Avène Sunsimed UVB-UVA SPF50+ Versus Bioderma Photoderm AR SPF 50+

See how these products line up with your preferences

Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of Avène Sunsimed UVB-UVA SPF50+ versus Bioderma Photoderm AR SPF 50+ .

Last updated on September 18, 2023. Published on May 16, 2023

Overview

What they are

These products are both sunscreens. They have a total of 8 ingredients in common

Cool Features

They both contain exfoliants and SPF

Free From

They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, common allergens, fragrances, oils, parabens, silicones 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.

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Avène Sunsimed UVB-UVA SPF50+

Bioderma Photoderm AR SPF 50+

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

Ingredient Info

Click any item below to learn more and view relevant ingredients.

Avène Sunsimed UVB-UVA SPF50+ 27 ingredients

Bioderma Photoderm AR SPF 50+ 38 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

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

At a glance

Click on any of the items below to learn more

Avène Sunsimed UVB-UVA SPF50+ 27 ingredients

Bioderma Photoderm AR SPF 50+ 38 ingredients

Notable Ingredients

Chemical UV Filter (4)

Mineral UV Filter

Exfoliators

Concerns

Irritating

Rosacea (2)

Eczema (3)

Notable Ingredients

Chemical UV Filter (5)

Vitamin E

Exfoliators

Benefits

Hydrating

Brightening (2)

Concerns

Rosacea (2)

Eczema (2)

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Ingredients Compared

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

Avène Sunsimed UVB-UVA SPF50+ 27 ingredients

Bioderma Photoderm AR SPF 50+ 38 ingredients

Water • Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate • Homosalate • Diisopropyl Sebacate • Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine • Dibutyl Adipate • Propanediol • Ethylhexyl Salicylate • Ethylhexyl Triazone • Glycerin • Silica • Potassium Cetyl Phosphate • Glyceryl Stearate • Peg-100 Stearate • Propylene Glycol • Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6 • Stearyl Glycyrrhetinate • Tocopheryl Acetate • CI 77891 • Capryloyl Glycine • Sodium Citrate • Xanthan Gum • Glycine Soja Germ Extract • Ectoin • Mannitol • Xylitol • Citric Acid • Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract • Sodium Hydroxide • CI 77492 • Rhamnose • CI 77491 • CI 77499 • Hydrogenated Lecithin • Lauroyl Lysine • Fructooligosaccharides • Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride • Laminaria Ochroleuca Extract

Ingredients Side-by-side

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

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

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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.

Water

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

Avène Sunsimed UVB-UVA SPF50+ contains this as ingredient number 3.

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

Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine

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

Avène Sunsimed UVB-UVA SPF50+ contains this as ingredient number 7.

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

Potassium Cetyl Phosphate

What it does: Emulsifying

Community Rating: Liked

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

Avène Sunsimed UVB-UVA SPF50+ contains this as ingredient number 11.

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

Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride

What it does: Masking, Skin Conditioning

Community Rating: Mixed

Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride is an emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping the skin prevent moisture loss.

Within a product, Caprylic Triglyceride can thicken the product and make spreadability easier by dissolving clumping compounds. An added benefit of Caprylic Triglyceride is its antioxidant properties.

Caprylic Triglyceride is made by combining glycerin with coconut oil, forming a clear liquid. Caprylic Triglyceride has not been found to be toxic for human use in concentrations under 50%.

While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this.

Learn more about Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride

Avène Sunsimed UVB-UVA SPF50+ contains this as ingredient number 16.

Bioderma Photoderm AR SPF 50+ contains this as ingredient number 37.

Propylene Glycol

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

Avène Sunsimed UVB-UVA SPF50+ contains this as ingredient number 22.

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

Silica

What it does: Abrasive, Absorbent

Community Rating: Disliked

Silica is a mineral naturally found in our skin. It helps to thicken and smooth the texture of a product. It also acts as an agent for other ingredients by increasing the absorption of other ingredients into the skin.

Silica is often used for absorption and can help reduce shine when products are applied. Silica occurs in naturally in materials like clay and sandstone, and it can also be produced synthetically.

Silica is present naturally within the skin during collagen production and when reducing inflammation.

Learn more about Silica

Avène Sunsimed UVB-UVA SPF50+ contains this as ingredient number 23.

Bioderma Photoderm AR SPF 50+ contains this as ingredient number 11.

Sodium Hydroxide

What it does: Buffering

Community Rating: Mixed

Sodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.

In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.

Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.

"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.

Learn more about Sodium Hydroxide

Avène Sunsimed UVB-UVA SPF50+ contains this as ingredient number 24.

Bioderma Photoderm AR SPF 50+ contains this as ingredient number 29.

Xanthan Gum

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

Avène Sunsimed UVB-UVA SPF50+ contains this as ingredient number 27.

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

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

Avène Sunsimed UVB-UVA SPF50+ 27 ingredients

Bioderma Photoderm AR SPF 50+ 38 ingredients

22% are loved or liked

15% have mixed ratings

44% are disliked or very disliked

19% have no rating yet

39% are loved or liked

21% have mixed ratings

32% are disliked or very disliked

8% have no rating yet

Usage

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

When to use

Avène Sunsimed UVB-UVA SPF50+ 27 ingredients

Bioderma Photoderm AR SPF 50+ 38 ingredients

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Reviews

Here's what our community thinks

Avène Sunsimed UVB-UVA SPF50+ 27 ingredients

Sunsimed UVB-UVA SPF50+ hasn't been rated yet.

Rate it now

Bioderma Photoderm AR SPF 50+ 38 ingredients

3.3 /5

from 2 ratings

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.