Laboratoire ACM Medisun Cream SPF 50+ Versus Vichy Capital Soleil Cell Protect Water Fluid Spray SPF 50+
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Stearate
EmollientIsopropyl Palmitate
EmollientButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV AbsorberGlycerin
HumectantDicaprylyl Ether
EmollientEthylhexyl Salicylate
UV AbsorberOctocrylene
UV AbsorberEthylhexyl Triazone
UV AbsorberCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingDiethylhexyl Butamido Triazone
UV AbsorberMicrocrystalline Cellulose
AbsorbentPhenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid
UV AbsorberSodium Hydroxide
BufferingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantCellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic ColorantCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientDecylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningPiroctone Olamine
PreservativeXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDiethylhexyl Sodium Sulfosuccinate
CleansingSilver Chloride
PreservativePropylene Glycol
HumectantWater, Ethylhexyl Stearate, Isopropyl Palmitate, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Glycerin, Dicaprylyl Ether, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Octocrylene, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Diethylhexyl Butamido Triazone, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Tocopheryl Acetate, Cellulose Gum, Titanium Dioxide, Caprylyl Glycol, Decylene Glycol, Piroctone Olamine, Xanthan Gum, Diethylhexyl Sodium Sulfosuccinate, Silver Chloride, Propylene Glycol
Water
Skin ConditioningAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialEthylhexyl Salicylate
UV AbsorberEthylhexyl Triazone
UV AbsorberBis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin ConditioningDiisopropyl Adipate
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantPropanediol
SolventPhenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid
UV AbsorberDicaprylyl Ether
EmollientTriethanolamine
BufferingC12-22 Alkyl Acrylate/Hydroxyethylacrylate Copolymer
StabilisingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientDrometrizole Trisiloxane
UV AbsorberHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentTocopherol
AntioxidantTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Vitreoscilla Ferment
Skin ConditioningParfum
MaskingWater, Alcohol Denat., Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Diisopropyl Adipate, Glycerin, Propanediol, Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid, Dicaprylyl Ether, Triethanolamine, C12-22 Alkyl Acrylate/Hydroxyethylacrylate Copolymer, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Caprylyl Glycol, Drometrizole Trisiloxane, Hydroxyacetophenone, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Polyacrylate, Tocopherol, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Vitreoscilla Ferment, Parfum
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caprylyl 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 GlycolDicaprylyl Ether is created from caprylic acid. It is a texture-enhancer and emollient.
As an emollient, Dicaprylyl Ether is non-comedogenic. It helps soften and smooth the skin by creating a barrier on top. This barrier helps trap moisture in, helping to hydrate the skin.
Dicaprylyl Ether gives a non-greasy feel and better spreadability to products.
Learn more about Dicaprylyl EtherEthylhexyl Salicylate is an organic compound used to block UV rays. It primarily absorbs UVB rays but offers a small amount of UVA protection as well.
Commonly found in sunscreens, Ethylhexyl Salicylate is created from salicylic acid and 2-ethylhexanol. You might know salicylic acid as the effective acne fighter ingredient and BHA.
The ethylhexanol in this ingredient is a fatty alcohol and helps hydrate your skin, similar to oils. It is an emollient, which means it traps moisture into the skin.
According to manufacturers, Ethylhexyl Salicylate absorbs UV wavelength of 295-315 nm, with a peak absorption at 307-310 nm. UVA rays are linked to long term skin damage, such as hyperpigmentation. UVB rays emit more energy and are capable of damaging our DNA. UVB rays cause sunburn.
Learn more about Ethylhexyl SalicylateEthylhexyl Triazone is a modern chemical sunscreen that protects from UV-B radiation.
It is the most effective of existing UV-B filters, as it provides the highest level of photo-stable absorption. It protects from the entire UV-B range (280 to 320nm), with it's highest level of protection at 314nm.
Ethylhexyl Triazone is oil soluble, oderless and colorless, which mean it is able to be incorporated into a variety of different formulations.
It is not currently available within the United States due to slow changing FDA regulations. Outside of the US, it is used in formulations at concentrations up to 5%.
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 GlycerinThis ingredient is more commonly known as Ensulizole, a chemical sunscreen ingredient.
Ensulizole mainly protects UV-B (290-340 nm) but offers a little UV-A (320-400 nm) protection. It is often paired with less photo-stable sunscreen ingredients due to its photo-stability.
Due to it being water-soluble, Ensulizole helps give sunscreens a light and non-oily texture.
Ensulizole is approved worldwide:
Learn more about Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic AcidWater. 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