Biore UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence SPF 50+ PA++++ Versus Avène Solaire UV Mineral Multi-Defense Tinted Sunscreen SPF 50+
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAlcohol
Antimicrobial
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV Absorber
Ethylhexyl Triazone
UV Absorber
Isopropyl Palmitate
Emollient
Lauryl Methacrylate/Sodium Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV Filter
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientBis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin Conditioning
Dextrin Palmitate
Emulsifying
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Xylitol
Humectant
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingDimethicone
Emollient
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialGlycerin
Humectant
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Glyceryl Behenate
Emollient
Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Agar
MaskingSorbitan Distearate
EmollientIsoceteth-20
EmulsifyingPolyvinyl Alcohol
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Stearoyl Glutamic Acid
CleansingArginine
Masking
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingRoyal Jelly Extract
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Disodium EDTA
BHT
Antioxidant
Parfum
Masking
Water, Alcohol, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Isopropyl Palmitate, Lauryl Methacrylate/Sodium Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Dextrin Palmitate, Butylene Glycol, Xylitol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Dimethicone, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate, Propanediol, Glyceryl Behenate, Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer, Cetearyl Alcohol, Agar, Sorbitan Distearate, Isoceteth-20, Polyvinyl Alcohol, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Stearoyl Glutamic Acid, Arginine, Potassium Hydroxide, Sodium Hydroxide, Royal Jelly Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Phenoxyethanol, Disodium EDTA, BHT, Parfum
Zinc Oxide 12%
Cosmetic Colorant
Water
Skin ConditioningC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Propanediol
Solvent
Jojoba Esters
Emollient
Tridecyl Salicylate
Skin ConditioningMethylheptyl Isostearate
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-4 Diisostearate/Polyhydroxystearate/Sebacate
Emulsifying
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Nylon-12
Methylpropanediol
SolventCoco-Caprylate
Emollient
Iron Oxides
Silica
Abrasive
Sodium Chloride
MaskingPolyglyceryl-2 Dipolyhydroxystearate
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Oryza Sativa Bran Extract
Skin Conditioning
Lecithin
Emollient
Phenylpropanol
Masking
Helianthus Annuus Extract
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialTetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Isostearic Acid
Cleansing
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingZinc Oxide 12%, Water, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Propanediol, Jojoba Esters, Tridecyl Salicylate, Methylheptyl Isostearate, Polyglyceryl-4 Diisostearate/Polyhydroxystearate/Sebacate, Niacinamide, Nylon-12, Methylpropanediol, Coco-Caprylate, Iron Oxides, Silica, Sodium Chloride, Polyglyceryl-2 Dipolyhydroxystearate, Caprylyl Glycol, Bisabolol, Allantoin, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Lecithin, Phenylpropanol, Helianthus Annuus Extract, Tocopherol, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Isostearic Acid, Hydrogenated Lecithin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Hydroxide
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate is a lightweight emollient made by combinig benzoic acid with fatty alcohols that are 12-15 carbons long.
In cosmetics, it plays several roles:
The Cosmetic Review Expert Panel has concluded the alkyl benzoate group to be safe as used in cosmetics; it wasn't found to be a skin irritant and unlikely to be absorbed due to its low water solubility.
This report recorded almost 1000 reported uses with concentrations up to 59% in leave-on products but your cosmetics will typically use 0.5-15% depending on the product.
It's often called a "SPF booster": this is because it keeps UV filters properly dissolved and evenly distributed to support a sunscreen's performance. It doesn't actually raise SPF on its own.
Overall, this ingredient is well tolerated.
This ingredient is fungal acne safe because it is an ester of benzoic acid.
Think of this ingredient as two parts stuck together: an oily part and an acid part. Malassezia only gets a meal when it can snip off a fatty acid to eat. With C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, the acid part is benzoic acid, which isn't a fatty acid and which the yeast can't use as food.
Benzoic acid is actually used as a preservative to stop yeast from growing.
The oily part is a blend of C12-15 fatty alcohols but fatty alcohols in this size range can support only a little Malassezia growth (mostly for one species of Malassezia as well).
In the ingredient, those alcohols stay locked inside the molecule. The yeast can only reach them by snipping the benzoate bond, and that type of bond is harder for it to cut than a normal fatty bond.
So not much gets released. And whatever does get snipped comes packaged with benzoic acid, which discourages yeast growth.
Learn more about C12-15 Alkyl BenzoatePropanediol 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 Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideWater. 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
