L'Oreal Skin Paradise Tinted Water Cream SPF 20 Versus La Roche-Posay Uvidea Anthelios Tinted BB Cream SPF 50+
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientIsododecane
EmollientEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV AbsorberNylon-12
Glycerin
HumectantPEG-10 Dimethicone
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
HumectantAlcohol
AntimicrobialCetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeSynthetic Fluorphlogopite
Sodium Chloride
MaskingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientDisteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingSodium Dehydroacetate
PreservativePropylene Carbonate
SolventDisodium EDTA
Amyris Balsamifera Bark Oil
MaskingDisodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingAluminum Hydroxide
EmollientBHT
AntioxidantTin Oxide
AbrasivePentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
AntioxidantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantMica
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantCI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Dimethicone, Isododecane, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Nylon-12, Glycerin, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Propylene Glycol, Alcohol, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Phenoxyethanol, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Sodium Chloride, Caprylyl Glycol, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Propylene Carbonate, Disodium EDTA, Amyris Balsamifera Bark Oil, Disodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Aluminum Hydroxide, BHT, Tin Oxide, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, CI 77891, Mica, CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 19140, CI 42090
Water
Skin ConditioningCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV AbsorberGlycerin
HumectantDrometrizole Trisiloxane
UV AbsorberDimethicone
EmollientAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic ColorantTerephthalylidene Dicamphor Sulfonic Acid
UV AbsorberPropylene Glycol
HumectantDiethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV FilterTriethanolamine
BufferingCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantBis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin ConditioningStearic Acid
CleansingPotassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningAluminum Hydroxide
EmollientBHT
AntioxidantButylene Glycol
HumectantButyrospermum Parkii Seedcake Extract
Skin ProtectingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCarnosine
Skin ConditioningCetyl Alcohol
EmollientDisodium EDTA
Glyceryl Stearate
EmollientMyristic Acid
CleansingMyristyl Alcohol
EmollientPalmitic Acid
EmollientPEG-100 Stearate
Phenoxyethanol
PreservativeSodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Cocoyl Sarcosinate
CleansingStearyl Alcohol
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantTromethamine
BufferingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingWater, CI 77891, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Glycerin, Drometrizole Trisiloxane, Dimethicone, Alcohol Denat., Titanium Dioxide, Terephthalylidene Dicamphor Sulfonic Acid, Propylene Glycol, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Triethanolamine, CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Stearic Acid, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Pentylene Glycol, Aluminum Hydroxide, BHT, Butylene Glycol, Butyrospermum Parkii Seedcake Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, Carbomer, Carnosine, Cetyl Alcohol, Disodium EDTA, Glyceryl Stearate, Myristic Acid, Myristyl Alcohol, Palmitic Acid, PEG-100 Stearate, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Cocoyl Sarcosinate, Stearyl Alcohol, Tocopherol, Tromethamine, Xanthan Gum
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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.
As a colorant, Aluminum Hydroxide may add opacity, or reduce the transparency. Aluminum hydroxide is contains both basic and acidic properties.
According to manufacturers, this ingredient is an emollient and humectant. This means it helps hydrate the skin.
In medicine, this ingredient is used to help relieve heartburn and help heal ulcers.
There is currently no credible scientific evidence linking aluminum hydroxide in cosmetics to increased cancer risk.
Major health organizations allow the use of aluminum hydroxide in personal care products and have not flagged it as a carcinogenic risk at typical usage levels.
Learn more about Aluminum HydroxideBHT is a synthetic antioxidant and preservative.
As an antioxidant, it helps your body fight off free-radicals. Free-radicals are molecules that may damage your skin cells.
As a preservative, it is used to stabilize products and prevent them from degrading. Specifically, BHT prevents degradation from oxidation.
The concerns related to BHT come from oral studies; this ingredient is currently allowed for use by both the FDA and EU.
However, it was recently restricted for use in the UK as of April 2024.
Learn more about BHTCaprylyl 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 GlycolCi 77491 is also hydrated iron III oxide. It's sole purpose is to give a red/pink hue to products.
Iron III oxides are classified as inorganic chemicals for coloring.
Synthetically created Ci 77491 is considered safer than those naturally found. This is because the synthetically created version may contain less impurities. Iron oxides are generally non-toxic and non-allergenic.
Learn more about CI 77491CI 77492 is also hydrated iron III oxide. It's sole purpose is to give a yellow hue to products.
Iron III oxides are classified as inorganic chemicals for coloring.
Synthetically created CI 77492 is considered safer than those naturally found. This is because the synthetically created version may contain less impurities. Iron oxides are generally non-toxic and non-allergenic.
Learn more about CI 77492Ci 77891 is a white pigment from Titanium dioxide. It is naturally found in minerals such as rutile and ilmenite.
It's main function is to add a white color to cosmetics. It can also be mixed with other colors to create different shades.
Ci 77891 is commonly found in sunscreens due to its ability to block UV rays.
Learn more about CI 77891Dimethicone 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 DimethiconeDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate is an organic compound that provides UVB protection. It often goes by the more common name of octinoxate. It is created from methoxycinnamic acid and 2-ethylhexanol.
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate absorbs UVB rays with wavelengths between 280-320 nm. UV absorbers protect your skin by using chemical reactions to convert UV rays into heat and energy.
UVB (290-320 nm) rays emit more energy than UVA rays. They are capable of damaging DNA, causing sunburns and are thought to be linked to skin cancer.
The state of Hawaii has banned sunscreens containing octinoxate due to its potential impact on coral reefs. More research is needed to bridge gaps in this research. The European Union allows higher levels of octinoxate in sunscreens than the US and Australia.
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate is oil soluble. It is not stable and may lose efficacy when exposed to sunlight.
Learn more about Ethylhexyl MethoxycinnamateGlycerin (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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol 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.
Propylene Glycol is a synthetic, colorless, odorless liquid that has been a staple in cosmetics for decades. It is a skin conditioning agent, humectant, and solvent.
As a humectant, it draw water to the skin to reduce flaking and restore suppleness. It's also a solvent that helps dissolve other actives and keeps formulas stable across temperature changes.
The CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be nontoxic and clinical studies show no sensitization at cosmetic use concentrations.
True allergic reactions are quite rare: a 15-year retrospective study of 6,751 patients found only 0.31% had a positive reaction (and less than half were considered clinically relevant).
It seemed that when sensitization does occur, it's most commonly linked to topical medication (like corticosteroids) and not cosmetics. Allergic contact dermatitis also appears largely limited to individuals with underlying skin conditions.
Overall, propylene glycol is a well-studied ingredient that most people can tolerate without issue.
Learn more about Propylene GlycolChances 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 ChlorideWater. 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