Bioderma Photoderm MAX Aquafluide SPF 50+ (Clear) Versus Lirene Sun Protection Emulsion SPF 50+ For Sensitive Skin
This chemical sunscreen covers the full UV range and blocks ~98% of UVB at SPF 50.
This hybrid sunscreen covers the full UV range and blocks ~98% of UVB at SPF 50.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientOctocrylene
UV Absorber
Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol
UV Filter
Tetrabutyl Ethylidenebisphenol
Antioxidant
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Glycerin
Humectant
Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Cyclohexasiloxane
Emollient
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin Conditioning
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
Methylpropanediol
SolventHdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer
C20-22 Alkyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingC20-22 Alcohols
Emulsion Stabilising
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Glyceryl Stearate Citrate
Emollient
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Microcrystalline Cellulose
AbsorbentC30-45 Alkyl Cetearyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Disodium EDTA
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingMannitol
Humectant
Xylitol
Humectant
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingCellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingRhamnose
HumectantPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Ectoin
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Water, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Octocrylene, Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol, Tetrabutyl Ethylidenebisphenol, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Glycerin, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Cyclohexasiloxane, Cyclopentasiloxane, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Methylpropanediol, Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer, C20-22 Alkyl Phosphate, C20-22 Alcohols, Decyl Glucoside, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Pentylene Glycol, Microcrystalline Cellulose, C30-45 Alkyl Cetearyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Xanthan Gum, Mannitol, Xylitol, Sodium Hydroxide, Cellulose Gum, Rhamnose, Propylene Glycol, Citric Acid, Ectoin, Tocopherol
Water
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV Absorber
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Octocrylene
UV Absorber
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialDimethicone
Emollient
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingCetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Ethylhexyl Triazone
UV Absorber
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Hydrogenated Dimer Dilinoleyl/Dimethylcarbonate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
BHA
Antioxidant
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Simethicone
Emollient
Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol
UV Filter
Triethanolamine
BufferingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAlumina
Abrasive
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Methylparaben
Preservative
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Diazolidinyl Urea
Preservative
Butylparaben
Masking
Ethylparaben
Preservative
Propylparaben
Preservative
Water, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Propylene Glycol, Octocrylene, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Dimethicone, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Cetyl Alcohol, Titanium Dioxide, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Hydrogenated Dimer Dilinoleyl/Dimethylcarbonate Copolymer, Allantoin, Tocopheryl Acetate, BHA, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Simethicone, Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol, Triethanolamine, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Xanthan Gum, Alumina, Decyl Glucoside, Stearic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Methylparaben, Phenoxyethanol, Diazolidinyl Urea, Butylparaben, Ethylparaben, Propylparaben
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Also known as Avobenzone, this ingredient is an oil-soluble used to absorb the full spectrum of UVA rays (peak 357 nm).
It's one of the most effective UVA filters available but has a major caveat of photostability: avobenzone is susceptible to photodegradation.
This means it can lose efficacy when exposed to sunlight without the help of a stabilizing agent.
Studies show antioxidants (like vitamin E or vitamin C) and some UV filters (like octocrylene and Tinosorb S) can meaningfully improve its stability in a formulation.
The maximum allowable concentration according to regulation is 3% in the US + Canada, and 5% in the EU, Australia, China, Korea, and ASEAN countries.
It has a well-support safety profile: a comprehensive 2025 review found minimal toxicity with no evidence of carcinogenicity.
Overall, avobenzone is a safe and regulated ingredient used in sunscreen for over 40 years.
Learn more about Butyl MethoxydibenzoylmethaneDecyl Glucoside is a plant-derived surfactant and emulsion stabilizer. It is created by reacting glucose with the fatty acids from plants.
Like all surfactants, it works by lowering the surface tension between water and oil. This makes it so that dirt, sebum, and makeup can be lifted off your skin and rinsed away. It also produces a dense and creamy foam.
Because it has a neutral charge, it is compatible with a wide range of ingredients and stays stable across a broad pH range/water hardiness conditions.
Patch testing has shown it to have the lowest irritation potential among common cleansing surfactants (like SLS).
Typical use levels range from 5-20% in rinse-off cleansers.
One thing worth knowing: The American Contact Dermatitis Society named the parent family, alkyl glucosides, "Allergen of the Year" in 2017. The prevalence of allergy is pretty low but be sure to patch test if you've reacted to "gentle" or sulfate-free cleansers before.
This ingredient is fungal acne safe because the fatty alcohol portion of this ingredient is not within the C11-24 chain length that Malassezia can metabolize.
Learn more about Decyl GlucosideThis ingredient is also known as Tinosorb M or Bisoctrizole and is a bit of an overachiever in the sunscreen world.
It's a hybrid broad-spectrum filter that covers UVA and UVB (~280-400nm) with peak absorption around 305nm for UVB or 360nm for UVA (and a tiny bit in blue-light territory as well).
One of its best party tricks is photostability; it doesn't break down with repeated sun exposure and doesn't generate free radicals in the process either. You'll also see it paired with wobbly filters like avobenzone because it helps stabilize them.
The safety profile is assuring as well. Because it's a large molecule, it doesn't easily absorb into skin and rarely causes irritation.
It's approved in the EU, Asia, and Australia up to 10% and most formulas land somewhere in the 2-10% range.
You won't find it as a sunscreen active in the US, but it can make an appearance as a formula-protecting UV-absorber.
Learn more about Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl TetramethylbutylphenolOctocrylene is an oil-soluble organic UV filter that mainly absorbs UVB and short wave UVA II light.
Its real superpower is teamwork: octocrylene is remarkably photostable and is most famous for stabilizing avobenzone (the workhorse UVA filter).
This ingredient is commonly used to enhance both UVB and UVA protection due to its unique property in stabilizing avobenzone. It also pulls double duty by boosting water resistance and giving formulas a smooth, spreadable feel.
The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) has deemed octocrylene to be safe as a UV-filter at concentrations up to 10% (capped at 9% in propellant sprays). The US also permits it up to 10%.
Two things worth knowing:
You'll usually see this ingredient used in concentrations between 2-10% (higher amounts when used as a stabilizer for avobenzone).
Learn more about OctocrylenePropylene Glycol is a synthetic, colorless, odorless liquid that has been a staple in cosmetics for decades. It is a skin conditioning agent, humectant, and solvent.
As a humectant, it draw water to the skin to reduce flaking and restore suppleness. It's also a solvent that helps dissolve other actives and keeps formulas stable across temperature changes.
The CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be nontoxic and clinical studies show no sensitization at cosmetic use concentrations.
True allergic reactions are quite rare: a 15-year retrospective study of 6,751 patients found only 0.31% had a positive reaction (and less than half were considered clinically relevant).
It seemed that when sensitization does occur, it's most commonly linked to topical medication (like corticosteroids) and not cosmetics. Allergic contact dermatitis also appears largely limited to individuals with underlying skin conditions.
Overall, propylene glycol is a well-studied ingredient that most people can tolerate without issue.
Learn more about Propylene GlycolWater. 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. If you see this, drink a glass of water. Remember to stay hydrated!
Learn more about WaterXanthan 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
