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Product Comparison

Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of Bioderma Cicabio SPF 50+ versus Bioderma Photoderm MAX Aquafluide SPF 50+ (Clear) .

Last updated on September 18, 2023. Published on June 03, 2022

Overview

What they are

These products are both sunscreens. They have a total of 11 ingredients in common

Cool Features

They both contain 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 or parabens

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

Sunscreen French Brand France
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 Cicabio SPF 50+

Shop

Buy Photoderm MAX Aquafluide SPF 50+ (Clear)

Starts at $28.00

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 (5)
Exfoliators
Hyaluronic Acid
Peptides

Benefits

Hydrating
Brightening

Concerns

Rosacea (2)
Eczema

Notable Ingredients

Chemical UV Filter (4)
Mineral UV Filter
Vitamin E

Benefits

Hydrating
Brightening (2)

Concerns

Irritating
Rosacea
Eczema (2)
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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: 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

Bioderma Cicabio SPF 50+ contains this as ingredient number 1.

Bioderma Photoderm MAX Aquafluide SPF 50+ (Clear) contains this as ingredient number 1.

2
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

Bioderma Cicabio SPF 50+ contains this as ingredient number 5.

Bioderma Photoderm MAX Aquafluide SPF 50+ (Clear) contains this as ingredient number 11.

3
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

Bioderma Cicabio SPF 50+ contains this as ingredient number 7.

Bioderma Photoderm MAX Aquafluide SPF 50+ (Clear) contains this as ingredient number 7.

4
What it does: Skin Conditioning, Solvent
Community Rating: Mixed

Pentylene glycol is typically used within a product to thicken it. It also adds a smooth, soft, and moisturizing feel to the product. It is naturally found in plants such as sugar beets.

The hydrophilic trait of Pentylene Glycol makes it a humectant. As a humectant, Pentylene Glycol helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This can help keep your skin hydrated.

This property also makes Pentylene Glycol a great texture enhancer. It can help thicken or emulsify a product. Emulsifiers help stabilize a product. It does this by preventing certain ingredients from separating.

Pentylene Glycol also acts as a mild preservative and helps to keep a product microbe-free.

Some people may experience mild eye and skin irritation from Pentylene Glycol. We always recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient in your routine.

Pentylene Glycol has a low molecular weight and is part of the 1,2-glycol family.

Learn more about Pentylene Glycol

Bioderma Cicabio SPF 50+ contains this as ingredient number 17.

Bioderma Photoderm MAX Aquafluide SPF 50+ (Clear) contains this as ingredient number 20.

5
What it does: Skin Conditioning, Solvent
Community Rating: Mixed

1,2-Hexanediol is a multi-tasker ingredient. It acts as a preservative to increase shelf-life and can aid other preservatives in preventing microbe growth. 1,2-Hexanediol also helps the skin retain moisture as a humectant.

In products that are water-based, this ingredient can help stabilize perfumes and fragrances. It can also help make the texture of products softer and more smooth.

Bioderma Cicabio SPF 50+ contains this as ingredient number 19.

Bioderma Photoderm MAX Aquafluide SPF 50+ (Clear) contains this as ingredient number 24.

6
What it does: Emollient, Humectant, Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Liked

Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant and emollient, meaning it attracts and preserves moisture.

It is a common ingredient in many products, especially those designed to hydrate skin. The primary benefits are retaining moisture, skin softening, and promoting a healthy skin barrier.

Though Caprylyl Glycol is an alcohol derived from fatty acids, it is not the kind that can dry out skin.

This ingredient is also used as a preservative to extend the life of products. It has slight antimicrobial properties.

Learn more about Caprylyl Glycol

Bioderma Cicabio SPF 50+ contains this as ingredient number 20.

Bioderma Photoderm MAX Aquafluide SPF 50+ (Clear) contains this as ingredient number 25.

7
What it does: Buffering, Masking
Community Rating: Disliked

Citric Acid is an AHA derived from citrus fruits (think oranges, lemons, and limes!).

If you spot Citric Acid near the end of an ingredient list, it's likely there as a pH adjuster rather than an active ingredient.

As an AHA, Citric Acid removes the top layer of skin cells from the newer layer of skin underneath. This helps skin to remove dark spots and look more even.

Read more about some other popular AHA's here:

Learn more about Citric Acid

Bioderma Cicabio SPF 50+ contains this as ingredient number 21.

Bioderma Photoderm MAX Aquafluide SPF 50+ (Clear) contains this as ingredient number 34.

8
What it does: Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Loved

Ectoin is a compound found naturally in some species of bacteria. In skincare, it can be synthetically created. It is an osmolyte, or a low-molecular weight organic compound that influences the properties of biological fluids.

In skincare, ectoin is used to stabilize proteins and provides skin protection as an antioxidant. Antioxidants help protect our skin from environmental damage, such as pollution and UV rays.

Bioderma Cicabio SPF 50+ contains this as ingredient number 22.

Bioderma Photoderm MAX Aquafluide SPF 50+ (Clear) contains this as ingredient number 35.

9
What it does: Humectant, Masking, Moisturising, Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Liked

Mannitol is a sugar alcohol. It is a humectant and moisturizes the skin. In vitro (not tested on a living organism), mannitol displays antioxidant properties.

When found in aqueous solutions, mannitol tends to become acidic. This is because it loses a hydrogen ion. This is why mannitol can often be found with pH adjusting ingredients, such as sodium bicarbonate.

Fun fact: Mannitol can be found in foods as a sweetener. It can be naturally found in mushrooms, algae, fruits, and veggies.

Learn more about Mannitol

Bioderma Cicabio SPF 50+ contains this as ingredient number 23.

Bioderma Photoderm MAX Aquafluide SPF 50+ (Clear) contains this as ingredient number 28.

10
What it does: Humectant, Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Liked

Xylitol is a humectant and prebiotic. It can help with dry skin.

In studies, xylitol has been shown to improve dry skin. It decreased transepidermal water loss, or when water passes through the skin and evaporates. Xylitol also showed to help improve the biomechanical properties of the skin barrier.

The prebiotic property of xylitol may also help reinforce our skin's natural microbiome. Having a healthy microbiome prevents infection by bad bacteria and helps with hydration.

As a humectant, Xylitol helps draw moisture from both the air and from deeper skin layers. This helps keep skin hydrated.

Xylitol is a sugar alcohol and commonly used as a sugar substitute. It is naturally occurring in plants such as strawberries and pumpkin.

Learn more about Xylitol

Bioderma Cicabio SPF 50+ contains this as ingredient number 25.

Bioderma Photoderm MAX Aquafluide SPF 50+ (Clear) contains this as ingredient number 29.

11
What it does: Humectant, Masking
Community Rating: Liked

We don't have a description for Rhamnose.

Bioderma Cicabio SPF 50+ contains this as ingredient number 28.

Bioderma Photoderm MAX Aquafluide SPF 50+ (Clear) contains this as ingredient number 32.

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

46% are loved or liked
19% have mixed ratings
30% are disliked or very disliked
5% have no rating yet
33% are loved or liked
15% have mixed ratings
33% are disliked or very disliked
18% have no rating yet

Usage

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

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Alternatives

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

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Our Dupe Finder has found 50 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to Bioderma Photoderm MAX Aquafluide SPF 50+ (Clear).

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