La Roche-Posay Anthelios XL Dry Touch Gel Cream SPF 50+ Versus Sorbet Beauty Salon Salon Skin SPF50 Sun Protection Face Cream
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningHomosalate
Skin Conditioning
Silica
Abrasive
Octocrylene
UV Absorber
Ethylhexyl Salicylate
UV Absorber
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Ethylhexyl Triazone
UV Absorber
Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin Conditioning
Drometrizole Trisiloxane
UV Absorber
Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate
Absorbent
Glycerin
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingDimethicone
Emollient
Perlite
Absorbent
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingAluminum Hydroxide
EmollientP-Anisic Acid
Masking
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Disodium EDTA
Inulin Lauryl Carbamate
Emulsion StabilisingIsopropyl Lauroyl Sarcosinate
Skin ConditioningPEG-8 Laurate
Emulsifying
Scutellaria Baicalensis Extract
AntimicrobialScutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
Astringent
Silica Silylate
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Terephthalylidene Dicamphor Sulfonic Acid
UV Absorber
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Triethanolamine
BufferingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingZinc Gluconate
Skin Conditioning
Water, Homosalate, Silica, Octocrylene, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Drometrizole Trisiloxane, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Dimethicone, Perlite, Propylene Glycol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Aluminum Hydroxide, P-Anisic Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Inulin Lauryl Carbamate, Isopropyl Lauroyl Sarcosinate, PEG-8 Laurate, Scutellaria Baicalensis Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Silica Silylate, Stearic Acid, Stearyl Alcohol, Terephthalylidene Dicamphor Sulfonic Acid, Titanium Dioxide, Tocopherol, Triethanolamine, Xanthan Gum, Zinc Gluconate
Water
Skin ConditioningOctocrylene
UV Absorber
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV Absorber
Benzophenone-3
UV Absorber
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingGlycerin
Humectant
Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate
Absorbent
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV Filter
Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol
UV Filter
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Teprenone
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Retinyl Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
Masking
Pelargonium Graveolens Oil
Masking
Citrus Aurantium Peel Oil
Disodium EDTA
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingDecyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingWater, Octocrylene, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Benzophenone-3, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Glycerin, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Cyclopentasiloxane, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Teprenone, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Carbomer, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Retinyl Palmitate, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Oil, Citrus Aurantium Peel Oil, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hydroxide, Decyl Glucoside, Propylene Glycol, 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.
Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate is a synthetic powder used as an absorbent, thickener, and anti-caking agent.
As an absorbent, it is great at mattifying skin by soaking up the oil. This is why you'll find it in a range of products from makeup to moisturizers.
This ingredient is considered a modified starch. Starch can also be found naturally in plants.
One study from 1991 found that 5% of this ingredient enhanced titanium dioxide SPF by as much as 40%. The study found 1% titanium dioxide had a 5.6 SPF and adding 5% of aluminum starch octenylsuccinate boosted it to an SPF of 8.1
Although “aluminum” in an ingredient name can raise red flags for some consumers, the form and usage context matter significantly. For typical topical applications, there is no substantial evidence of health risks - such as cancer, neurotoxicity, or systemic “aluminum overload.”
Learn more about Aluminum Starch OctenylsuccinateAlso known as Avobenzone, this ingredient is an oil-soluble used to absorb the full spectrum of UVA rays (peak 357 nm).
It's one of the most effective UVA filters available but has a major caveat of photostability: avobenzone is susceptible to photodegradation.
This means it can lose efficacy when exposed to sunlight without the help of a stabilizing agent.
Studies show antioxidants (like vitamin E or vitamin C) and some UV filters (like octocrylene and Tinosorb S) can meaningfully improve its stability in a formulation.
The maximum allowable concentration according to regulation is 3% in the US + Canada, and 5% in the EU, Australia, China, Korea, and ASEAN countries.
It has a well-support safety profile: a comprehensive 2025 review found minimal toxicity with no evidence of carcinogenicity.
Overall, avobenzone is a safe and regulated ingredient used in sunscreen for over 40 years.
Learn more about Butyl MethoxydibenzoylmethaneDisodium 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 EDTAGlycerin (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 GlycerinOctocrylene is an oil-soluble organic UV filter that mainly absorbs UVB and short wave UVA II light.
Its real superpower is teamwork: octocrylene is remarkably photostable and is most famous for stabilizing avobenzone (the workhorse UVA filter).
This ingredient is commonly used to enhance both UVB and UVA protection due to its unique property in stabilizing avobenzone. It also pulls double duty by boosting water resistance and giving formulas a smooth, spreadable feel.
The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) has deemed octocrylene to be safe as a UV-filter at concentrations up to 10% (capped at 9% in propellant sprays). The US also permits it up to 10%.
Two things worth knowing:
You'll usually see this ingredient used in concentrations between 2-10% (higher amounts when used as a stabilizer for avobenzone).
Learn more about OctocrylenePotassium Cetyl Phosphate is the potassium salt of a mixture. This mixture consists of the esters from phosphoricacid and cetyl alcohol.
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate is an emulsifier and cleansing agent. Emulsifiers help stabilize a product. It does this by preventing certain ingredients from separating.
As a cleansing agent, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate helps gather oils, dirts, and pollutants from your skin. This makes it easier to rinse them away with water.
Learn more about Potassium Cetyl PhosphatePropylene 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 GlycolWater. 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 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 Gum
