Explore Routine Login

Product Comparison

Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of Cetaphil Daily Defence Face Moisturiser with SPF 50+ versus La Roche-Posay La Roche Posay Anthelios Ultra Light Face Sunscreen-SPF 60 .

Last updated on July 18, 2023. Published on September 08, 2021

Overview

Cool Features

They both contain SPF and Vitamin E

Suited For

They're both likely to be good for brightening skin

Free From

They both do not contain any common allergens, fragrances 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.

Day Moisturizer American Brand United States
Sunscreen French Brand France

Day Moisturizer

Day Moisturizers are marketed to hydrate the skin during the daytime.

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 Daily Defence Face Moisturiser with SPF 50+

Shop

Buy La Roche Posay Anthelios Ultra Light Face Sunscreen-SPF 60

Starts at $32.99

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
60

At a glance

Click on any of the items below to learn more

Notable Ingredients

Chemical UV Filter (7)
Mineral UV Filter
Vitamin E

Benefits

Hydrating
Brightening (2)

Concerns

Drying (2)
May Worsen Oily Skin (3)
Acne Trigger (3)
Irritating
Rosacea (3)
Eczema (3)

Notable Ingredients

Chemical UV Filter (4)
Vitamin E
Exfoliators

Benefits

Brightening

Concerns

Drying (2)
May Worsen Oily Skin
Acne Trigger
Irritating (2)
Rosacea (5)
Eczema (3)
Join our community

Build your routine, track which ingredients work for you, and much more with your free account.

Join SkinSort

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.

Learn more about what what Com. / Irr. ratings are

Loading ingredients...

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

Cetaphil Daily Defence Face Moisturiser with SPF 50+ contains this as ingredient number 1.

La Roche-Posay La Roche Posay Anthelios Ultra Light Face Sunscreen-SPF 60 contains this as ingredient number 5.

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

Ethylhexyl Salicylate is an organic compound used to block UV rays. It primarily absorbs UVB rays but offers a small amount of UVA protection as well.

Commonly found in sunscreens, Ethylhexyl Salicylate is created from salicylic acid and 2-ethylhexanol. You might know salicylic acid as the effective acne fighter ingredient and BHA.

The ethylhexanol in this ingredient is a fatty alcohol and helps hydrate your skin, similar to oils. It is an emollient, which means it traps moisture into the skin.

According to manufacturers, Ethylhexyl Salicylate absorbs UV wavelength of 295-315 nm, with a peak absorption at 307-310 nm. UVA rays are linked to long term skin damage, such as hyperpigmentation. UVB rays emit more energy and are capable of damaging our DNA. UVB rays cause sunburn.

Learn more about Ethylhexyl Salicylate

Cetaphil Daily Defence Face Moisturiser with SPF 50+ contains this as ingredient number 4.

La Roche-Posay La Roche Posay Anthelios Ultra Light Face Sunscreen-SPF 60 contains this as ingredient number 3.

3
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

Cetaphil Daily Defence Face Moisturiser with SPF 50+ contains this as ingredient number 6.

La Roche-Posay La Roche Posay Anthelios Ultra Light Face Sunscreen-SPF 60 contains this as ingredient number 1.

4
What it does: UV Absorber, UV Filter
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Octocrylene protects skin from sun damage. It absorbs UV-B with peak absorption of 304 nm. It is a common sunscreen ingredient and often paired with avobenzone, a UVA filter. This is because octocrylene stabilizes other sunscreen ingredients by protecting them from degradation when exposed to sunlight. Octocrylene is a photostable ingredient and loses about 10% of SPF in 95 minutes.

Octocrylene also acts as an emollient, meaning it helps skin retain moisture and softens skin. It is oil-soluble and hydrophobic, enhancing water-resistant properties in a product.

Those who are using ketoprofen, a topical anti-inflammatory drug, may experience an allergic reaction when using octocrylene. It is best to speak with a healthcare professional about using sunscreens with octocrylene.

The EU allows a maximum of these concentrations:

Learn more about Octocrylene

Cetaphil Daily Defence Face Moisturiser with SPF 50+ contains this as ingredient number 9.

La Roche-Posay La Roche Posay Anthelios Ultra Light Face Sunscreen-SPF 60 contains this as ingredient number 4.

5
What it does: Emollient, Skin Conditioning, Solvent
Community Rating: Disliked

Cyclopentasiloxane is a silicone used to improve texture and trap moisture. An easier name for this is D5.

D5 is considered lightweight and volatile. Volatile means it evaporates quickly after application. Once evaporated, D5 leaves a thin barrier that helps keep skin hydrated.

D5 is an emollient. Emollients help soften the skin and prevent water loss. Silicones create a silky texture in products. D5 helps other ingredients become more spreadable.

Studies show D5 is safe to use in skincare products. We recommend speaking with a skincare professional if you have concerns.

Learn more about Cyclopentasiloxane

Cetaphil Daily Defence Face Moisturiser with SPF 50+ contains this as ingredient number 10.

La Roche-Posay La Roche Posay Anthelios Ultra Light Face Sunscreen-SPF 60 contains this as ingredient number 6.

6
What it does: Emollient, Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Dimethicone is a silicone used for making products smooth and silky. It also has the added benefit of sealing in hydration. The amount of dimethicone found in beauty products is considered safe and non-comedogenic, meaning it won't clog pores.

Dimethicone has been found increase absorption in skin, boosting the benefits of other ingredients. While there is concern for the safety of dimethicone, the levels used in skincare are safe for use.

Cetaphil Daily Defence Face Moisturiser with SPF 50+ contains this as ingredient number 12.

La Roche-Posay La Roche Posay Anthelios Ultra Light Face Sunscreen-SPF 60 contains this as ingredient number 12.

7
What it does:
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Nylon-12 is a polymer. It is derived from 12-aminododecanoic acid, an omega-amino fatty acid

According to a manufacturer, it is a talc substitute. Like talc, nylon-12 gives products a satin feel. The manufacturer also claims this ingredients does not block pores and has moderate oil absorption.

This ingredient may not be reef-safe.

Learn more about Nylon-12

Cetaphil Daily Defence Face Moisturiser with SPF 50+ contains this as ingredient number 14.

La Roche-Posay La Roche Posay Anthelios Ultra Light Face Sunscreen-SPF 60 contains this as ingredient number 15.

8
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

Cetaphil Daily Defence Face Moisturiser with SPF 50+ contains this as ingredient number 18.

La Roche-Posay La Roche Posay Anthelios Ultra Light Face Sunscreen-SPF 60 contains this as ingredient number 28.

9
What it does: Preservative
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Phenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent germ and 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.

Cetaphil Daily Defence Face Moisturiser with SPF 50+ contains this as ingredient number 28.

La Roche-Posay La Roche Posay Anthelios Ultra Light Face Sunscreen-SPF 60 contains this as ingredient number 18.

10
What it does: Masking
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Chances are, you eat sodium chloride every day. Sodium Chloride is also known as table salt.

This ingredient has many purposes in skincare: thickener, emulsifier, and exfoliator.

You'll most likely find this ingredient in cleansers where it is used to create a gel-like texture. As an emulsifier, it also prevents ingredients from separating.

There is much debate on whether this ingredient is comedogenic. The short answer - comedogenic ratings don't tell the whole story. Learn more about comegodenic ratings here.

The concensus about this ingredient causing acne seems to be divided. Research is needed to understand if this ingredient does cause acne.

Scrubs may use salt as the primary exfoliating ingredient.

Learn more about Sodium Chloride

Cetaphil Daily Defence Face Moisturiser with SPF 50+ contains this as ingredient number 31.

La Roche-Posay La Roche Posay Anthelios Ultra Light Face Sunscreen-SPF 60 contains this as ingredient number 20.

11
What it does: Antioxidant, Masking, Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Liked

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

Cetaphil Daily Defence Face Moisturiser with SPF 50+ contains this as ingredient number 34.

La Roche-Posay La Roche Posay Anthelios Ultra Light Face Sunscreen-SPF 60 contains this as ingredient number 32.

Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.

20% are loved or liked
6% have mixed ratings
66% are disliked or very disliked
9% have no rating yet
16% are loved or liked
3% have mixed ratings
56% are disliked or very disliked
25% have no rating yet

Usage

Here's some more info on how this product is used by our community.

When to use

Loading routine usage...
Loading routine usage...

Alternatives

Our Dupe Finder has found 50 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to Cetaphil Daily Defence Face Moisturiser with SPF 50+.

See 50 alternatives

Our Dupe Finder has found 50 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to La Roche-Posay La Roche Posay Anthelios Ultra Light Face Sunscreen-SPF 60.

See 50 alternatives
Loading similar comparisons...