Sunscreen: Helioplex vs Mexoryl
Wednesday, 4 June 2008
If you go round the pharmacies, you must have seen the latest range of Neutrogena Ultra Sheer range consisting of Dry-Touch Sunblock SPF50+, Dry-Touch Sunblock SPF70 and Body Mist Sunblock SPF45 which all come with the patented Helioplex suncare technology. So what exactly is Helioplex and is it true that it gives up to three times longer UVA protection?
What is Helioplex?
According to the information I gathered from Neutrogena’s website, Helioplex covers the complete UVA/UVB spectrum by harnessing the full power of two sunscreens, Avobenzone and Oxybenzone.
Avobenzone is considered one of the best UVA absorbers, but it has always been said that it degrades about thirty minutes after application. However, with Oxybenzone which is a very good UVB absorber with some UVA absorbency and together with the patented Helioplex stabilizing technology, these two sunscreen ingredients complement each other for high, broad spectrum and photostable coverage.
Which simply means that Helioplex indeed provides photostable UVA protection that does not lose its effectiveness in sunlight.
Is Helioplex better than Mexoryl?
If we go by the rating compiled by Environmental Protection Agency and information obtained from Cosmetic Database (see the two tables below and compare Avobenzone and Oxybenzone against Ecamsule and Drometrizole Trisiloxane), it looks like Helioplex is slightly more superior with better UVA protection. Plus, it seems that some people are prepared to put their money on Helioplex over Mexoryl for the simple reason that the effectiveness of both Avobenzone and Oxybenzone has been substantiated by independant labs and the FDA. Information on Mexoryl, on the other hand, is said to be made mostly by L’Oreal internal research.
Which sunscreen provides better protection?
But it should be noted that there could be other filters used when it comes to a sunscreen formulation. So for curiosity sake, I took the active ingredients for Neutrogena Ultra Dry-Sheer and La Roche-Posay Anthelios XL 50+ and again used the rating compiled by Environmental Protection Agency for some visual comparison.
Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunblock SPF70 comes with Avobenzone, Oxybenzone, Homosalate, Octocrylene and Octisalate (Octyl salicylate).
La Roche-Posay Anthelios XL 50+ Lait Veloute Face & Body Lotion comes with Mexoryl SX (Ecamsule), Mexoryl XL (Drometrizole Trisiloxane), Octocrylene and Titanium Dioxide.
(Drometrizole Trisiloxane not officially in FDA monograph compiled by the Environmental Protection Agency. I added it here for reference only, with inputs from Cosmetics Database.)
Do note that I haven’t indicated the percentage level of their active ingredients but it does look like La Roche-Posay Anthelios XL 50+ is stronger on providing UVA protection but Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch provides better UVB protection? But personally, between the two, I’ll pick La Roche-Posay Antheloios over Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch because I have issues with Avobenzone and Oxybenzone.
Are there health hazards?
The hazards of using Avobenzone and Oxybenzone have been highlighted by the Environmental Working Group, and I’ve also written that sunscreen with Avobenzone may not be compatible with mineral makeup without micronized ingredients. So for me, especially since I do use mineral makeup, I’m staying away from sunscreens that use these ingredients whether or not they’re more affordable.
Anyway, at the end of the day, my preference is still for a non-chemical sunscreen and I rather pick a physical sunscreen with Zinc Oxide anytime.
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June 5th, 2008 at 8:00 pm
What a fabulous review. I have both in my sunscreen arsenal, but I didn’t even think about doing the analysis. Thank you so much
G-W: Thanks for your comments!
June 6th, 2008 at 7:27 am
wow, thanks for the breakdown. you make it easy to understand!
cybele: Glad you find that useful.
June 7th, 2008 at 11:57 am
[...] Woman takes a look at sunscreen ingredient Helioplex from Neutrogena and compares its Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch with La Roche-Posay Anthelios containing [...]
June 7th, 2008 at 3:02 pm
[...] Woman takes a look at sunscreen ingredient Helioplex from Neutrogena and compares its Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch with La Roche-Posay Anthelios containing [...]
June 7th, 2008 at 7:51 pm
[...] Woman takes a look at sunscreen ingredient Helioplex from Neutrogena and compares its Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch with La Roche-Posay Anthelios containing [...]
June 7th, 2008 at 9:44 pm
[...] Woman takes a look at sunscreen ingredient Helioplex from Neutrogena and compares its Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch with La Roche-Posay Anthelios containing [...]
June 7th, 2008 at 11:01 pm
[...] Woman takes a look at sunscreen ingredient Helioplex from Neutrogena and compares its Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch with La Roche-Posay Anthelios containing [...]
June 8th, 2008 at 2:53 am
[...] Woman takes a look at sunscreen ingredient Helioplex from Neutrogena and compares its Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch with La Roche-Posay Anthelios containing [...]
June 8th, 2008 at 5:50 am
[...] Woman takes a look at sunscreen ingredient Helioplex from Neutrogena and compares its Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch with La Roche-Posay Anthelios containing [...]
June 8th, 2008 at 7:56 am
great info! i have been wondering about the differences. I use both! and have used sunscreen since i was 18! It must work to some extent–no one guesses i’m 37!
sus: Wow, I’m envious! I would love to be in your position. I never took much care with sunscreen until I was much older.
June 8th, 2008 at 8:53 am
[...] Woman takes a look at sunscreen ingredient Helioplex from Neutrogena and compares its Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch with La Roche-Posay Anthelios containing [...]
June 8th, 2008 at 10:52 pm
[...] Woman takes a look at sunscreen ingredient Helioplex from Neutrogena and compares its Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch with La Roche-Posay Anthelios containing [...]
June 8th, 2008 at 10:56 pm
[...] Woman takes a look at sunscreen ingredient Helioplex from Neutrogena and compares its Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch with La Roche-Posay Anthelios containing [...]
June 9th, 2008 at 1:00 am
[...] Woman takes a look at sunscreen ingredient Helioplex from Neutrogena and compares its Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch with La Roche-Posay Anthelios containing [...]
June 9th, 2008 at 4:01 am
[...] Woman takes a look at sunscreen ingredient Helioplex from Neutrogena and compares its Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch with La Roche-Posay Anthelios containing [...]
June 9th, 2008 at 8:01 pm
Helioplex vs.Mexoryl: this is only a piece of the story.
Helioplex is a combination of sunscreens as you explained well, and mexoryl is only 1 sun filter. In Anthelios SX (or the new Anthelios 40 coming late spring), there are avobenzone (long UVA protection) and Octorylene (UVB protection) in addition to Mexoryl (short UVA protection). So the combination of the 3 filters allows for the most complete broad spectrum protection with a very high protection on the short UVA (silent killers and aging rays) thanks to the MExoryl SX. Another great thing is that Mexoryl sx is photostable by itself (does not break under the sun) and the patented association of Octocrylene + Avobenzone allows for Avobenzone to be photostabilized. Therefore your protection lasts for hours.
Also I’d like to correct one other information: Anthelios SX is the ONLY FDA APPROVED sunscreen for both SHORT and LONG UVA tys + UVB rays. And because it is FDA approved, the testings were done by independent labs in the USA. So no bias there.
Jan: I understand that Mexoryl SX works even better with Mexoryl XL so I usually look out for both. And thanks for pointing out that the testings are done by independent labs cos from what I’ve been reading, it doesn’t quite indicate this clearly. That’ll certainly put to rest some doubts others have been having.
June 10th, 2008 at 10:21 pm
[...] Woman takes a look at sunscreen ingredient Helioplex from Neutrogena and compares its Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch with La Roche-Posay Anthelios containing [...]