First Aid Beauty Weightless Liquid Mineral Sunscreen With Zinc Oxide SPF 30 Versus EltaMD, Inc UV Clear Broad-Spectrum SPF 46

First Aid Beauty Weightless Liquid Mineral Sunscreen With Zinc Oxide SPF 30 Versus EltaMD, Inc UV Clear Broad-Spectrum SPF 46 Detailed comparison of First Aid Beauty Weightless Liquid Mineral Sunscreen With Zinc Oxide SPF 30 versus EltaMD, Inc UV Clear Broad-Spectrum SPF 46. This mineral sunscreen covers the full UV range and blocks ~97% of UVB at SPF 30. This hybrid sunscreen covers the full UV range and blocks ~98% of UVB at SPF 46. Zinc Oxide 22% Ethylhexyl Olivate Isododecane Coconut Alkanes Water Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride Butylene Glycol Mica Polyglyceryl-6 Polyricinoleate Jojoba Esters Cellulose Stearalkonium Hectorite Sodium Chloride Squalane Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate Iron Oxides Phenoxyethanol Tocopheryl Acetate Coco-Caprylate/Caprate Trihydroxystearin Caprylyl Glycol Polyhydroxystearic Acid Glycerin Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate Propanediol Sorbic Acid Titanium Dioxide Silica Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract Alumina Tocopherol Chrysanthemum Parthenium Extract Zinc Oxide 22%, Ethylhexyl Olivate, Isododecane, Coconut Alkanes, Water, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Butylene Glycol, Mica, Polyglyceryl-6 Polyricinoleate, Jojoba Esters, Cellulose, Stearalkonium Hectorite, Sodium Chloride, Squalane, Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate, Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate, Iron Oxides, Phenoxyethanol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Trihydroxystearin, Caprylyl Glycol, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Glycerin, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Propanediol, Sorbic Acid, Titanium Dioxide, Silica, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Alumina, Tocopherol, Chrysanthemum Parthenium Extract Zinc Oxide 9% Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate 7.5% Cyclopentasiloxane Niacinamide Octyldodecyl Neopentanoate Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer Polyisobutene Triethoxycaprylylsilane PEG-7 Trimethylolpropane Coconut Ether Oleth-3 Phosphate Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate Lactic Acid Sodium Hyaluronate Phosphoric Acid Zinc Oxide 9%, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate 7.5%, Water, Cyclopentasiloxane, Niacinamide, Octyldodecyl Neopentanoate, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Butylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Polyisobutene, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Tocopheryl Acetate, PEG-7 Trimethylolpropane Coconut Ether, Oleth-3 Phosphate, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, Lactic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Phosphoric Acid These ingredients are found in both products. Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount. Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons: Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients. Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness. 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 concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU. Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages. Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon. Tocopheryl Acetate is a stable, shelf-friendly form of vitamin E. Formulators love it because plain vitamin E oxidizes quickly once it hits air. This acetate version stays stable and resists going off, helping to extend a product's shelf life. It's actually inactive on its own and works like a slow-release "storage" form; the enzymes in your skin called esterases gradually convert it into active vitamin E over time. One in vivo study showed 5% of the acetate in the living layer of the epidermis converted to vitamin E after 5 days of application. This study also found the skin gained protection against UV damage even though the conversion was slow and small. Once converted, vitamin E acts as a skin's main fat-soluble antioxidant that fights free radicals to protect skin from damage. Topical vitamin E generally boosts the skin's photoprotection, and it reduced UV-damage in animal models. 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. Overall,