Versus

Bioderma Photoderm Max Sunscreen Spray SPF 50+ Versus COSRX Ultra-Light Invisible Sunscreen SPF 50 PA++++

Sunscreen
Sunscreen
French Brand France
Korean Brand South Korea

Updated on August 19, 2024

Overview

What they are

These products are both fungal acne (malassezia) safe and reef safe sunscreens. They have a total of 6 ingredients in common

Cool Features

They both contain SPF and Vitamin E

Suited For

They're both likely to be good for anti aging, dry skin, brightening skin, sensitive skin and scar healing

Free From

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

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

Ingredient Info

Click any item below to learn more and see relevant ingredients

What's inside (and what isn't)

What's inside (and what isn't)

At a glance

Click on any of the items below to learn more

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

found in both products
Photoderm Max Sunscreen Spray SPF 50+
Ultra-Light Invisible Sunscreen SPF 50 PA++++

Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.

Skin Conditioning, Solvent

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. If you see this, drink a glass of water. Stay hydrated!

Learn more about Water
UV Absorber, UV Filter

Ethylhexyl Triazone is a modern chemical sunscreen that protects from UV-B radiation.

It is the most effective of existing UV-B filters, as it provides the highest level of photo-stable absorption. It protects from the entire UV-B range (280 to 320nm), with it's highest level of protection at 314nm.

Ethylhexyl Triazone is oil soluble, oderless and colorless, which mean it is able to be incorporated into a variety of different formulations.

It is not currently available within the United States due to slow changing FDA regulations. Outside of the US, it is used in formulations at concentrations up to 5%.

Learn more about Ethylhexyl Triazone
Skin Conditioning, Solvent

1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse. 

It is a:

  • Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
  • Emollient, helping to soften skin
  • Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
  • Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives 
Emollient, Humectant, Skin Conditioning

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
Buffering, Masking

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

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 even out skin tone.

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.

Read more about some other popular AHA's here:

Learn more about Citric Acid
Antioxidant, Masking, Skin Conditioning

Tocopherol (also known as Vitamin E) is a common antioxidant used to help protect the skin from free-radicals and strengthen the skin barrier. It's also fat soluble - this means our skin is great at absorbing it.

Vitamin E also helps keep your natural skin lipids healthy. Your lipid skin barrier naturally consists of lipids, ceramides, and fatty acids. Vitamin E offers extra protection for your skin’s lipid barrier, keeping your skin healthy and nourished.

Another benefit is a bit of UV protection. Vitamin E helps reduce the damage caused by UVB rays. (It should not replace your sunscreen). Combining it with Vitamin C can decrease sunburned cells and hyperpigmentation after UV exposure.

You might have noticed Vitamin E + C often paired together. This is because it is great at stabilizing Vitamin C. Using the two together helps increase the effectiveness of both ingredients.

There are often claims that Vitamin E can reduce/prevent scarring, but these claims haven't been confirmed by scientific research.

Learn more about Tocopherol

When to use

8 Routines
75% use in am
25% use in pm
100% use every day
2,244 Routines
96% use in am
3% use in pm
97% use every day
When to use See routines that use it ->

Reviews

Here's what our community thinks

Bioderma Photoderm Max Sunscreen Spray SPF 50+ 30 ingredients

1.0 /5
from 1 rating
Broke Me Out (1) Irritating (1)
s2k's avatar

s444

1 day ago
Review

I’ve never had any look with spfs, I patchtested this on my neck, behind my ear and on my forearm it left a purple cast which I could overlook as it seemed to go down throughout the day but the itchiness it caused towards the end of the day was horrid. It also started burning too, this was 87% match whereas most spfs on here for me are below 50. I give up with sunscreens

#broke me out
#irritating

COSRX Ultra-Light Invisible Sunscreen SPF 50 PA++++ 28 ingredients

4.0 /5
from 81 ratings
Light (58) Works Well (46) No Scent (45)
thisisthatcutiedoggo's avatar

thisisthatcutiedoggo

7 months ago
Review

Wow holy grail end game status achieved!
DO NOT REFORMULATE this, Cosrx, i swear!!!
Suuuper lightweight. Does exactly as named “light” & “invisible” which are two very important things for me as someone with oily acne prone skin in a humid climate.
Oh and did i mention it makes your makeup glide on top perfectly???!! Looove how this susncreen makes my foundation & concealer glide on so Show more

#great value
#hydrating
#light
#absorbs well
JohnnyLeeZongHeng_352's avatar

JohnnyLeeZongHeng_352

12 months ago
Review

This sunscreen is so light and easy to spread, I love it! The ingredients look really good too, there's no alcohol, fragrance, or oil, and it doesn't have any ingredients that trigger fungal acne.
It also makes my skin look dewy and it lasts for a long time.
Edit - I've been using it for two months now and I've already bought two more bottles because this is definitely my favorite sunscreen. The Show more

#great value
#hydrating
#light
#no scent