient, emulsifier, and penetration enhancer. As an emollient, it helps soften and hydrate skin by trapping moisture within. As an emulsifier, it prevents oil and water ingredients from separating.

Hydrogenated Lecithin can form tiny spherical structures made of phospholipid bilayers called liposomes. These liposomes are able to capture compounds inside their structure and deliver them through the skin barrier.

Because phospholipids are a natural component of our cell membranes, this ingredient is inherently compatible with skin.

A 2021 study found lecithin-based surfactants were less harsh and more tolerable comared to Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS).

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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