Paula's Choice Calm Barrier Protect Mineral Sunscreen SPF 30 Versus EltaMD, Inc UV Clear Broad-Spectrum SPF 46

Paula's Choice Calm Barrier Protect Mineral Sunscreen SPF 30 Versus EltaMD, Inc UV Clear Broad-Spectrum SPF 46 Detailed comparison of Paula's Choice Calm Barrier Protect Mineral Sunscreen SPF 30 versus EltaMD, Inc UV Clear Broad-Spectrum SPF 46. This hybrid 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. Water Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate Titanium Dioxide Zinc Oxide Ethylhexyl Methoxycrylene Glycerin Polyester-8 Aluminum Stearate C15-19 Alkane Hydrogenated Lecithin Silica Trehalose Inulin Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide Ascorbyl Palmitate Tocopherol Echium Plantagineum Seed Oil Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil Centella Asiatica Extract Polyhydroxystearic Acid Alumina Glyceryl Caprylate Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer Caprylhydroxamic Acid Triethoxycaprylylsilane Diheptyl Succinate Xanthan Gum Allantoin Sodium Polyacrylate Sodium Hydroxide Acacia Senegal Gum Sodium Citrate Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer Polysorbate 60 Sorbitan Isostearate Glyceryl Stearate Lecithin Glyceryl Oleate Citric Acid Sodium Benzoate Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Titanium Dioxide, Zinc Oxide, Ethylhexyl Methoxycrylene, Glycerin, Polyester-8, Aluminum Stearate, C15-19 Alkane, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Silica, Trehalose, Inulin, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Tocopherol, Echium Plantagineum Seed Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Centella Asiatica Extract, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Alumina, Glyceryl Caprylate, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Diheptyl Succinate, Xanthan Gum, Allantoin, Sodium Polyacrylate, Sodium Hydroxide, Acacia Senegal Gum, Sodium Citrate, Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer, Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan Isostearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Lecithin, Glyceryl Oleate, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate Zinc Oxide 9% Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate 7.5% Cyclopentasiloxane Niacinamide Octyldodecyl Neopentanoate Butylene Glycol Phenoxyethanol Polyisobutene Tocopheryl Acetate 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. 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. Triethoxycaprylylsilane is a silicon-based surface modifier that makes sunscreens feel silky and makeup stay put. Its main job is to coat mineral particles like titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, and color pigments in a thin, oily layer so they spread smoothly, don't clump, and stick to skin better. This ingredient is typically used at low levels (up to 2.5% in eyeshadow and 1% in lipstick). 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! Zinc Oxide (ZO) is a mineral broad-spectrum UV filter and the broadest-spectrum filter recognized by the FDA. It covers everything from UVB through to long-wave UVA. On top of sun protection, it has skin protectant and skin-soothing properties too. Here's a myth worth busting: mineral filters are usually described as working by "reflecting" or "bouncing" UV off your skin. That's mostly not true: when researchers actually measured it, ZO and Titanium Dioxide reflect only about 4-5% of UV (less than SPF 2 worth of protection). The vast majority of the work (~95%) is done by absorption, similar to chemical UV filters. ZO is a semiconductor that absorbs UV photos through its energy band gap. So the old "physical blocker vs. chemical absorber" framing is really an oversimplification. Zinc Oxide is one of the most effective broad-spectrum UV filters out there. It protects across UVB, UVA2, and UVA1 with a flat, even absorption curve across the whole UVA-UVB range. That uniform UVA coverage is its standout feature; titanium dioxide skews more toward UVB as its particle size drops so ZO gives more consistent and extended UVA protection. It's also very photostable. As an inorganic oxide, ZO doesn't break down in sunlight the way some organic filters can, so it holds up over a day of wear. This ingredient is gentle and soothing, making it go-to for sunscreens aimed at sensitive skin, rosacea, or ecezma-prone skin, babies, and children. It's also unlikely to cause the "eye sting" that some sunscreen ingredients are known for, and regulatory agencies broadly consider it non-toxic and safe for topical use. Beyond sun protection, ZO is also a recognized OTC skin protectant. It forms a breathable barrier that shields skin from moisture and irritation while supporting