La Roche-Posay Anthelios 60 SFP Cooling Water-Lotion Sunscreen Versus Biossance Squalane + Zinc Sheer Mineral Sunscreen SPF 30 PA +++

La Roche-Posay Anthelios 60 SFP Cooling Water-Lotion Sunscreen Versus Biossance Squalane + Zinc Sheer Mineral Sunscreen SPF 30 PA +++

This chemical sunscreen covers most of the UV range, lighter on the deep UVA that drives aging, though its SPF isn't confirmed on file yet.

This hybrid sunscreen covers the full UV range and blocks ~97% of UVB at SPF 30.

What's inside

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 2.24%

Homosalate 8%

Ethylhexyl Salicylate 2.4%

Octocrylene 4.48%

Benzophenone-3 2.88%

Water

Alcohol Denat.

Dimethicone

Cyclopentasiloxane

Acrylates/Dimethicone Copolymer

Phenoxyethanol

Propylene Glycol

Caprylyl Glycol

Sodium Polyacrylate

Silica

Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer

Disodium EDTA

Tocopherol

Menthyl Lactate

Diethylhexyl Syringylidenemalonate

Cassia Alata Leaf Extract

Maltodextrin

Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 2.24%, Homosalate 8%, Ethylhexyl Salicylate 2.4%, Octocrylene 4.48%, Benzophenone-3 2.88%, Water, Alcohol Denat., Dimethicone, Cyclopentasiloxane, Acrylates/Dimethicone Copolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Propylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Polyacrylate, Silica, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Disodium EDTA, Tocopherol, Menthyl Lactate, Diethylhexyl Syringylidenemalonate, Cassia Alata Leaf Extract, Maltodextrin

Zinc Oxide

Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride

Squalane

Glycerin

Cetearyl Alcohol

Methyl Dihydroabietate

Sorbitan Olivate

Coco-Glucoside

Cetyl Palmitate

Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate

Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside

Nymphaea Alba Flower Extract

Acacia Senegal Gum

Ethyl Ferulate

Xanthan Gum

Sodium Gluconate

Lecithin

Sodium Palmitoyl Proline

Polyhydroxystearic Acid

Ethylhexylglycerin

Isostearic Acid

Zinc Oxide, Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Squalane, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Methyl Dihydroabietate, Sorbitan Olivate, Coco-Glucoside, Cetyl Palmitate, Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Nymphaea Alba Flower Extract, Acacia Senegal Gum, Ethyl Ferulate, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Gluconate, Lecithin, Sodium Palmitoyl Proline, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Isostearic Acid

Alternatives

Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.

Phenoxyethanol is one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).

It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.

On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.

Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).

You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.

Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.

Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.

Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.

Water. 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!

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