Photoderm BRONZ Spray SPF 50+

200.00 ml for $ 33.95
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Brand Overview

This water-resistant, spray-on sunscreen lotion provides broad-spectrum protection like all of the other Bioderma sunscreens, but is not recommended because it encourages tanning. (How odd that a product with such a high SPF rating would promote tanning!) We cannot think of a more disingenuous thing for a skin-care line to do than sell numerous products to protect the skin from sun damage (of which tanning is a major indicator, just like sunburn), and then turn around and sell a product that actively encourages you to get a tan—under the guise that this is somehow a safe way to do so! What's next, tobacco companies handing out a fresh orange with each purchase of a pack of cigarettes?

In terms of the formula, it contains plant extracts that make skin more sun-sensitive, which doesn't make any sense given that it also provides sun protection. In the end, this isn't recommended because of its disingenuous claims.

There are other things we could comment on, but overall this is just an insult to skin—enough said.

  • Provides broad-spectrum sun protection.
  • Moisturizes skin.
  • Encourages tanning, the #1 way to increase every visible sign of aging!
  • Contains ingredients that can make skin more sun-sensitive.
Jar Packaging: No
Tested on animals: Yes

Photoderm BRONZ activates, intensifies and durably prolongs the natural tan. On the one hand, it stimulates the production of melanin, the pigment that naturally protects the skin against the suns rays and which is responsible for the skin colouring. On the other hand, Photoderm BRONZ helps to ensure the melanin is homogeneously distributed, thus achieving an even tan.

Water (Aqua), Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Octocrylene, Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Glycerin, Methylpropanediol, Ectoin, Mannitol, Xylitol, Rhamnose, Fructooligosaccharides, Laminaria Ochroleuca Extract, Acetyl Tyrosine, Arachis Hypogaea (Peanut) Oil, Oleoyl Tyrosine, Triticum Vulgare (Wheat) Germ Oil, Medicago Sativa (Alfalfa) Oil Unsaponifiables, Squalane, Juglans Regia (Walnut) Shell Extract, Hypericum Perforatum Extract, Acetyl Hexapeptide-1, Dextran, Isopropyl Myristate, Decyl Glucoside, C20-22 Alkyl Phosphate, C20-22 Alcohols, Trilinolein, Aspartic Acid, Cetearyl Alcohol, Xanthan Gum, Coco-Glucoside, Butylene Glycol, Trilinolenin, Triolein, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Oleic Acid, Tripalmitin, Tristearin, Propylene Glycol, Polysorbate 60, Copper Gluconate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Disodium EDTA, Chlorphenesin, Phenoxyethanol, Fragrance (Parfum).

Strengths: Bioderma provides complete product ingredient lists on their site; some very good, fragrance-free facial cleansers; every sunscreen provides sufficient broad-spectrum protection, and most are fragrance-free; a few good mattifying products for oily skin; great prices.

Weaknesses: The endless array of moisturizers are ordinary; the claims don't match what the formulas can actually do; repetitive sunscreen formulas; many of the sunscreens contain a potentially problematic amount of denatured alcohol; disappointing lightening products lacking ingredients that can lighten brown spots; the bronzing SPF products encourage tanning.

Bioderma is a European brand based in France and sold in 70 countries around the world, which explains why we get so many requests to review the brand!

According to information on their website, the team at Bioderma has been collaborating with dermatologists and renowned international research centers for over 20 years, all to bring you products that are the most frequently prescribed by French dermatologists. Sounds impressive, but the proof is in the products, not the posturing!

The Bioderma range is huge, but also hugely repetitive. Few brands offer as many cleansers, moisturizers, and sunscreens as Bioderma, yet the onslaught creates a lot of confusion, and the differences between many of these formulas are subtle to indistinguishable. There are some good products, but overall the formulas are lackluster. When shopping this line, you really have to choose carefully and not get too hung up on the various names and claims because often virtually the same product formula comes with different benefits on the label, again and again. And again.

Many people with sensitive skin ask us about Bioderma, perhaps because the company frequently mentions that their products are hypoallergenic. That term hypoallergenic is misleading, as explained below.

There are no accepted testing methods, ingredient restrictions, regulations, guidelines, rules, or procedures of any kind, anywhere in the world, for determining whether or not a product qualifies as being hypoallergenic. So, any company can label any product hypoallergenic because there is no regulation that says they cant, no matter what so-called evidence they may use to make their point, and what proof can they provide given there is no standard against which to measure?

Given that there are no regulations governing hypoallergenic products, we know there are plenty of products labeled hypoallergenic that actually contain problematic ingredients and that can indeed trigger allergic reactions, even for those with no previous history of skin sensitivity and that's certainly true for many Bioderma products. We wish that weren't the case, but the word hypoallergenic gives you no reliable understanding of what you are or aren't putting on your skin.

That being said, we applaud Bioderma for avoiding the use of known sensitizing ingredients like peppermint, lavender, menthol, and all types of citrus, which unfortunately are rampant in the world of skin care. Many Bioderma products are also fragrance-free and in that sense are absolutely worth a look, whether sensitive skin is an issue or not. (Fragrance-free is best for all skin types.)

Despite the huge number of products, there are some surprising holes in the Bioderma line. For example, this isn't a line to shop if you're struggling with breakouts, there are no effective AHA or BHA exfoliants, the skin-lightening products have drawbacks that don't make them worth considering over better options, and you wont find advanced anti-aging formulations of any kind. You're in luck if you want lots of choices in cleansers, moisturizers, and sunscreens, but as mentioned above, there's a lot to wade through, and much of it is repetitive. Were all for brands offering choices for different skin types, concerns, and textures (such as gel versus lotion), but Biodermas range simply isn't as varied as it is large. A large mix of relatively wishy-washy formulations is really not a plus for your skin.

For more information about Bioderma, visit www.bioderma.com.

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