Cetaphil Sheer Mineral Face Liquid Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 50 Versus La Roche-Posay Anthelios Airlicium SPF 80
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Zinc Oxide 12%
Cosmetic ColorantAllantoin
Skin ConditioningBisabolol
AntioxidantButyloctyl Salicylate
Skin ConditioningC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientCaprylyl Methicone
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientDimethiconol
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingIsododecane
EmollientLauryl PEG-10 Tris(Trimethylsiloxy)Silylethyl Dimethicone
EmulsifyingLauryl PEG-8 Dimethicone
SurfactantNiacinamide
SmoothingOctyldodecyl Neopentanoate
EmollientPEG-10
HumectantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePolymethylsilsesquioxane
Propanediol
SolventSodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingTetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Tocopherol
AntioxidantTrilaureth-4 Phosphate
EmulsifyingWater
Skin ConditioningZinc Oxide 12%, Allantoin, Bisabolol, Butyloctyl Salicylate, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Caprylyl Glycol, Caprylyl Methicone, Dimethicone, Dimethiconol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hexylene Glycol, Isododecane, Lauryl PEG-10 Tris(Trimethylsiloxy)Silylethyl Dimethicone, Lauryl PEG-8 Dimethicone, Niacinamide, Octyldodecyl Neopentanoate, PEG-10, Phenoxyethanol, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Propanediol, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Hydroxide, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Tocopherol, Trilaureth-4 Phosphate, Water
Water
Skin ConditioningTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic ColorantC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialSilica
AbrasiveEthylhexyl Salicylate
UV AbsorberButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV AbsorberBis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientEthylhexyl Triazone
UV AbsorberGlycerin
HumectantOctocrylene
UV AbsorberPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningAluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate
AbsorbentTriethanolamine
BufferingStearic Acid
CleansingPotassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingMethyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol
UV FilterNylon-12
Propylene Glycol
HumectantSynthetic Wax
AbrasiveTerephthalylidene Dicamphor Sulfonic Acid
UV AbsorberPalmitic Acid
EmollientPEG-100 Stearate
SurfactantGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeSilica Silylate
EmollientDrometrizole Trisiloxane
UV AbsorberAmmonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingIsopropyl Lauroyl Sarcosinate
Skin ConditioningPoloxamer 338
EmulsifyingAluminum Hydroxide
EmollientStearyl Alcohol
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantDisodium EDTA
Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingMyristic Acid
CleansingSodium Chloride
MaskingBenzyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingParfum
MaskingWater, Titanium Dioxide, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Silica, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Dimethicone, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Glycerin, Octocrylene, Pentylene Glycol, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Triethanolamine, Stearic Acid, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol, Nylon-12, Propylene Glycol, Synthetic Wax, Terephthalylidene Dicamphor Sulfonic Acid, Palmitic Acid, PEG-100 Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Phenoxyethanol, Silica Silylate, Drometrizole Trisiloxane, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Isopropyl Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Poloxamer 338, Aluminum Hydroxide, Stearyl Alcohol, Tocopherol, Caprylyl Glycol, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Butylene Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Myristic Acid, Sodium Chloride, Benzyl Benzoate, Benzyl Alcohol, Parfum
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 made up of Benzoic Acid and long chain alcohols. It has a low molecular weight.
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate is an emollient and texture enhancer. Due to its solubility, it is often used in sunscreens to help evenly distribute active ingredients.
As an emollient, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate helps soften and hydrate your skin. Emollients create a film on your skin that traps moisture within.
This ingredient has been reported to cause eye irritation.
Learn more about C12-15 Alkyl BenzoateCaprylyl 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 GlycolDimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconePhenoxyethanol 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.
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.
You might see people debate whether Sodium Chloride is comedogenic, but there actually haven't been any comedogenic tests done on it. Either way, the overall formulation of a product matters a lot more than any single ingredient.
You might see this ingredient used in scrubs as a primary exfoliating ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium ChlorideTocopherol 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