Garnier Ambre Solaire Super UV Vitamine C Fluid SPF 50+ Versus Eucerin Urea Repair Original 5% Urea Cream
This chemical sunscreen covers the full UV range and blocks ~98% of UVB at SPF 50.
This barrier-repair moisturizer is formulated around Urea to strengthen the skin barrier and hydrate skin.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialDiisopropyl Sebacate
EmollientSilica
AbrasiveIsopropyl Myristate
EmollientEthylhexyl Salicylate
UV AbsorberBis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Triazone
UV AbsorberButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV AbsorberGlycerin
HumectantPhenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid
UV AbsorberPropanediol
SolventC12-22 Alkyl Acrylate/Hydroxyethylacrylate Copolymer
StabilisingTriethanolamine
BufferingDrometrizole Trisiloxane
UV AbsorberCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingTocopherol
AntioxidantAscorbyl Glucoside
AntioxidantHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Lactate
BufferingAdenosine
Skin ConditioningTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Silica Silylate
EmollientCellulose
AbsorbentPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingPalmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin ConditioningLimonene
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingTromethamine
BufferingCapryloyl Salicylic Acid
ExfoliatingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientParfum
MaskingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingGeraniol
PerfumingButylene Glycol
HumectantCitrus Limon Fruit Extract
MaskingCitral
PerfumingWater, Alcohol Denat., Diisopropyl Sebacate, Silica, Isopropyl Myristate, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Glycerin, Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid, Propanediol, C12-22 Alkyl Acrylate/Hydroxyethylacrylate Copolymer, Triethanolamine, Drometrizole Trisiloxane, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Tocopherol, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Hydroxyacetophenone, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Sodium Lactate, Adenosine, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Silica Silylate, Cellulose, Polysorbate 20, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Limonene, Linalool, Tromethamine, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Parfum, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Carbomer, Geraniol, Butylene Glycol, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Citral
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientUrea
BufferingButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingOctyldodecanol
EmollientHydrogenated Coco-Glycerides
EmollientSodium Lactate
BufferingDimethicone
EmollientArginine Hcl
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Stearate Se
EmulsifyingCarnitine
CleansingLactic Acid
BufferingC18-36 Acid Triglyceride
EmollientChondrus Crispus
MaskingSodium Cetearyl Sulfate
CleansingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeWater, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Urea, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Octyldodecanol, Hydrogenated Coco-Glycerides, Sodium Lactate, Dimethicone, Arginine Hcl, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Carnitine, Lactic Acid, C18-36 Acid Triglyceride, Chondrus Crispus, Sodium Cetearyl Sulfate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer is a synthetic polymer. It is used to thicken, emulsify, and improve the texture of products.
As an emulsifier, it helps stabilize oil-in-water emulsions to give products an elegant feel when applied.
It can also form a thin protective film on skin. One study found that a formula using this polymer helped slow down how quickly other ingredients (like DEET) were absorbed through skin.
A 2024 study of over 1,300 patients confirmed that sensitization to this ingredient is rare. It is also non-mutagenic and has a clean track record.
Learn more about Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate CrosspolymerCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride (aka MCT Oil) is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping to prevent moisture loss.
Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. One perk of this ingredient is that it is very stable, resistant to oxidation, and unlikely to go rancid.
In practice, that translates to a long shelf life and a consistently elegant skin feel.
While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this. Just patch test if you have concerns.
Fractionated coconut oil and MCT Oil are both listed as Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride according to INCI. This is because INCI names are based on the ingredient’s final chemical composition and not its marketing name or source.
This ingredient is treated as the gold standard fungal acne safe oil. Even though it is coconut derived, the problematic lauric acid is stripped out.
This leaves just caprylic (C8) and capric (C10) acid. These chain lengths actually trend antifungal; a 2020 study found caprylic acid was enough to disrupt Malassezia furfur cell membrane, with a caprylic acid derivative damaging membrane structures at concentrations as low as 0.2%.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideGlycerin (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 GlycerinSodium Lactate is the sodium salt of lactic acid, an AHA. It is a humectant and sometimes used to adjust the pH of a product.
This ingredient is part of our skin's NMF, or natural moisturizing factor. Our NMF is essential for the hydration of our top skin layers and plasticity of skin. NMF also influences our skin's natural acid mantle and pH, which protects our skin from harmful bacteria.
High percentages of Sodium Lactate can have an exfoliating effect.
Fun fact: Sodium Lactate is produced from fermented sugar.
Learn more about Sodium LactateWater. 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