Explore Routine Login

Product Comparison

Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of Altruist Dermatologist Sunscreen SPF 50 versus Bioderma Photoderm AR SPF 50+ .

Last updated on September 18, 2023. Published on June 20, 2022

Overview

What they are

These products are both sunscreens. They have a total of 9 ingredients in common

Cool Features

They both contain exfoliants and SPF

Suited For

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

Free From

They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, common allergens, fragrances, oils, parabens or sulfates

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

Sunscreen British Brand United Kingdom
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 Dermatologist Sunscreen SPF 50

Shop

Buy Photoderm AR SPF 50+

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 (7)
Mineral UV Filter (2)
Exfoliators

Benefits

Hydrating
Brightening

Concerns

May Worsen Oily Skin
Acne Trigger (2)
Irritating
Rosacea (2)
Eczema (2)

Notable Ingredients

Chemical UV Filter (5)
Vitamin E
Exfoliators

Benefits

Hydrating
Brightening (2)

Concerns

Rosacea (2)
Eczema (2)
Join our community

Build your routine, track which ingredients work for you, and much more with your free account.

Join SkinSort

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.

Learn more about what what Com. / Irr. ratings are

Loading ingredients...

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: 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

Altruist Dermatologist Sunscreen SPF 50 contains this as ingredient number 1.

Bioderma Photoderm AR SPF 50+ contains this as ingredient number 1.

2
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

Altruist Dermatologist Sunscreen SPF 50 contains this as ingredient number 6.

Bioderma Photoderm AR SPF 50+ contains this as ingredient number 10.

3
What it does: UV Absorber, UV Filter
Community Rating: Disliked

Ethylhexyl Salicylate is an organic compound used to block UV rays. It primarily absorbs UVB rays but offers a small amount of UVA protection as well.

Commonly found in sunscreens, Ethylhexyl Salicylate is created from salicylic acid and 2-ethylhexanol. You might know salicylic acid as the effective acne fighter ingredient and BHA.

The ethylhexanol in this ingredient is a fatty alcohol and helps hydrate your skin, similar to oils. It is an emollient, which means it traps moisture into the skin.

According to manufacturers, Ethylhexyl Salicylate absorbs UV wavelength of 295-315 nm, with a peak absorption at 307-310 nm. UVA rays are linked to long term skin damage, such as hyperpigmentation. UVB rays emit more energy and are capable of damaging our DNA. UVB rays cause sunburn.

Learn more about Ethylhexyl Salicylate

Altruist Dermatologist Sunscreen SPF 50 contains this as ingredient number 7.

Bioderma Photoderm AR SPF 50+ contains this as ingredient number 8.

4
What it does: Emulsifying

Potassium Cetyl Phosphate is the potassium salt of a mixture. This mixture consists of the esters from phosphoricacid and cetyl alcohol.

Potassium Cetyl Phosphate is an emulsifier and cleansing agent. Emulsifiers help stabilize a product. It does this by preventing certain ingredients from separating.

As a cleansing agent, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate helps gather oils, dirts, and pollutants from your skin. This makes it easier to rinse them away with water.

Learn more about Potassium Cetyl Phosphate

Altruist Dermatologist Sunscreen SPF 50 contains this as ingredient number 8.

Bioderma Photoderm AR SPF 50+ contains this as ingredient number 12.

5
What it does: Emollient, Emulsifying
Community Rating: Disliked

Glyceryl Stearate is a mix of glycerin and stearic acid.

Glyceryl Stearate is used to stabilize the mixing of water and oil ingredients. By preventing these ingredients from separating, it can help elongate shelf life. It can also help thicken the product's texture.

As an emollient, it helps soften skin and supports barrier-replenishing ingredients.

In cosmetics, Glyceryl Stearate is often made from vegetable oils or synthetically produced. The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.

Learn more about Glyceryl Stearate

Altruist Dermatologist Sunscreen SPF 50 contains this as ingredient number 12.

Bioderma Photoderm AR SPF 50+ contains this as ingredient number 13.

6
What it does: UV Absorber, UV Filter
Community Rating: Liked

Ethylhexyl Triazone is a modern chemical sunscreen that protects from UV-B radiation.

It is the most effective of existing UV-B filters, as it provides the highest level of photo-stable absorption. It protects from the entire UV-B range (280 to 320nm), with it's highest level of protection at 314nm.

Ethylhexyl Triazone is oil soluble, oderless and colorless, which mean it is able to be incorporated into a variety of different formulations.

It is not currently available within the United States due to slow changing FDA regulations. Outside of the US, it is used in formulations at concentrations up to 5%.

Learn more about Ethylhexyl Triazone

Altruist Dermatologist Sunscreen SPF 50 contains this as ingredient number 14.

Bioderma Photoderm AR SPF 50+ contains this as ingredient number 9.

7
What it does: Skin Conditioning, UV Absorber, UV Filter
Community Rating: Liked

You might know this ingredient as Tinosorb S or Bemotrizinol. It is a UV filter that covers both UVA and UVB rays.

Bemotrizinol has two peak UV absorption peaks ( 310 and 340 nm) and is able to absorb both UV-A and UV-B rays. Skin exposed to UV causes free-radical molecules to form. This ingredient works by preventing the UV from reaching your skin.

It is highly photostable and helps prevent the photodegration of other sunscreen ingredients such as avobenzone.

Bemotrizinol is not approved in the US but is allowed in the EU, Australia, and Asia.

In fact, it is the most effective UV absorber at maximum concentration (measured by SPF) permitted by in the EU.

It is oil-soluble.

Learn more about Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine

Altruist Dermatologist Sunscreen SPF 50 contains this as ingredient number 15.

Bioderma Photoderm AR SPF 50+ contains this as ingredient number 5.

8
What it does: Emulsifying, Emulsion Stabilising, Gel Forming, Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Disliked

Xanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.

On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.

Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.

Learn more about Xanthan Gum

Altruist Dermatologist Sunscreen SPF 50 contains this as ingredient number 26.

Bioderma Photoderm AR SPF 50+ contains this as ingredient number 22.

9
What it does: Humectant, Skin Conditioning, Solvent
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Propylene Glycol is an odorless, colorless liquid. As a humectant, it helps skin retain moisture. It also aids in delivering active ingredients.

Another role of this ingredient is preventing a product from melting or freezing. Propylene glycol also adds antimicrobrial properties to a product, elongating product lifespan.

This ingredient is considered an organic alcohol and commonly added into both cosmetics and foods.

Those with sensitive skin or conditions may deliver a rash when using this ingredient.

Learn more about Propylene Glycol

Altruist Dermatologist Sunscreen SPF 50 contains this as ingredient number 29.

Bioderma Photoderm AR SPF 50+ contains this as ingredient number 15.

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

28% are loved or liked
14% have mixed ratings
41% are disliked or very disliked
17% have no rating yet
37% are loved or liked
21% have mixed ratings
32% are disliked or very disliked
11% have no rating yet

Usage

Here's some more info on how this product is used by our community.

When to use

Loading routine usage...
Loading routine usage...

Reviews

Here's what our community thinks

Altruist Dermatologist Sunscreen SPF 50 29 ingredients

5.0 /5
from 1 rating
Hydrating (1) Light (1) Works Well (1)
Denisa45's avatar

Denisa45

11 days ago · Combination Skin
Review

I liked it a lot, but I don't like that it is water-based

Bioderma Photoderm AR SPF 50+ 38 ingredients

3.3 /5
from 2 ratings
samsamsam's avatar

samsamsam

6 months ago · Sensitive Skin
Review

A bit irritating and greasy finish
Felt it on top of my skin the whole day and felt itchy. Very runny watery product, a bit of a greasy finish imo...

A bit irritating and greasy finish
Felt it on top of my skin the whole day and felt itchy. Very runny watery product, a bit of a greasy finish imo and pilled a little bit. I came back to this product many times and I tried to use this product with different routines but I still found it irritating even though I do use chemical sunscreens. I think some people may find it not that greasy and like the texture and tint but for sensitive skin I would not recommend.

KatherineSuGa_701's avatar

KatherineSuGa_701

8 months ago · Sensitive Skin
Review

Ayuda a mi problema de resequedad y enrojecimiento ya que mi piel es sensible.

Alternatives

Our Dupe Finder has found 50 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to Altruist Dermatologist Sunscreen SPF 50.

See 50 alternatives

Our Dupe Finder has found 50 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to Bioderma Photoderm AR SPF 50+.

See 50 alternatives
Loading similar comparisons...