Cetaphil Sheer Mineral Sunscreen Lotion Broad Spectrum SPF 50 Versus Bioderma Milk SPF 50+
Updated on September 18, 2023
Overview
What they are
These products are both sunscreens. They have a total of 5 ingredients in common
Cool Features
They both contain SPF
Free From
They both do not contain any parabens 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 needs an update? Let us know.
Ingredient Info
Cetaphil Sheer Mineral Sunscreen Lotion Broad Spectrum SPF 50 39 ingredients
Bioderma Milk SPF 50+ 29 ingredients
Free from
Safety & Ethics
50 SPF Rating
American Brand
Free from
Safety & Ethics
50 SPF Rating
French Brand
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
Cetaphil Sheer Mineral Sunscreen Lotion Broad Spectrum SPF 50 39 ingredients
Bioderma Milk SPF 50+ 29 ingredients
Ingredients, at a glance
What's in this product, and how it might affect your skin.
Notable Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients, at a glance
What's in this product, and how it might affect your skin.
Notable Ingredients
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Titanium dioxide is known for its UVA and UVB protection properties. It is non-comedogenic and non-irritating. Titanium Dioxide is a physical sunscreen. Physical sunscreens reflect light and prevent it from reaching your skin.
Non-Reef-Safe
Zinc Oxide is a mineral broad-spectrum UV filter; it is the broadest UVA and UVB reflector approved by the FDA. While it is most commonly man-made for cosmetics, it can naturally occur in zincite, a rare mineral.
Helps fight AcneNon-Reef-Safe
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.
Isohexadecane is added to enhance texture, emulsify, and to help cleanse. It is an isoparrafin. It is a component of petrolatum.
Butyloctyl Salicylate is similar to octisalate. It a photostabilizer, SPF booster, emollient and solvent. Its main purpose is to evenly spread out ingredients.
Olive Oil Polyglyceryl-6 Esters is an oil and isn't fungal acne safe.
Not safe for Fungal Acne
Cetearyl alcohol is a mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is mainly used as an emulsifier. Emulsifiers help prevent the separation of oils and products. Due to its composition, it can also be used to thicken a product or help create foam.
3 Concerns
Cetearyl Olivate is an emulsifier and texture enhancer. It is derived from the fatty acids of olive oil and Cetearyl alcohol, and is biodegradable.
Cetyl Palmitate is a wax-like substance.
Cholesterol is a class of organic molecules called lipids. It helps hydrate your skin and is essential to having a healthy skin barrier.
Phytosphingosine is a phospholipid naturally found in our skin. It helps moisturize, soothe, and protect skin.
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid is a form of hyaluronic acid. It is created by the hydrolysis of hyaluronic acid with a high molecular weight. Once created, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid has a low molecular weight.
Benzyl Alcohol is most commonly used as a preservative. It also has a subtle, sweet smell. Small amounts of Benzyl Alcohol is not irritating and safe to use in skincare products. Most Benzyl Alcohol is derived from fruits such as apricots.
FragrancePreservative6 Concerns
Bisabolol is pimarily used to add fragrance to a product. However, it is also famous for helping soothe skin.
Propanediol helps absorb ingredients into your skin, boosting their benefits. It can act as an emollient, making your skin softer. Propanediol can help products last longer by boosting the properties of preservatives within the formulation.
Xanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
Aluminum Hydroxide is a form of aluminum. It can be naturally found in nature as the mineral gibbsite. In cosmetics, Aluminum Hydroxide is used as a colorant, pH adjuster, and absorbent.
Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate is the lauric acid sodium salt of lactyl lactate.
Carbomer is a polymer of acrylic acid. Its main role is to create gel consistency within products.
Tocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
AntioxidantHelps brighten skin
Disodium EDTA plays a role in making products more stable by aiding other preservatives.
Stearic Acid is a fatty acid. It is an emollient, emulsifier, and texture enhancer.
Triethoxycaprylylsilane is a silicone used to bind and stabilize ingredients.
Citric Acid is an AHA derived from citrus fruits (think oranges, lemons, and limes!).
4 Benefits2 Concerns
Maltodextrin is a polysaccharide. It is derived from starch such as rice, corn, wheat, or potato starch.
Phenoxyethanol 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.
Capryloyl Glycine is created by adding an acyl group to glycine and caprylic acid chloride.
Titanium Dioxide 9%, Zinc Oxide 7%, Water, Isohexadecane, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Cetyl Dimethicone, Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer, Olive Oil Polyglyceryl-6 Esters, Sorbitan Olivate, Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate, Vp/Eicosene Copolymer, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Olivate, Cetyl Palmitate, Sorbitan Palmitate, Dimethicone Peg-8 Laurate, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Cholesterol, Phytosphingosine, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Benzyl Alcohol, Bisabolol, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Propanediol, Xanthan Gum, Aluminum Hydroxide, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Carbomer, Tocopheryl Acetate, Disodium EDTA, Stearic Acid, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Citric Acid, Maltodextrin, Phenoxyethanol, Capryloyl Glycine, Undecylenoyl Glycine
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.
2 Concerns
Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol (Tinosorb M) is a hybrid and broad-spectrum UV ingredient. It is both a UV absorber and filter.
Mineral UV Filter
Also known as Avobenzone, this ingredient is a chemical sunscreen filter that provides protection in the UV-A range.
2 Concerns
You might know this ingredient as Tinosorb S or Bemotrizinol. It is a UV filter that covers both UVA and UVB rays.
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.
Dicaprylyl Carbonate comes from carbonic acid and caprylyl alcohol, a fatty alcohol. It is an emollient and gives skin a velvet feel. The sources of Dicaprylyl Carbonate may be synthetic or from animals.
Cyclopentasiloxane is a silicone used to improve texture and trap moisture. An easier name for this is D5.
Glyceryl Stearate is a mix of glycerin and stearic acid.
Peg-100 Stearate is an emollient and emulsifier. PEGS are a hydrophilic polyether compound . There are 100 ethylene oxide monomers in Peg-100 Stearate. Peg-100 Stearate is polyethylene glycol ester of stearic acid.
Decyl Glucoside is a glucose-based surfactant. Surfactants help clean the skin by trapping oil, sebum, and dirt to be washed away.
Cyclohexasiloxane is a type of silicone more commonly known as D6. It is an emollient and solvent.
Pentylene glycol is typically used within a product to thicken it. It also adds a smooth, soft, and moisturizing feel to the product. It is naturally found in plants such as sugar beets.
This is a synthetic polymer. It helps improve the texture of products by adding thickness and gel-like feel.
Phenoxyethanol 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.
Xanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
Chlorphenesin is a synthetic preservative. It helps protect a product against bacteria in order to extend shelf life. In most cases, Chlorphenesin is paired with other preservatives such as phenoxyethanol and caprylyl glycol.
Disodium EDTA plays a role in making products more stable by aiding other preservatives.
Sodium 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.
Propylene Glycol is an odorless, colorless liquid. As a humectant, it helps skin retain moisture. It also aids in delivering active ingredients.
Citric Acid is an AHA derived from citrus fruits (think oranges, lemons, and limes!).
4 Benefits2 Concerns
Mannitol is a sugar alcohol. It is a humectant and moisturizes the skin. In vitro (not tested on a living organism), mannitol displays antioxidant properties.
Ectoin is a compound found naturally in some species of bacteria. It can be synthetically created for skincare use.
Fructooligosaccharides is an alternative sweetener. It is often derived from the blue agave plant.
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride is an emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping the skin prevent moisture loss.
Laminaria Ochroleuca Extract is a type of kelp. It helps sooth and hydrate the skin. By nourishing the skin's barrier, it may also help relieve irritation.
Octocrylene 10%, Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol 6%, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 5%, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine 2.5%, Water, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Cyclopentasiloxane, C20-22 Alkyl Phosphate, Glyceryl Stearate, Peg-100 Stearate, C20-22 Alcohols, Decyl Glucoside, Cyclohexasiloxane, Pentylene Glycol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Xanthan Gum, Chlorphenesin, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hydroxide, Propylene Glycol, Citric Acid, Mannitol, Ectoin, Fructooligosaccharides, Xylitol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Rhamnose, Laminaria Ochroleuca Extract
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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. If you see this, drink a glass of water. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan GumDisodium 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 EDTACitric Acid is an AHA derived from citrus fruits (think oranges, lemons, and limes!).
As an AHA, Citric Acid removes the top layer of skin cells from the newer layer of skin underneath. This helps skin to remove dark spots and even out skin tone.
If you spot Citric Acid near the end of an ingredient list, it's likely there as a pH adjuster rather than an active ingredient.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidPhenoxyethanol 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.
Ingredient Ratings
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these products.
When to use
Cetaphil Sheer Mineral Sunscreen Lotion Broad Spectrum SPF 50 39 ingredients
Bioderma Milk SPF 50+ 29 ingredients
Reviews
Here's what our community thinks
Cetaphil Sheer Mineral Sunscreen Lotion Broad Spectrum SPF 50 39 ingredients
Claire L.
I usually use Korean sunscreen for daily wear, but wanted something with a stated water resistance for wearing to the pool, that I could grab at a...
I usually use Korean sunscreen for daily wear, but wanted something with a stated water resistance for wearing to the pool, that I could grab at a local store. I settled on this one because it has ceramides. If you apply the recommended amount, it's going to leave a white cast, which I'm fine with. I want high protection, I don't really care how it looks. I do not love how it feels (not elegant) but my skin didn't hate it and it definitely sticks in the water (double cleanse to get it off!). For American sunscreen, it doesn't suck. I think I'll order something from Europe, but in the meantime I'll finish this.
