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Supergoop! Unseen Sunscreen SPF 40 PA+++ Versus Paula's Choice Hydralight Shine-Free Mineral Complex SPF 30

Supergoop! Unseen Sunscreen SPF 40 PA+++ Versus Paula's Choice Hydralight Shine-Free Mineral Complex SPF 30 This chemical sunscreen covers most of the UV range, lighter on the deep UVA that drives aging. This oil-control moisturizer is formulated around Camell

By Peptide Skincare & Beauty Editorial TeamPublished

Supergoop! Unseen Sunscreen SPF 40 PA+++ Versus Paula's Choice Hydralight Shine-Free Mineral Complex SPF 30

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

This oil-control moisturizer is formulated around Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract and Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract to balance excess oil and calm redness.

What's inside

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%

Homosalate 8%

Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%

Octocrylene 4%

Isododecane

Dimethicone Crosspolymer

Dimethicone/Bis-Isobutyl PPG-20 Crosspolymer

Polymethylsilsesquioxane

Isohexadecane

Dicaprylyl Carbonate

Meadowfoam Estolide

Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride

Polyester-7

Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate

Lithothamnion Calcareum Extract

Caprylyl Glycol

Butyrospermum Parkii Butter

Jojoba Esters

Mannitol

Boswellia Serrata Resin Extract

Lecithin

Microcrystalline Cellulose

Diatomaceous Earth

Zinc Sulfate

Silica

Tocopherol

Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%, Homosalate 8%, Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%, Octocrylene 4%, Isododecane, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Dimethicone/Bis-Isobutyl PPG-20 Crosspolymer, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Isohexadecane, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Meadowfoam Estolide, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Polyester-7, Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate, Lithothamnion Calcareum Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Jojoba Esters, Mannitol, Boswellia Serrata Resin Extract, Lecithin, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Diatomaceous Earth, Zinc Sulfate, Silica, Tocopherol

Zinc Oxide 6%

Titanium Dioxide 2.32%

Water

Ethylhexyl Palmitate

Cyclomethicone

Dimethicone

Polysorbate 80

Caprylyl Methicone

Glyceryl Stearate

PEG-100 Stearate

C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate

Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer

Cetyl Alcohol

Propylene Glycol

Polyglyceryl-6 Isostearate

Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract

Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract

Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract

Algae Extract

Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice

Allantoin

Glycerin

Panthenol

Butylene Glycol

Alumina

Lauryl PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone

Polyhydroxystearic Acid

Triethoxysilylethyl Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Hexyl Dimethicone

Diethylhexyl Carbonate

Triethoxycaprylylsilane

Disodium EDTA

Chlorphenesin

Phenoxyethanol

Zinc Oxide 6%, Titanium Dioxide 2.32%, Water, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Cyclomethicone, Dimethicone, Polysorbate 80, Caprylyl Methicone, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Isohexadecane, Cetyl Alcohol, Propylene Glycol, Polyglyceryl-6 Isostearate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Algae Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Allantoin, Glycerin, Panthenol, Butylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Alumina, Lauryl PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Triethoxysilylethyl Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Hexyl Dimethicone, Diethylhexyl Carbonate, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Disodium EDTA, Chlorphenesin, Phenoxyethanol

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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.

Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.

Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.

Because it is not a free-fatty acid, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).

Isohexadecane is added to enhance texture, emulsify, and to help cleanse. It is an isoparrafin. It is a component of petrolatum.

Due to its large size, Isohexadecane is not absorbed by the skin. Instead, it sits on top and acts as an emollient. Emollients help keep your skin soft and smooth by trapping moisture within.

Isohexadecane is often used in products designed to help oily skin. It is lightweight and non-greasy while helping to moisturize. When mixed with silicones, it gives a product a silky feel.

Similar Comparisons

The reference edit

Ingredients, questions
& further reading.

Connected source records selected through this article’s public topic index.

01

Formula cabinet

Ingredients & structured notes

Ingredient index

Ingredients Explained

  1. 01These ingredients are found in both products.
  2. 02Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
  3. 03Citric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
  4. 04Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
  5. 05However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
  6. 06Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
  7. 07In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
  8. 08While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
  9. 09Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
  10. 10Rosacea skin has a lower threshold for acids generally, with 62.5% of rosacea subjects in one study reacting to lactic acid in a sting test. This is why we mark citric acid as a potential rosacea trigger.
  11. 11However, this ingredient shows up as a pH adjuster or chelator at roughly 0.1-1% in many products. These low levels are unlikely to be an issue for rosacea skin and becomes a potential trigger at exfoliating concentrations (20%). Because everybody's…
  12. 12Ethylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
  13. 13The 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 …
  14. 14Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
  15. 15Glycerin (or glycerol) is a compound naturally found in your skin. It's a powerhouse humectant that pulls water into the stratum corneum.
  16. 16Topically, glycerin does several things at once:
  17. 17Your 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.
  18. 18Aquaporin-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.
  19. 19This 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.
  20. 20Just know very high concentrations (>40%) can feel tacky in low humidity.
Source · skinsort.com ⟶
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03

Comparison edit

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