Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Face Lotion Sunscreen SPF 50 Versus La Roche-Posay Anthelios Wet Skin Gel SPF 50+
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin Conditioning
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Ethylhexyl Triazone
UV Absorber
Homosalate
Skin Conditioning
Octocrylene
UV Absorber
Ethylhexyl Salicylate
UV Absorber
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialBisabolol
Antioxidant
Capryloyl Glycine
CleansingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Cedrus Atlantica Wood Oil
Perfuming
Cetyl Dimethicone
Emollient
Cinnamomum Zeylanicum Bark Oil
Masking
Cocoglycerides
Emollient
Silica
Abrasive
Dibutyl Adipate
EmollientDisodium EDTA
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Glycerin
Humectant
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingMethylparaben
Preservative
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
PEG-15 Cocamine
EmulsifyingPEG-40 Stearate
Emulsifying
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
Portulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin Conditioning
Propylparaben
Preservative
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Water
Skin ConditioningSarcosine
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingTapioca Starch
Cera Alba
Emollient
Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Homosalate, Octocrylene, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Butylene Glycol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Bisabolol, Capryloyl Glycine, Caprylyl Glycol, Cedrus Atlantica Wood Oil, Cetyl Dimethicone, Cinnamomum Zeylanicum Bark Oil, Cocoglycerides, Silica, Dibutyl Adipate, Disodium EDTA, Tocopheryl Acetate, Glycerin, Hexylene Glycol, Methylparaben, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, PEG-15 Cocamine, PEG-40 Stearate, Phenoxyethanol, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Propylparaben, Propylene Glycol, Water, Sarcosine, Sodium Hydroxide, Tapioca Starch, Cera Alba
Water
Skin ConditioningIsopropyl Palmitate
Emollient
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin Conditioning
Dicaprylyl Ether
Emollient
Ethylhexyl Triazone
UV Absorber
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Diisopropyl Adipate
EmollientDiisopropyl Sebacate
EmollientGlycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Triethanolamine
BufferingPhenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid
UV Absorber
Dimethicone
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Oxidized Starch Acetate
Skin ConditioningCopernicia Cerifera Cera
Emollient
Oryza Sativa Cera
Skin ConditioningC12-22 Alkyl Acrylate/Hydroxyethylacrylate Copolymer
StabilisingAcrylates Copolymer
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingAcrylates/Dimethicone Copolymer
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Carrageenan
Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV Filter
Disodium Phosphate
BufferingDrometrizole Trisiloxane
UV Absorber
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingPolysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Sodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Phosphate
BufferingTerephthalylidene Dicamphor Sulfonic Acid
UV Absorber
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingParfum
Masking
Water, Isopropyl Palmitate, Alcohol Denat., Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Dicaprylyl Ether, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Diisopropyl Adipate, Diisopropyl Sebacate, Glycerin, Propanediol, Triethanolamine, Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid, Dimethicone, Tocopherol, Oxidized Starch Acetate, Copernicia Cerifera Cera, Oryza Sativa Cera, C12-22 Alkyl Acrylate/Hydroxyethylacrylate Copolymer, Acrylates Copolymer, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Acrylates/Dimethicone Copolymer, Caprylyl Glycol, Carrageenan, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Disodium Phosphate, Drometrizole Trisiloxane, Hydroxyacetophenone, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Polysorbate 60, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Phosphate, Terephthalylidene Dicamphor Sulfonic Acid, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Xanthan Gum, Parfum
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer is a synthetic polymer. It is used to thicken, emulsify, and improve the texture of products.
As an emulsifier, it helps stabilize oil-in-water emulsions to give products an elegant feel when applied.
It can also form a thin protective film on skin. One study found that a formula using this polymer helped slow down how quickly other ingredients (like DEET) were absorbed through skin.
A 2024 study of over 1,300 patients confirmed that sensitization to this ingredient is rare. It is also non-mutagenic and has a clean track record.
Learn more about Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate CrosspolymerYou might know this ingredient as Tinosorb S or Bemotrizinol. It is a UV filter that covers both UVA and UVB rays.
This ingredient has two peak UV absorption peaks ( 310 and 340 nm) and is able to absorb both UV-A and UV-B rays. This ingredient works by preventing UV rays from reaching and damaging your skin.
On top of that - it is highly photostable and helps prevent the photodegration of other sunscreen ingredients such as avobenzone.
Tinosorb S is allowed in the EU, Australia, and Asia. It is close to being approved by the FDA and we'll hopefully get this ingredient in the U.S. by late 2026.
Fun fact: Tinosorb S is the most effective UV absorber at maximum concentration (measured by SPF) permitted in the EU.
This ingredient is oil-soluble, so your oil-cleansers will take this right off at night.
Learn more about Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl TriazineAlso known as Avobenzone, this ingredient is a chemical sunscreen filter that provides protection in the UV-A range.
Avobenzone is globally approved and is the most commonly used UV-A filter in the world.
Studies have found that avobenzone becomes ineffective when exposed to UV light (it is not photostable; meaning that it breaks down in sunlight). Because of this, formulations that include avobenzone will usually contain stabilizers such as octocrylene.
However, some modern formulations (looking at you, EU!) are able to stabilize avobenzone by coating the molecules.
Avobenzone does not protect against the UV-B range, so it's important to check that the sunscreen you're using contains other UV filters that do!
The highest concentration of avobenzone permitted is 3% in the US, and 5% in the EU.
Learn more about Butyl MethoxydibenzoylmethaneCaprylyl 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 GlycolEthylhexyl 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 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
