EltaMD, Inc UV Shield Broad-Spectrum SPF 45 Versus Paula's Choice Resist Youth-Extending Daily Hydrating Fluid SPF 50

EltaMD, Inc UV Shield Broad-Spectrum SPF 45 Versus Paula's Choice Resist Youth-Extending Daily Hydrating Fluid SPF 50 Detailed comparison of EltaMD, Inc UV Shield Broad-Spectrum SPF 45 versus Paula's Choice Resist Youth-Extending Daily Hydrating Fluid SPF 50. This hybrid sunscreen covers the full UV range and blocks ~98% of UVB at SPF 45. This hybrid sunscreen covers the full UV range and blocks ~98% of UVB at SPF 50. Zinc Oxide 9% Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate 7.5% Water Isopropyl Palmitate Ethylhexyl Stearate Cetearyl Alcohol Polysorbate 60 Oleth-3 Phosphate Phenoxyethanol Cetearyl Glucoside Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer Polyisobutene Polyether-1 Butylene Glycol PEG-7 Trimethylolpropane Coconut Ether Tocopheryl Acetate Citric Acid Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate Triethoxycaprylylsilane Zinc Oxide 9%, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate 7.5%, Water, Isopropyl Palmitate, Ethylhexyl Stearate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Polysorbate 60, Oleth-3 Phosphate, Phenoxyethanol, Cetearyl Glucoside, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Polyisobutene, Polyether-1, Butylene Glycol, PEG-7 Trimethylolpropane Coconut Ether, Tocopheryl Acetate, Citric Acid, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, Triethoxycaprylylsilane Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 2% Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5% Octocrylene 2% Glycerin Silica Dimethicone Tocopherol Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract Camellia Oleifera Leaf Extract Peucedanum Graveolens Extract Sambucus Nigra Fruit Extract Avena Sativa Bran Extract Punica Granatum Extract Lycium Barbarum Fruit Extract Hydrogenated Lecithin Titanium Dioxide Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer Diethylhexyl Syringylidenemalonate Xanthan Gum Sodium Carbomer Benzyl Alcohol Sodium Benzoate Potassium Sorbate Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 2%, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate 7.5%, Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%, Octocrylene 2%, Water, Glycerin, Silica, Dimethicone, Tocopherol, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Camellia Oleifera Leaf Extract, Peucedanum Graveolens Extract, Sambucus Nigra Fruit Extract, Avena Sativa Bran Extract, Punica Granatum Extract, Lycium Barbarum Fruit Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Titanium Dioxide, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Diethylhexyl Syringylidenemalonate, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Carbomer, Benzyl Alcohol, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Phenoxyethanol These ingredients are found in both products. Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount. This ingredient is also known as Octinoxate and is one of the oldest and most widely used chemical UV filters in skincare. It has a simple job: soap up UVB radiation (290-320 nm), the wavelengths responsible for sunburn and a big chunk of long-term sun damage. In formulas, it's always paired with a separate UVA filter because octinoxate solely protects skin from UVB. Because it's an oil-soluble liquid, it's easy to blend into the oil phase of lotions/creams and gives a cosmetically elegant feel. The one quirk about formulating this ingredient is photostability; the molecule slowly changes shape into a less effective version when sunlight hits it. So the longer you're in the sun, the weaker its protection gets. The drop can be more than 30% in some formulas. It also doesn't play nice with Avobenzone (the common UVA filter) since avobenzone destabilizes octinoxate and the two degrade each other. But don't worry: brands have solved this issue by adding photostabilizers like Tinosorb S to prevent degradation and keep SPF stable under heavy UV exposure. The maximum allowed level is 10% in the EU and Australia, 7.5% in the US and Canada, and 20% in Japan. The Cosmetic Ingredient Review Panel has concluded this ingredient to be safe in cosmetics up to 10%. One last thing worth knowing for context: Octinoxate has been the subject of ongoing review in Europe where the Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety's (SCCS) 2025 final opinion is that this ingredient is an endocrine-active substance. Lab and animal studies suggest it can act a bit like a hormone in the body (mildly mimicking estrogen and slightly blocking male hormones). It's important to know this hasn't really been shown to happen in everyday human use. This ingredient is also banned in Hawaii over coral reef concerns. This is a synthetic polymer. It helps improve the texture of products by adding thickness and gel-like feel. It is also an emulsifer, meaning it prevents ingredients such as oil and water from separating. It also helps evenly disperse other ingredients. Phenoxyethanol is one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!). It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome. On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive. Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10). You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own. Typical use