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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 La Roche-Posay Anthelios Ultra Comfort Cream SPF 50+ .

Published on May 06, 2021

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, 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 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 Photoderm MAX Cream SPF 50+

Starts at $21.28
Shop

Buy Anthelios Ultra Comfort Cream 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 (4)
Mineral UV Filter

Benefits

Reduces Irritation

Concerns

Irritating
Rosacea
Eczema (2)

Notable Ingredients

Chemical UV Filter (6)
Vitamin E
Exfoliators

Benefits

Hydrating (2)
Anti-Aging
Scar Healing
Brightening (2)

Concerns

Drying
May Worsen Oily Skin
Irritating (3)
Rosacea (4)
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 Photoderm MAX Cream SPF 50+ contains this as ingredient number 1.

La Roche-Posay Anthelios Ultra Comfort Cream SPF 50+ contains this as ingredient number 1.

2
What it does: UV Absorber, UV Filter
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Also known as Avobenzone, this ingredient is a chemical sunscreen filter that provides protection in the UV-A range.

Avobenzone is globally approved and is the most commonly used UV-A filter in the world.

Studies have found that avobenzone becomes ineffective when exposed to UV light (it is not photostable; meaning that it breaks down in sunlight). Because of this, formulations that include avobenzone will usually contain stabilizers such as octocrylene.

However, some modern formulations (looking at you, EU!) are able to stabilize avobenzone by coating the molecules.

Avobenzone does not protect against the UV-B range, so it's important to check that the sunscreen you're using contains other UV filters that do!

The highest concentration of avobenzone permitted is 3% in the US, and 5% in the EU.

Learn more about Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane

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

La Roche-Posay Anthelios Ultra Comfort Cream SPF 50+ contains this as ingredient number 11.

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.

La Roche-Posay Anthelios Ultra Comfort Cream SPF 50+ contains this as ingredient number 4.

4
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.

La Roche-Posay Anthelios Ultra Comfort Cream SPF 50+ contains this as ingredient number 25.

5
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 Photoderm MAX Cream SPF 50+ contains this as ingredient number 23.

La Roche-Posay Anthelios Ultra Comfort Cream SPF 50+ contains this as ingredient number 19.

6
What it does:
Community Rating: Disliked

Disodium EDTA plays a role in making products more stable by aiding other preservatives.

It is a chelating agent, meaning it neutralizes metal ions that may be found in a product.

Disodium EDTA is a salt of edetic acid and is found to be safe in cosmetic ingredients.

Learn more about Disodium EDTA

Bioderma Photoderm MAX Cream SPF 50+ contains this as ingredient number 25.

La Roche-Posay Anthelios Ultra Comfort Cream SPF 50+ contains this as ingredient number 20.

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
32% are loved or liked
4% have mixed ratings
40% are disliked or very disliked
24% 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.

La Roche-Posay Anthelios Ultra Comfort Cream SPF 50+ 25 ingredients

2.0 /5
from 1 rating
lauradh's avatar

lauradh

3 years ago · Combination Skin
Review

Bought this before I started going cruelty-free so just using this up. Everyone loves LRP sunscreens and I was recommended this one in particular...

Bought this before I started going cruelty-free so just using this up. Everyone loves LRP sunscreens and I was recommended this one in particular so I tried it out. Not for me. Wore it all weekend in the sun and didn't get a sunburn so obviously it does its sun protection job. But it did give me quite a noticeable white cast which as a poc is obviously a no go. Also started pilling noticeably if you didn't rub it in 100% in certain spots and after some time it all started pilling. Also dried me out and I don't need that since my skin is dry enough already. Wouldn't repurchase, even if it was cruelty-free.

Alternatives

Our Dupe Finder has found 42 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to Bioderma Photoderm MAX Cream SPF 50+.

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Our Dupe Finder has found 50 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to La Roche-Posay Anthelios Ultra Comfort Cream SPF 50+.

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