La Roche-Posay Toleriane Double Repair Face Moisturizer UV SPF 30 Versus Estée Lauder DayWear Multi-Protection Anti-Oxidant Sheer Tint Release Moisturizer SPF 15
This chemical sunscreen covers most of the UV range, lighter on the deep UVA that drives aging.
This anti-aging day moisturizer is formulated around Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract and Coffea Arabica Seed Extract to soften the look of wrinkles and hydrate skin.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%
UV Absorber
Homosalate 5%
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%
UV Absorber
Octocrylene 7%
UV Absorber
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Silica
Abrasive
Dimethicone
Emollient
Niacinamide
Smoothing
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingMyristic Acid
Cleansing
Myristyl Alcohol
Emollient
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingDisodium EDTA
Capryloyl Glycine
CleansingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Citric Acid
Buffering
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingT-Butyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%, Homosalate 5%, Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%, Octocrylene 7%, Water, Glycerin, Silica, Dimethicone, Niacinamide, PEG-100 Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Stearic Acid, Stearyl Alcohol, Allantoin, Ceramide NP, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Sodium Hydroxide, Myristic Acid, Myristyl Alcohol, Palmitic Acid, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Disodium EDTA, Capryloyl Glycine, Caprylyl Glycol, Citric Acid, Xanthan Gum, T-Butyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Tocopherol
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate 7.5%
UV Absorber
Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%
UV Absorber
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 2%
UV Absorber
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric/Myristic/Stearic Triglyceride
EmollientButylene Glycol
Humectant
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Cetyl Ricinoleate
Emollient
Steareth-2
EmulsifyingDi-C12-15 Alkyl Fumarate
EmollientPolysilicone-11
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Steareth-21
CleansingAspalathus Linearis Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Coffea Arabica Seed Extract
Masking
Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract
Antioxidant
Triticum Vulgare Germ Extract
Skin ConditioningBetula Alba Bark Extract
Masking
Laminaria Ochroleuca Extract
Skin Conditioning
Hordeum Vulgare Extract
EmollientSaccharomyces Lysate Extract
Humectant
Rosmarinus Officinalis Extract
AntimicrobialVitis Vinifera Seed Extract
Antimicrobial
Ethylbisiminomethylguaiacol Manganese Chloride
Antioxidant
Cholesterol
Emollient
Phospholipids
Skin Conditioning
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Ascorbyl Tocopheryl Maleate
Antioxidant
Cyclodextrin
AbsorbentSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Trehalose
Humectant
Nordihydroguaiaretic Acid
Antioxidant
Palmitoyl Hydroxypropyltrimonium Amylopectin/Glycerin Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningPantethine
EmollientLinolenic Acid
Cleansing
Oryzanol
Skin ConditioningLecithin
Emollient
Squalane
Emollient
Linoleic Acid
Cleansing
Glycerin
Humectant
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Urea
Buffering
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Polyethylene
Abrasive
Isopropyl Myristate
Emollient
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Sodium Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingStearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Vp/Hexadecene Copolymer
Polymethyl Methacrylate
Polyquaternium-51
Skin Conditioning
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingParfum
Masking
Disodium EDTA
Sorbic Acid
Preservative
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Dehydroacetate
Preservative
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Linalool
Perfuming
Butylphenyl Methylpropional
Perfuming
Hydroxyisohexyl 3-Cyclohexene Carboxaldehyde
Masking
Benzyl Salicylate
Perfuming
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate 7.5%, Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 2%, Water, Dimethicone, Caprylic/Capric/Myristic/Stearic Triglyceride, Butylene Glycol, Cyclopentasiloxane, Cetyl Ricinoleate, Steareth-2, Di-C12-15 Alkyl Fumarate, Polysilicone-11, Pentylene Glycol, Steareth-21, Aspalathus Linearis Leaf Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Coffea Arabica Seed Extract, Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract, Triticum Vulgare Germ Extract, Betula Alba Bark Extract, Laminaria Ochroleuca Extract, Hordeum Vulgare Extract, Saccharomyces Lysate Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Extract, Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract, Ethylbisiminomethylguaiacol Manganese Chloride, Cholesterol, Phospholipids, Maltodextrin, Ascorbyl Tocopheryl Maleate, Cyclodextrin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Trehalose, Nordihydroguaiaretic Acid, Palmitoyl Hydroxypropyltrimonium Amylopectin/Glycerin Crosspolymer, Pantethine, Linolenic Acid, Oryzanol, Lecithin, Squalane, Linoleic Acid, Glycerin, Sodium PCA, Urea, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Polyethylene, Isopropyl Myristate, Behenyl Alcohol, Sodium Carbomer, Tromethamine, Stearyl Alcohol, Vp/Hexadecene Copolymer, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Polyquaternium-51, Carbomer, Parfum, Disodium EDTA, Sorbic Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Chlorphenesin, Phenoxyethanol, Linalool, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Hydroxyisohexyl 3-Cyclohexene Carboxaldehyde, Benzyl Salicylate, CI 77891, CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Also 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 MethoxydibenzoylmethaneDimethicone 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 Salicylate (also called Octisalate or Octyl Salicylate) is an oil-soluble organic UV filter that's been used in sunscreen since the 1950's.
It absorbs UVB light in the 280-320 nm range with a peak absorbance around 306 nm.
You'll often see it paired with other UV filters to boost overall SPF because octisalate is a fairly week filter on its own.
The reason you'll see it so often is because it can help solubilize and stabilize the trickier filters like oxybenzone and avobenzone.
Unlike these filters, octisalate has pretty good photostability and doesn't create skin-damaging free radicals when exposed to sunlight.
The fatty-alcohol part of the molecule also gives it a light, emollient feel so it doubles as a nice texture enhancer.
Usage levels vary around the world:
Safety-wise, this ingredient has a pretty reassuring track record. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Products (SCCP) found very low skin penetration in human skin tests and negative results for irritation, phototoxicity, and photoallergy.
The real-world allergy risk is pretty low too; a 2012 European study of 1,031 people recorded only 2 reactions to it (a rate of 0.19%).
You might have seen scary headlines about sunscreen getting into your blood.
In 2019, the FDA found that several chemical filters can absorb through the skin and show up in the bloodstream at small but measurable levels.
Here's the important part: these tiny levels are just a cutoff the FDA uses to decide which ingredients need more testing and doesn't mean anything harmful was found.
The researchers were clear that the results are no reason to stop wearing sunscreen.
Learn more about Ethylhexyl SalicylateGlycerin (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 GlycerinStearyl Alcohol is a type of fatty alcohol from stearic acid. It is a white, waxy compound used to emulsify ingredients used as an emollient or to thicken a product.
Emollients help soothe and hydrate the skin by trapping moisture.
Fatty alcohols are usually derived from natural fats and oils and therefore do not have the same drying or irritating effect as solvent (ethanol) alcohols.
The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe. It is a primary fatty alcohol with a chain length above 12 carbons. A study from 2019 show Malassezia can feed on fatty alcohols in this range, so it may trigger fungal acne in those prone to it.
Learn more about Stearyl AlcoholWater. 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
