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Product Comparison

Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of Bioderma Photoderm MAX Cream SPF 50+ versus Cetaphil Sun SPF 50 Light Gel .

Last updated on January 01, 2024. Published on January 17, 2023

Overview

What they are

These products are both sunscreens. They have a total of 6 ingredients in common

Cool Features

They both contain SPF

Free From

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

What's Inside

They both contain 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 French Brand France
Sunscreen American Brand United States

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 Photoderm MAX Cream SPF 50+

Starts at $21.28
Shop

Buy Sun SPF 50 Light Gel

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 (4)
Mineral UV Filter

Benefits

Reduces Irritation

Concerns

Irritating
Rosacea
Eczema (2)

Notable Ingredients

Chemical UV Filter (5)
Mineral UV Filter (2)
Vitamin E
Exfoliators

Benefits

Hydrating
Anti-Aging
Scar Healing
Brightening

Concerns

Drying
May Worsen Oily Skin
Irritating (3)
Rosacea (2)
Eczema (3)
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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 Photoderm MAX Cream SPF 50+ contains this as ingredient number 1.

Cetaphil Sun SPF 50 Light Gel contains this as ingredient number 1.

2
What it does: UV Filter
Community Rating: Liked

Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol (Tinosorb M) is a hybrid and broad-spectrum UV ingredient. It is both a UV absorber and filter.

UV absorbers are an agent that absorbs UV rays. They protect your skin by using chemical reactions to convert UV rays into heat and energy. UV filters physically reduce the amount of UV rays from reaching your skin.

Tinosorb M covers a range of 280-400 nm and is photostable. This ingredient is neither oil or water soluble.

Tinosorb M, similarly to Tinosorb S, is not available in the US. However, it is available in the EU and Asia.

Learn more about Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol

Bioderma Photoderm MAX Cream SPF 50+ contains this as ingredient number 4.

Cetaphil Sun SPF 50 Light Gel contains this as ingredient number 12.

3
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 Photoderm MAX Cream SPF 50+ contains this as ingredient number 6.

Cetaphil Sun SPF 50 Light Gel contains this as ingredient number 6.

4
What it does: Cleansing, Emulsion Stabilising
Community Rating: Mixed

Decyl Glucoside is a glucose-based surfactant. Surfactants help clean the skin by trapping oil, sebum, and dirt to be washed away.

It is created by reacting glucose with the fatty acids from plants.

Decyl Glucoside also helps stabilize the ingredients in a product by preventing them from separating.

This ingredient is biodegradable and non-toxic. This ingredient is commonly found in baby shampoos.

Decyl Glucoside is sometimes used to stabilize the UV filter Tinosorb.

Learn more about Decyl Glucoside

Bioderma Photoderm MAX Cream SPF 50+ contains this as ingredient number 18.

Cetaphil Sun SPF 50 Light Gel contains this as ingredient number 16.

5
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

Bioderma Photoderm MAX Cream SPF 50+ contains this as ingredient number 21.

Cetaphil Sun SPF 50 Light Gel contains this as ingredient number 18.

6
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

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

Cetaphil Sun SPF 50 Light Gel contains this as ingredient number 23.

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

32% are loved or liked
18% have mixed ratings
43% are disliked or very disliked
7% have no rating yet
30% are loved or liked
13% have mixed ratings
52% are disliked or very disliked
4% have no rating yet

Usage

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

When to use

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Reviews

Here's what our community thinks

Bioderma Photoderm MAX Cream SPF 50+ 28 ingredients

3.0 /5
from 1 rating
AYO1969's avatar

AYO1969

1 year ago · Dry Skin
Review

meh
very oily, doesn't go nice on the skin. i do feel it has good coverage though.

Cetaphil Sun SPF 50 Light Gel 23 ingredients

1.0 /5
from 1 rating

Alternatives

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Our Dupe Finder has found 50 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to Cetaphil Sun SPF 50 Light Gel.

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