Peptide Skincare & BeautySkin science and ingredient guides

Ingredient or product comparison

First Aid Beauty Weightless Liquid Mineral Sunscreen With Zinc Oxide SPF 30 Versus Paula's Choice Defense Essential Glow Moisturizer SPF 30

First Aid Beauty Weightless Liquid Mineral Sunscreen With Zinc Oxide SPF 30 Versus Paula's Choice Defense Essential Glow Moisturizer SPF 30 Detailed comparison of First Aid Beauty Weightless Liquid Mineral Sunscreen With Zinc Oxide SPF 30 versus Paula's Choice

This source-based comparison does not add ratings or recommend a winner.

First Aid Beauty Weightless Liquid Mineral Sunscreen With Zinc Oxide SPF 30 Versus Paula's Choice Defense Essential Glow Moisturizer SPF 30 Detailed comparison of First Aid Beauty Weightless Liquid Mineral Sunscreen With Zinc Oxide SPF 30 versus Paula's Choice Defense Essential Glow Moisturizer SPF 30. This mineral sunscreen covers the full UV range and blocks ~97% of UVB at SPF 30. This brightening moisturizer is formulated around Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract and Tetrapeptide-30 to brighten dull-looking skin and fade the look of dark spots. 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 C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate Zinc Oxide Isononyl Isononanoate Cetearyl Alcohol Potassium Cetyl Phosphate Dimethicone Glyceryl Stearate Actinidia Chinensis Fruit Extract Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil Tetrapeptide-30 Linoleic Acid Resveratrol Ascorbyl Glucoside Niacinamide Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate Bisabolol Phospholipids Lecithin Glycine Soja Sterols Xanthophylls Pullulan Sodium Gluconate Xanthan Gum Sclerotium Gum Citric Acid Triethoxycaprylylsilane C13-14 Isoparaffin Acrylates Copolymer Polyacrylamide Ceteareth-20 Aluminum Stearate Laureth-7 Ethylhexylglycerin Water, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Zinc Oxide, Titanium Dioxide, Glycerin, Isononyl Isononanoate, Butylene Glycol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Dimethicone, Glyceryl Stearate, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Actinidia Chinensis Fruit Extract, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Tetrapeptide-30, Linoleic Acid, Resveratrol, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Niacinamide, Tocopheryl Acetate, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Bisabolol, Tocopherol, Phospholipids, Lecithin, Glycine Soja Sterols, Xanthophylls, Pullulan, Sodium Gluconate, Xanthan Gum, Sclerotium Gum, Alumina, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Citric Acid, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Acrylates Copolymer, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Polyacrylamide, Ceteareth-20, Aluminum Stearate, Laureth-7, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol These ingredients are found in both products. Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount. Alumina (aka aluminum oxide) is an inorganic mineral powder refined from bauxite that works as a quiet workhorse in a formula. It shows up often as an abrasive, absorbent, anticaking, bulking, and viscosity-controlling agent. One of its most common jobs is acting as a pigment carrier and dispersant. Alumina platelets are often blended with inorganic sunscreens like Titanium Dioxide (or with colorants) and then coated with a silicone such as Triethoxycaprylylsilane so the pigment spreads evenly and smoothly. In makeup, it can also double as a light-diffusing powder or oil absorber to keep formulas from looking greasy. The Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has concluded alumina to be safe in present practices of use and concentration. They note it's a stable, oxidized compound and scientific research has failed to establish links to health issues. Concentrations vary depending on the product: 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. Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride (aka MCT Oil) is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping to prevent moisture loss. Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. One perk of this ingredient is that it is very stable, resistant to oxidation, and unlikely to go rancid. In practice, that translates to a long shelf life and a consistently elegant skin feel. While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this. Just patch test if you have concerns. Fractionated coconut oil and MCT Oil are both listed as Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride according to INCI. This is because INCI names are based on the ingredient’s final chemical composition and not its marketing name or source. This ingredient is treated as the gold standard fungal acne safe oil. Even though it is coconut derived, the problematic lauric acid is stripped out. This leaves just caprylic (C8) and capric (C10) acid. These chain lengths actually trend antifungal; a 2020 study found caprylic acid was enough to disrupt Malassezia furfur cell membrane, with a caprylic acid derivative damaging membrane structures at concentrations as low as 0.2%. 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