Biologique Recherche Protection UV SPF 50 Versus BIOTHERM UV Defense Protective Hydrating Fluid SPF 50+
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialZinc Oxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Pongamia Glabra Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Water
Skin ConditioningTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Ethylhexyl Methoxycrylene
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Buddleja Officinalis Flower Extract
UV FilterPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer
Oryzanol
Skin ConditioningPolyhydroxystearic Acid
Emulsifying
Algae Extract
EmollientFerulic Acid
Antimicrobial
Silybum Marianum Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningEthyl Ferulate
Antioxidant
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Carnosine
Skin Conditioning
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Glycerin
Humectant
Silica
Abrasive
Mannitol
Humectant
Lecithin
Emollient
Acacia Senegal Gum
MaskingDiatomaceous Earth
Abrasive
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Hydrogenated Polycyclopentadiene
Octyldodecyl Xyloside
EmulsifyingPEG-30 Dipolyhydroxystearate
Emulsifying
Isopropyl Titanium Triisostearate
Emollient
Aluminum Hydroxide
EmollientMagnesium Aluminum Silicate
Absorbent
PEG-8 Laurate
Emulsifying
Disodium EDTA
Zinc Sulfate
Antimicrobial
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Zinc Oxide, Pongamia Glabra Seed Oil, Water, Titanium Dioxide, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Ethylhexyl Methoxycrylene, Tocopheryl Acetate, Octyldodecanol, Buddleja Officinalis Flower Extract, Pentylene Glycol, Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer, Oryzanol, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Algae Extract, Ferulic Acid, Silybum Marianum Fruit Extract, Ethyl Ferulate, Bisabolol, Carnosine, Stearic Acid, Glycerin, Silica, Mannitol, Lecithin, Acacia Senegal Gum, Diatomaceous Earth, Xanthan Gum, Tocopherol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hydrogenated Polycyclopentadiene, Octyldodecyl Xyloside, PEG-30 Dipolyhydroxystearate, Isopropyl Titanium Triisostearate, Aluminum Hydroxide, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, PEG-8 Laurate, Disodium EDTA, Zinc Sulfate, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin
Water
Skin ConditioningIsopropyl Myristate
Emollient
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Ethylhexyl Triazone
UV Absorber
Diisopropyl Adipate
EmollientPropylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate
EmollientMethylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol
UV Filter
Drometrizole Trisiloxane
UV Absorber
Propanediol
Solvent
Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin Conditioning
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Diisopropyl Sebacate
EmollientSilica
Abrasive
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV Filter
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Glyceryl Oleate
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingCetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
Glycerin
Humectant
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingParfum
Masking
PEG-20
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Inulin Lauryl Carbamate
Emulsion StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Vitreoscilla Ferment
Skin Conditioning
T-Butyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Hydrogenated Palm Glycerides Citrate
Emollient
Lecithin
Emollient
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Water, Isopropyl Myristate, Alcohol Denat., Ethylhexyl Triazone, Diisopropyl Adipate, Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol, Drometrizole Trisiloxane, Propanediol, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Diisopropyl Sebacate, Silica, Cetearyl Alcohol, Tocopherol, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Caprylyl Glycol, Glyceryl Oleate, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Butylene Glycol, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Cetearyl Glucoside, Glycerin, Carbomer, Parfum, PEG-20, Sodium Hyaluronate, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Inulin Lauryl Carbamate, Phenoxyethanol, Vitreoscilla Ferment, T-Butyl Alcohol, Hydrogenated Palm Glycerides Citrate, Lecithin, Ascorbyl Palmitate
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolGlycerin (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 GlycerinLecithin is a term for a group of substances found in the cell membranes of plants, animals, and humans. They are made up of phospholipids.
Thanks to its amphiphilic structure (water-loving head and oil-loving tail), it is a true multitasker:
It plays well with most ingredients and is typically used at 0.1-1%. However, concentrations up to 50% have been reported in moisturizers.
Depending on the source of this ingredient, lecithin may not be fungal acne safe. This is because some sources of lecithin come from soybean oil, which may feed the malassezia yeast that causes fungal acne.
We recommend reaching out to the brand you are purchasing from to inquire about the source of their lecithin.
Learn more about LecithinPhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Silica, also known as silicon dioxide, is a naturally occurring mineral. It is used as a fine, spherical, and porous powder in cosmetics.
Though it has exfoliant properties, the function of silica varies depending on the product.
The unique structure of silica enhances the spreadability and adds smoothness, making it a great texture enhancer.
It is also used as an active carrier, emulsifier, and mattifier due to its ability to absorb excess oil.
In some products, tiny microneedles called spicules are made from silica or hydrolyzed sponge. When you rub them in, they lightly polish away dead skin layers and enhance the penetration of active ingredients.
Learn more about SilicaTocopherol 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
