Bioderma Photoderm Ultra-Fluid AR+ SPF50+ PA++++ Versus Round Lab Birch Juice Moisturizing UVLock Sunscreen SPF 45
This chemical sunscreen covers the full UV range and blocks ~98% of UVB at SPF 50.
This chemical sunscreen covers most of the UV range, lighter on the deep UVA that drives aging.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialSilica
AbrasiveGlycerin
HumectantBis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
UV AbsorberButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV AbsorberEthylhexyl Methoxycrylene
Skin ConditioningDiethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV FilterDiisopropyl Sebacate
EmollientLauroyl Lysine
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventDicaprylyl Carbonate
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingCetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingMaltooligosyl Glucoside
Skin ConditioningGlycyrrhetinic Acid
Skin ConditioningArginine
MaskingHydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate
Humectant1-Methylhydantoin-2-Imide
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantCitric Acid
BufferingEctoin
Skin ConditioningMannitol
HumectantSodium Phytate
ChelatingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingXylitol
HumectantRhamnose
HumectantO-Cymen-5-Ol
AntimicrobialSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantTocopherol
AntioxidantWater, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Silica, Glycerin, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Ethylhexyl Methoxycrylene, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Diisopropyl Sebacate, Lauroyl Lysine, Propanediol, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Polysorbate 60, Cetyl Phosphate, Maltooligosyl Glucoside, Glycyrrhetinic Acid, Arginine, Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate, 1-Methylhydantoin-2-Imide, Hydroxyacetophenone, Citric Acid, Ectoin, Mannitol, Sodium Phytate, Xanthan Gum, Xylitol, Rhamnose, O-Cymen-5-Ol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopherol
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 2.7%
UV AbsorberHomosalate 13.5%
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Salicylate 4.5%
UV AbsorberWater
Skin ConditioningButyloctyl Salicylate
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventAcrylates Copolymer
Butylene Glycol
HumectantCaprylyl Methicone
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-3 Distearate
EmulsifyingBenzotriazolyl Dodecyl P-Cresol
UV AbsorberNiacinamide
SmoothingDiethylhexyl 2,6-Naphthalate
EmollientPolymethylsilsesquioxane
Glycerin
HumectantCalcium Aluminum Borosilicate
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPoly C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate
Emulsion StabilisingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientTromethamine
BufferingMethylpropanediol
SolventGlyceryl Stearate Citrate
EmollientBetula Platyphylla Japonica Juice
Skin ConditioningAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningArtemisia Annua Extract
MaskingAnthemis Nobilis Flower Oil
MaskingSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingGlyceryl Polymethacrylate
Triethoxycaprylylsilane
Pinus Sylvestris Leaf Oil
MaskingSparassis Crispa Extract
Emulsion StabilisingPolyether-1
Allantoin
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantGlyceryl Glucoside
HumectantBiosaccharide Gum-1
HumectantTocopherol
AntioxidantPortulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantHyaluronic Acid
HumectantAscorbic Acid
AntioxidantButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 2.7%, Homosalate 13.5%, Ethylhexyl Salicylate 4.5%, Water, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Propanediol, Acrylates Copolymer, Butylene Glycol, Caprylyl Methicone, Polyglyceryl-3 Distearate, Benzotriazolyl Dodecyl P-Cresol, Niacinamide, Diethylhexyl 2,6-Naphthalate, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Glycerin, Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Poly C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate, Pentylene Glycol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Tromethamine, Methylpropanediol, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Betula Platyphylla Japonica Juice, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Carbomer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Artemisia Annua Extract, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Oil, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Glyceryl Polymethacrylate, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Pinus Sylvestris Leaf Oil, Sparassis Crispa Extract, Polyether-1, Allantoin, Dipropylene Glycol, Glyceryl Glucoside, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Tocopherol, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hyaluronic Acid, Ascorbic Acid
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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
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 MethoxydibenzoylmethaneGlycerin (or glycerol) is a compound naturally found in your skin. It's a powerhouse humectant that pulls water into the stratum corneum.
Topically, glycerin does several things at once:
Your skin makes glycerin on its own (mostly from sebaceous oil breakdown) and shuttles it to your outermost layer of skin, or your epidermis, via aquaporin-3.
Aquaporin-3 is a transporter that is essential for normal skin hydration, elasticity, and repair. Interestingly, mice lacking in AQP3 have dry and less elastic skin that can be fully corrected with glycerin.
This ingredient is non-irritating, plays well with almost every ingredient, and works across all skin types. Typical use is anywhere between 3-10% but can go up to 79% in some leave-on products.
Just know very high concentrations (>40%) can feel tacky in low humidity.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolSodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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 Water