HELIOCARE 360º Water Gel SPF 50+ Versus Avène Very High Protection Fragrance-Free Fluid Ultra Light SPF 50+
This chemical sunscreen covers the full UV range and blocks ~98% of UVB at SPF 50.
This chemical sunscreen covers the full UV range and blocks ~98% of UVB at SPF 50.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningOctocrylene
UV Absorber
Ethylhexyl Salicylate
UV Absorber
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid
UV Absorber
Arginine
Masking
Dimethicone
Emollient
Phenethyl Benzoate
Emollient
Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV Filter
Silica
Abrasive
Butylene Glycol Cocoate
Emulsifying
Polypodium Leucotomos Leaf Extract
Skin Protecting
Aspalathus Linearis Extract
Skin ConditioningPlankton Extract
Skin ConditioningChlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningChlamydomonas Reinhardtii Extract
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Physalis Angulata Extract
Skin ProtectingEthylhexyl Triazone
UV Absorber
Glycerin
Humectant
Trehalose
Humectant
Urea
Buffering
Serine
Masking
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Lecithin
Emollient
Melanin
Skin ProtectingC20-22 Alkyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingPhenylpropanol
Masking
C20-22 Alcohols
Emulsion Stabilising
Vp/Acrylates/Lauryl Methacrylate Copolymer
Propanediol
Solvent
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Sodium Phytate
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingMethicone
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
PEG-8
HumectantGlyceryl Polyacrylate
Algin
Masking
Pullulan
Disodium Phosphate
BufferingOxothiazolidine
Skin ProtectingPotassium Phosphate
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCellulose
Absorbent
Magnesium Stearate
Cosmetic ColorantPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Parfum
Masking
Linalool
Perfuming
Water, Octocrylene, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Butylene Glycol, Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid, Arginine, Dimethicone, Phenethyl Benzoate, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Silica, Butylene Glycol Cocoate, Polypodium Leucotomos Leaf Extract, Aspalathus Linearis Extract, Plankton Extract, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Chlamydomonas Reinhardtii Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Physalis Angulata Extract, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Glycerin, Trehalose, Urea, Serine, Ascorbic Acid, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Lecithin, Melanin, C20-22 Alkyl Phosphate, Phenylpropanol, C20-22 Alcohols, Vp/Acrylates/Lauryl Methacrylate Copolymer, Propanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Propylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Tocopherol, Sodium Phytate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Methicone, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, PEG-8, Glyceryl Polyacrylate, Algin, Pullulan, Disodium Phosphate, Oxothiazolidine, Potassium Phosphate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Cellulose, Magnesium Stearate, Phenoxyethanol, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Parfum, Linalool
Water
Skin ConditioningC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialDiethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV Filter
Ethylhexyl Triazone
UV Absorber
Oryza Sativa Starch
AbsorbentPhenylene Bis-Diphenyltriazine
Stabilising
Glycerin
Humectant
Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
UV Absorber
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Tapioca Starch
Vp/Eicosene Copolymer
Benzoic Acid
Masking
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Glyceryl Behenate
Emollient
Glyceryl Dibehenate
Emollient
PPG-1-PEG-9 Lauryl Glycol Ether
EmulsifyingCI 17200
Cosmetic ColorantTocopheryl Glucoside
EmollientTribehenin
Emollient
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingWater, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Oryza Sativa Starch, Phenylene Bis-Diphenyltriazine, Glycerin, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Glyceryl Stearate, Stearyl Alcohol, Tapioca Starch, Vp/Eicosene Copolymer, Benzoic Acid, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Caprylyl Glycol, Glyceryl Behenate, Glyceryl Dibehenate, PPG-1-PEG-9 Lauryl Glycol Ether, CI 17200, Tocopheryl Glucoside, Tribehenin, Xanthan Gum
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caprylic/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 TriglycerideCaprylyl 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, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolDiethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate (DHHB) is a chemical UV-A absorber. It is formulated for high UVA protection (320-400 nm).
DHHB is well-liked for:
DHHB has been approved by the EU, Japan, Taiwan, and South America for use up to 10%. Unfortunately, it has not been approved for use in the US or Canada due to slow regulatory processes.
This ingredient is soluble in oils, fats, and lipids.
Learn more about Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl BenzoateEthylhexyl Triazone (aka Octyl Triazone) is an oil-soluble organic UVB filter. It has peak absorption around 314 nm, right in the middle of the UVB range.
This ingredient is described as one of the most effective UVB filters available and small concentrations are enough to deliver a high SPF thanks to its strong UV absorbing power.
Formulators love it for its stability; its ability to filter UV stays practically unchanged even under intense radiation and it can also help boost the photostability of less stable filters like avobenzone.
It's also a great pick for water resistant products because it's insoluble in water and has a good affinity for keratin.
Because it's a big, heavy molecule, the European Scientific Committee has found to to have very low dermal penetration and negative results for allergenicity.
In vitro testing also showed a low absorption rate and clean results on irritation.
Typical use levels are 1-5% with 5% being the maximum in the EU, Japan, and other markets that allow it. However, this ingredient is not approved yet in the US or Canada.
Learn more about Ethylhexyl TriazoneGlycerin (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 GlycerinWater. 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
