How to Compare Sunscreen Formulations When Replacing One

Replacing a sunscreen is harder than replacing a moisturizer. The stakes are higher, because sun protection is a measurable, testable outcome, and the labeling is more detailed, because regulators require more disclosure. That extra detail is useful if you know how to read it.

What makes sunscreens different

Sunscreens are the only skincare category where active-ingredient concentrations are routinely shown on the label, at least in the US, where they are regulated as over-the-counter drugs [1]. They also carry a tested SPF value, a broad-spectrum designation in most markets, and often a water-resistance claim. This means you have more to compare, but also more ways for a comparison to go wrong.

Step 1: Match the protection claims first

Before comparing ingredients, match the protection claims.

Claim	What it means	Where to find it
SPF value	Level of UVB protection, tested on human volunteers	Front of pack
Broad-spectrum (US)	Passes FDA’s critical wavelength test for UVA	Front of pack or Drug Facts
UVA logo (EU)	UVA protection factor is at least one-third of the SPF [4]	Front of pack
Water resistance	Retains stated SPF after a specified time in water	Front of pack

If your discontinued sunscreen was SPF 50, broad-spectrum, water-resistant for 80 minutes, start by filtering for those same claims. A product that matches these claims is promising regardless of whether it uses exactly the same filters.

Step 2: Compare the UV filters

After matching claims, compare the active ingredients.

US sunscreens must list each active ingredient and its concentration in the Drug Facts panel [1]. This makes filter comparison straightforward. If your old product used 7% zinc oxide and 5% octinoxate, you can search for those exact filters and percentages.

In the EU and Korea, UV filters are listed in the general ingredient list without concentrations [3][5]. You can see which filters are present but not how much of each.

Be aware of the regulatory gap. The US has a shorter list of permitted UV filters than the EU. FDA added bemotrizinol only in June 2026 [1]. If your discontinued product was made for the European market and used a filter not available in the US, an American replacement will need different filters to achieve similar protection.

Also note the difference between mineral (inorganic) and chemical (organic) filters. Zinc oxide and titanium dioxide are mineral filters that sit on the skin surface and scatter UV. Chemical filters absorb UV and convert it to heat. The two types behave differently on the skin: mineral filters tend to leave a white cast, feel thicker and wash off more easily. Chemical filters tend to be more cosmetically elegant but require a longer wait before they reach full effectiveness after application. If your original used mineral filters and you replace it with a chemical formula, or vice versa, the feel and the application routine will both change, even if the SPF is the same. This is not necessarily a problem, but it is worth knowing before you buy a full bottle.

Step 3: Consider the vehicle

Here is where most comparisons stop, and where they should not. The vehicle, the base that holds the filters, affects measured protection.

In a factorial study of four sunscreen formulations, researchers kept the UV filters constant and varied the emulsifier type and concentration. The measured SPF changed [2]. The same filters in a different base gave a different SPF number before the product reached the testing lab.

This means two sunscreens with identical filters and identical filter concentrations can offer different protection in practice. The SPF on the label already accounts for this, because SPF is tested on the finished product, not on the filters alone. But it means that matching filters alone is not matching protection.

Step 4: Compare the format

Sunscreens come in lotions, creams, gels, sprays, sticks and fluids. The format affects:

• How evenly you apply it. Thicker products may encourage a more even film.
• How it feels. A matte fluid and a rich cream are very different experiences.
• How it interacts with makeup. Some vehicles pill under foundation, others do not.
• How easily it comes off. In a small study, a cleansing oil removed water-resistant sunscreen far more completely than a foaming cleanser, leaving only 5.8% residue versus 36.8% [6]. A water-resistant stick may need more thorough removal than a non-water-resistant lotion.

If the format mattered to you, match it explicitly.

Step 5: Try and reapply

No comparison on paper is a substitute for wearing the product. Sunscreens have the widest gap between what the label can tell you and what the experience actually is. Two products with identical SPF, identical broad-spectrum claims and similar filter lists can feel entirely different on the skin: one slippery, one matte, one invisible, one chalky.

Apply it as you would normally, at the amount you normally use, and note:

• Does it spread easily and evenly?
• Does it leave a white cast or a visible film?
• How does it feel after an hour? After four hours?
• Does it interact well with what goes over it, whether that is makeup, moisturizer or nothing?
• Does it sting or irritate, particularly around the eyes?

Reapply at your usual interval and see whether the product holds up. Then check whether it removes cleanly at the end of the day. If the original came off with a gentle cleanser and the replacement needs a cleansing oil, that is a practical difference worth noting in your ledger.

A comparison table template

For your own use, with hypothetical examples.

Attribute	Original	Candidate A	Candidate B
SPF	50	50	50
Broad-spectrum	Yes	Yes	Yes
Water resistance	80 min	40 min	80 min
UV filters	Zinc oxide 15%, octinoxate 7.5%	Zinc oxide 20%	Zinc oxide 15%, octinoxate 7.5%
Format	Fluid lotion	Thick cream	Fluid lotion
White cast	Minimal	Moderate	Minimal
Market	US	US	US

In this example, Candidate B matches more closely on protection claims, filters, format and feel. Candidate A uses a different filter profile and format, which may matter to the reader. The reader records what can be confirmed (SPF, filters, water resistance, format) and what remains unknown (actual feel on skin, white cast under makeup, reapplication behavior) in the ledger. The unknown column gets answered only by wearing the product.

One detail the table does not capture: the excipient base that carries the filters. Two sunscreens with identical UV filter lists can feel entirely different because of the vehicle. One may use dimethicone and cyclopentasiloxane for a dry, silicone-slip finish; the other may use glycerin and butylene glycol for a dewy, humectant feel. The SPF number says nothing about this. The ingredient list does, if you read past the active ingredients section and into the inactive list. That is where the daily experience of wearing the sunscreen lives, and it is what most comparison tables leave out. If you wore your original under makeup without trouble, the vehicle is at least as important as the filter system, and possibly more so. Match both, or accept that you are running a new trial, not confirming a match.

Common traps

Matching the filter list and ignoring the SPF. Two products with the same filters at the same concentrations can still have different SPFs because the vehicle affects the measurement [2]. The tested SPF on the label is a better comparison than the filter list, because SPF is tested on the finished product.

Importing a sunscreen from a market with different rules. A European sunscreen bought online may use filters that are not permitted in the US. It may also carry a UVA logo instead of a broad-spectrum designation. The product may offer excellent protection, but the regulatory framework around it is different, and the claims on the packaging were validated under a different testing standard. Understand what you are comparing.

Treating format as trivial. The difference between a fluid and a stick is not just convenience. It affects how thickly and how evenly you apply, and application thickness directly determines the protection you get. If you switch from a fluid you applied generously to a stick you dab on lightly, you may be using half the amount, and SPF depends on amount applied. A beautiful product applied too thinly is a sunscreen that underperforms.

Assuming your old sunscreen was the best one you could have used. Your discontinued sunscreen was the first one that did not go wrong. It may not have been the best protection you could get. This search may be the first time you compare sunscreens fairly. Write down what you actually need: SPF level, UVA coverage, water resistance, format, feel under makeup, removal ease. A candidate that meets those criteria may be better than what you lost, and resenting it for being unfamiliar is the search sabotaging itself.

For the general replacement method that applies to any product, see how to replace a discontinued moisturizer. For the full method of recording what you liked about a product before shopping for its successor, see what you actually liked.

When to see a clinician first. If you use a specific sunscreen on medical advice, for example after a procedure, because of a photosensitivity condition, or because you take a photosensitizing medication, ask your dermatologist before switching. Different filters and vehicles can offer different protection profiles. If any sunscreen causes stinging, a rash or a burning sensation, stop using it and consult a clinician.