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Product Comparison

Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of Algenist Sublime Defense Ultra Lightweight UV Defense Fluid SPF 50 versus Clarins UV Plus Anti-Pollution Sunscreen SPF 50 .

Last updated on August 07, 2023. Published on February 19, 2022

Overview

What they are

These products are both sunscreens. They have a total of 12 ingredients in common

Cool Features

They both contain SPF and Vitamin E

Suited For

They're both likely to be good for fighting acne, dry skin and brightening skin

Free From

They both do not contain any oils or parabens

What's Inside

They both contain harsh alcohols, common allergens, fragrances and silicones

We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that need an update? Let us know.

Sunscreen American Brand United States
Sunscreen French Brand France

Sunscreen

Sunscreens help absorb or reflect UV radiation and protect skin against skin damage. Sunscreens may come in the form of lotion, gel, foam, spray, or solid-stick.

Sunscreen

Sunscreens help absorb or reflect UV radiation and protect skin against skin damage. Sunscreens may come in the form of lotion, gel, foam, spray, or solid-stick.

Price

Shop

Buy Sublime Defense Ultra Lightweight UV Defense Fluid SPF 50

Starts at $22.40
Shop

Buy UV Plus Anti-Pollution Sunscreen SPF 50

Starts at $44.00

Ingredient Info

Click any item below to learn more and view relevant ingredients.
alcohol-free
silicon-free
fragrance-free
sulfate-free
paraben-free
oil-free
fungal-acne safe
reef-safe
eu-allergen-free
vegan
cruelty-free
spf rating
50
alcohol-free
silicon-free
fragrance-free
sulfate-free
paraben-free
oil-free
fungal-acne safe
reef-safe
eu-allergen-free
vegan
cruelty-free
spf rating
50

At a glance

Click on any of the items below to learn more

Notable Ingredients

Chemical UV Filter
Mineral UV Filter (2)
Vitamin E

Benefits

Hydrating
Dark Spots
Acne Fighting
Brightening (2)

Concerns

Drying
May Worsen Oily Skin (2)
Irritating (2)
Rosacea (2)
Eczema (2)

Notable Ingredients

Mineral UV Filter
Vitamin E

Benefits

Hydrating
Redness Reducing
Reduces Irritation
Reduces Large Pores
Anti-Aging
Acne Fighting
Brightening (2)

Concerns

Drying (3)
May Worsen Oily Skin (2)
Acne Trigger
Irritating (3)
Rosacea (3)
Eczema (3)
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Ingredients Compared

Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.

Ingredients Side-by-side

Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.

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Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

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

1
What it does: Cosmetic Colorant, UV Absorber, UV Filter
Community Rating: Mixed

Titanium dioxide is known for its UVA and UVB protection properties. It is non-comedogenic and non-irritating. Titanium Dioxide is a physical sunscreen. Physical sunscreens reflect light and prevent it from reaching your skin.

Protecting your skin against UV radiation can prevent the signs of aging. Sun damage is associated with fine-lines, wrinkles, loss of firmness, and hyperpigmentation. Titanium dioxide can help prevent premature aging.

With modern production, nano-scale or fine-grade titanium dioxide can be easily produced for cosmetics. In sunscreen, titanium dioxide absorbs UV light. Our skin is not able to absorb Titanium dioxide, even nanoparticles.

Titanium itself is the 9th most common element in the Earth's crust. Titanium dioxide is formed when oxygen is introduced and can be found in ores, dust, sand, and soil.

Pure titanium dioxide is a white powder that is used in many products to add or change color.

Learn more about Titanium Dioxide

Algenist Sublime Defense Ultra Lightweight UV Defense Fluid SPF 50 contains this as ingredient number 2.

Clarins UV Plus Anti-Pollution Sunscreen SPF 50 contains this as ingredient number 39.

2
What it does: Emollient, Skin Conditioning, Solvent
Community Rating: Disliked

Cyclopentasiloxane is a silicone used to improve texture and trap moisture. An easier name for this is D5.

D5 is considered lightweight and volatile. Volatile means it evaporates quickly after application. Once evaporated, D5 leaves a thin barrier that helps keep skin hydrated.

D5 is an emollient. Emollients help soften the skin and prevent water loss. Silicones create a silky texture in products. D5 helps other ingredients become more spreadable.

Studies show D5 is safe to use in skincare products. We recommend speaking with a skincare professional if you have concerns.

Learn more about Cyclopentasiloxane

Algenist Sublime Defense Ultra Lightweight UV Defense Fluid SPF 50 contains this as ingredient number 4.

Clarins UV Plus Anti-Pollution Sunscreen SPF 50 contains this as ingredient number 13.

3
What it does: Skin Conditioning, Solvent
Community Rating: Loved

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. Talk about multi-purpose! If you see this, drink a glass of water. Stay hydrated!

Learn more about Water

Algenist Sublime Defense Ultra Lightweight UV Defense Fluid SPF 50 contains this as ingredient number 5.

Clarins UV Plus Anti-Pollution Sunscreen SPF 50 contains this as ingredient number 4.

4
What it does: Humectant, Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting, Solvent
Community Rating: Loved

Glycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.

A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.

As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.

Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.

Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.

In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.

This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.

Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.

Learn more about Glycerin

Algenist Sublime Defense Ultra Lightweight UV Defense Fluid SPF 50 contains this as ingredient number 7.

Clarins UV Plus Anti-Pollution Sunscreen SPF 50 contains this as ingredient number 17.

5
What it does: Emulsifying, Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Peg-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone is a type of silicone.

Algenist Sublime Defense Ultra Lightweight UV Defense Fluid SPF 50 contains this as ingredient number 11.

Clarins UV Plus Anti-Pollution Sunscreen SPF 50 contains this as ingredient number 31.

6
What it does: Antioxidant, Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Liked

Tocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.

One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.

Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.

Learn more about Tocopheryl Acetate

Algenist Sublime Defense Ultra Lightweight UV Defense Fluid SPF 50 contains this as ingredient number 14.

Clarins UV Plus Anti-Pollution Sunscreen SPF 50 contains this as ingredient number 40.

7
What it does: Cleansing, Emulsifying, Emulsion Stabilising, Masking
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Stearic Acid is a fatty acid. It is an emollient, emulsifier, and texture enhancer.

As an emollient, stearic acid helps soften skin. It aids the skin's protective barrier by preventing water loss. It also provides a gentle cleansing effect without stripping away natural oils.

Stearic acid may also be used to enhance the texture of products. It can add volume and stabilize ingredients such as water and oil. This can help water and oil ingredients from separating.

Sources of stearic acid include animal or vegetable fats/oils such as coconut or shea. It can be naturally found in butter, cocoa butter, shea butter, vegetable fats, and animal tallow.

This ingredient may not be Malassezia folliculitis, or fungal-acne safe.

Learn more about Stearic Acid

Algenist Sublime Defense Ultra Lightweight UV Defense Fluid SPF 50 contains this as ingredient number 18.

Clarins UV Plus Anti-Pollution Sunscreen SPF 50 contains this as ingredient number 37.

8
What it does: Emollient, Humectant, Skin Protecting
Community Rating: Disliked

Aluminum Hydroxide is a form of aluminum. It can be naturally found in nature as the mineral gibbsite. In cosmetics, Aluminum Hydroxide is used as a colorant, pH adjuster, and absorbent.

As a colorant, Aluminum Hydroxide may add opacity, or reduce the transparency. Aluminum hydroxide is contains both basic and acidic properties.

According to manufacturers, this ingredient is an emollient and humectant. This means it helps hydrate the skin.

In medicine, this ingredient is used to help relieve heartburn and help heal ulcers.

Learn more about Aluminum Hydroxide

Algenist Sublime Defense Ultra Lightweight UV Defense Fluid SPF 50 contains this as ingredient number 23.

Clarins UV Plus Anti-Pollution Sunscreen SPF 50 contains this as ingredient number 2.

9
What it does: Preservative
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Phenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent germ and microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.

It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.

Algenist Sublime Defense Ultra Lightweight UV Defense Fluid SPF 50 contains this as ingredient number 24.

Clarins UV Plus Anti-Pollution Sunscreen SPF 50 contains this as ingredient number 30.

10
What it does: Masking, Perfuming
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Parfum is a catch-all term for an ingredient or more that is used to give aroma to products. Parfum, or fragrance, can be a blend of hundreds of chemicals or plant oils. This means every product with "fragrance" or "Parfum" in the ingredients list is a different mixture.

In the US, the alternative name for parfum is 'fragrance'. The term 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term.

For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance. One example is Calendula flower extract. Essential oil ingredients still impart a scent or 'fragrance'.

Depending on the blend, it can cause allergies and sensitivities on the skin. Some ingredients that are known EU allergens include linalool and citronellol.

Products use parfum often to give products a scent or cover up smells of different ingredients.

The bottom line is: not all fragrances/parfum/ingredients are created equally. If you are worried about fragrances, we recommend taking a closer look at an ingredient. And of course, we always recommend speaking with a professional.

Learn more about Parfum

Algenist Sublime Defense Ultra Lightweight UV Defense Fluid SPF 50 contains this as ingredient number 26.

Clarins UV Plus Anti-Pollution Sunscreen SPF 50 contains this as ingredient number 26.

11
What it does: Perfuming
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Hexyl Cinnamal is a fragrance ingredient with a similar scent to jasmine. It can be naturally found in chamomile essential oil.

This ingredient is a known EU allergen and may sensitize the skin. The EU requires this ingredient to be listed separately on an ingredients list.

Hexyl Cinnamal is not water soluble but is soluble in oils.

Learn more about Hexyl Cinnamal

Algenist Sublime Defense Ultra Lightweight UV Defense Fluid SPF 50 contains this as ingredient number 27.

Clarins UV Plus Anti-Pollution Sunscreen SPF 50 contains this as ingredient number 18.

12
What it does: Perfuming
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Linalool is a fragrance and helps add scent to products. It's derived from common plants such as cinnamon, mint, citrus, and lavender.

Linalool has the same effect as Limonene when exposed to air. Oxidized linalool can cause allergies and skin sensitivity.

Linalool has a scent that is floral, spicy tropical, and citrus-like.

Learn more about Linalool

Algenist Sublime Defense Ultra Lightweight UV Defense Fluid SPF 50 contains this as ingredient number 28.

Clarins UV Plus Anti-Pollution Sunscreen SPF 50 contains this as ingredient number 24.

Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.

29% are loved or liked
7% have mixed ratings
54% are disliked or very disliked
11% have no rating yet
10% are loved or liked
10% have mixed ratings
63% are disliked or very disliked
18% have no rating yet

Usage

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