APLB Collagen EGF Peptide Sunscreen SPF 50+ Versus COSRX Ultra-Light Invisible Sunscreen SPF 50 PA++++

APLB Collagen EGF Peptide Sunscreen SPF 50+ Versus COSRX Ultra-Light Invisible Sunscreen SPF 50 PA++++

This chemical sunscreen covers the full UV range and blocks ~98% of UVB at SPF 50.

What's inside

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

Water

Dibutyl Adipate

Propanediol

Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate

Ethylhexyl Triazone

Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol

Butyloctyl Salicylate

Caprylyl Methicone

Polymethylsilsesquioxane

Diethylhexyl Butamido Triazone

Glycerin

1,2-Hexanediol

Butylene Glycol

Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer

Pentylene Glycol

Poly C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate

Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate

Behenyl Alcohol

Decyl Glucoside

Tromethamine

Carbomer

Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer

Stearyl Alcohol

Arachidyl Alcohol

Centella Asiatica Leaf Water

Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate

Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6

Ethylhexylglycerin

Xanthan Gum

Cetyl Alcohol

T-Butyl Alcohol

Hydrolyzed Collagen

Dipropylene Glycol

Squalane

Benzyl Glycol

Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans

Sodium Hyaluronate

Asiaticoside

Madecassic Acid

Asiatic Acid

Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract

Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Extract

Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer

Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid

Beta-Glucan

Artemisia Annua Extract

Oryza Sativa Extract

Nelumbo Nucifera Extract

Saccharomyces Ferment

Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate

Solanum Melongena Fruit Extract

Sh-Oligopeptide-1

Hyaluronic Acid

Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate

Water, Dibutyl Adipate, Propanediol, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Caprylyl Methicone, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Diethylhexyl Butamido Triazone, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Butylene Glycol, Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer, Pentylene Glycol, Poly C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Behenyl Alcohol, Decyl Glucoside, Tromethamine, Carbomer, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Stearyl Alcohol, Arachidyl Alcohol, Centella Asiatica Leaf Water, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Ethylhexylglycerin, Xanthan Gum, Cetyl Alcohol, T-Butyl Alcohol, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Dipropylene Glycol, Squalane, Benzyl Glycol, Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans, Sodium Hyaluronate, Asiaticoside, Madecassic Acid, Asiatic Acid, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract, Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Beta-Glucan, Artemisia Annua Extract, Oryza Sativa Extract, Nelumbo Nucifera Extract, Saccharomyces Ferment, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Solanum Melongena Fruit Extract, Sh-Oligopeptide-1, Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate

Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Water

Diethylhexyl Succinate

Drometrizole Trisiloxane

Niacinamide

Terephthalylidene Dicamphor Sulfonic Acid

Methyl Trimethicone

Hamamelis Virginiana Leaf Water

Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate

Caprylyl Glycol

Arachidyl Glucoside

Sodium Metaphosphate

Adenosine

Tocopherol

Allantoin

Citric Acid

Potassium Sorbate

Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Water, Diethylhexyl Succinate, Propanediol, Water, Drometrizole Trisiloxane, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Niacinamide, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Terephthalylidene Dicamphor Sulfonic Acid, 1,2-Hexanediol, Behenyl Alcohol, Methyl Trimethicone, Hamamelis Virginiana Leaf Water, Tromethamine, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Arachidyl Alcohol, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Arachidyl Glucoside, Sodium Metaphosphate, Adenosine, Tocopherol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Allantoin, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate

Reviews

Alternatives

Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.

1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.

It is a:

Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin

Emollient, helping to soften skin

Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas

Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives

Arachidyl Alcohol is a fatty alcohol made from the the arachidic acid found in peanut oil.

Despite having "alcohol" in the name, it is not related to denatured alcohol or ethanol.

This ingredient is a multitasker:

Just be sure to patch this ingredient if you have a peanut allergy (though this ingredient is highly processed and the allergenic proteins are typically removed).

Behenyl Alcohol is a type of fatty alcohol (these are different from the drying, solvent alcohols).

Fatty Alcohols have hydrating properties and are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product. They are usually derived from natural fats and oils; behenyl alcohol is derived from the fats of vegetable oils.

Emollients help keep your skin soft and hydrated by creating a film that traps moisture in.

In 2000, Behenyl Alcohol was approved by the US as medicine to reduce the duration of cold sores.

Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate (DHHB) is a chemical UV-A absorber. It is formulated for high UVA protection (320-400 nm).

DHHB is well-liked for:

DHHB has been approved by the EU, Japan, Taiwan, and South America for use up to 10%. Unfortunately, it has not been approved for use in the US or Canada due to slow regulatory processes.

This ingredient is soluble in oils, fats, and lipids.

Ethylhexyl Triazone (aka Octyl Triazone) is an oil-soluble organic UVB filter. It has peak absorption around 314 nm, right in the middle of the UVB range.

This ingredient is described as one of the most effective UVB filters available and small concentrations are enough to deliver a high SPF thanks to its strong UV absorbing power.

Formulators love it for its stability; its ability to filter UV stays practically unchanged even under intense radiation and it can also help boost the photostability of less stable filters like avobenzone.

It's also a great pick for water resistant products because it's insoluble in water and has a good affinity for keratin.

Because it's a big, heavy molecule, the European Scientific Committee has found to to have very low dermal penetration and negative results for allergenicity.

In vitro testing also showed a low absorption rate and clean results on irritation.

Typical use levels are 1-5% with 5% being the maximum in the EU, Japan, and other markets that allow it. However, this ingredient is not approved yet in the US or Canada.

Ethylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:

The 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 to patch test if you are unsure.

Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.

Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6 is a texture enhancer and pH adjuster.

It is be used to thicken water-based products and create a gel-texture with a velvet feel.

One manufacturer claims this ingredient to have a pH range of 2-8 and to be biodegradable.

This ingredient is also known as Sepimax Zen.

Propanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.

It’s often used to:

Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.

Sodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.

In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.

Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:

Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.

Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.

You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.

Tromethamine (aka THAM) is a synthetic amino acid that shows up in skincare as a helper ingredient.

It functions as a pH adjuster to help neutralize acidic ingredients and set a formula's pH to the right spot.

This matters a lot because a lot of actives (like vitamin C) needs a specific pH to work well and feel comfortable on skin.

Concentration use ranges from 0.1-1.0% depending on the formula.

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!

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