The original, what makes it special, the shelf parts we use and how to get closer. Add or swap parts and the score updates.
The original · Face Reality
$42 · 2 oz
A tinted chemical sunscreen: octocrylene 9%, homosalate 6%, octisalate 5% and avobenzone 3% with iron oxides for tint, safflower oleosomes, hyaluronate and panthenol.
Prices and listings checked Oct 28, 2026. Amazon prices change; the link shows today's price.
Step 2 · The build
La Roche-Posay
Partial credit means the part only partly matches that standout.
The 100 points
We split Brilliant Defense SPF 50 into 3 standout parts. Each bar shows what the build earns.
The sun protection. A mineral dupe protects by different filters, so credit is capped; check the SPF on the label.
No close retail equivalent: we credit at most 50% of these points.
Colour and visible-light cover.
Hydrating pieces in the base.
No close retail equivalent: we credit at most 50% of these points.
Optional
50 / 100. We have not found a shelf product that closes more of the gap yet.
58 is our ceiling. Octocrylene, homosalate, octisalate, avobenzone has no close retail equivalent, so we cap it at 50% credit. Oleosomes, hyaluronate and panthenol has no close retail equivalent, so we cap it at 50% credit.
Step 3 · Buy
One link per part. Each opens the retailer in a new tab.
Your build
Running total $39.99
Buy on Amazon (opens in new tab)Snapshot prices. Each link shows today's price.
One bottle instead of a build. Sorted by match score; scores use the same standouts as above.
La Roche-Posay
No close match yet — we show the nearest formulas.
Why it is close. A tinted mineral SPF 50 at $39.99. Same SPF, mineral filter, costs nearly the same.
EltaMD
Why it is close. A tinted niacinamide SPF 46 at $47.
CeraVe
Why it is close. A tinted mineral SPF 30 at $13.99. Different filters and lower SPF.
La Roche-Posay
Running total
Buy on Amazon (opens in new tab)No gain nowLa Roche-Posay
CeraVe
Running total
Buy on Amazon (opens in new tab)No gain nowCeraVe
EltaMD
Running total
Buy on Amazon (opens in new tab)No gain nowEltaMD
Daily sunscreen use reduced skin-aging progression in a randomized trial.
Hughes 2013 · Ann Intern Medactive: octocrylene 9% homosalate 6% octisalate 5% avobenzone 3%; other ingredients: water (aqua), carthamus tinctorius (safflower) oleosomes, glycerin, butyloctyl salicylate, hydroxyethyl acrylate/sodium acryloyldimethyl taurate copolymer, allantoin, arctostaphylos uva-ursi leaf extract, sodium hyaluronate, panthenol, tocopheryl acetate, bisabolol, caprylic/capric triglyceride, coco-caprylate/caprate, morus nigra leaf extract, myrica cerifera (bayberry) bark extract, bis-dodecylhexadecyl dimer dilinoleate/propanediol copolymer, silica, phenoxyethanol, lauryl glucoside, polyglyceryl-6 laurate, aminopropyl ascorbyl phosphate, c15-19 alkane, c12-15 alkyl benzoate, calcium sodium borosilicate, ethylhexylglycerin, diethylhexyl syringylidenemalonate, xanthan gum, myristyl glucoside, raspberry ketone, sodium stearoyl glutamate, polyhydroxystearic acid, dimethicone, polyglyceryl-6 polyricinoleate, tetrasodium glutamate diacetate, dilinoleic acid/butanediol copolymer, castor oil/ipdi copolymer, sodium hydroxide, propanediol, butylene glycol, iron oxides (ci 77491)
We split Brilliant Defense SPF 50 into 3 standout parts worth 100 points in total. The build earns 50 of a possible 58. 58 is the most we claim, because some standouts have no close retail equivalent.
La Roche-Posay Anthelios Tinted Mineral Ultra-Light Fluid SPF 50 by La Roche-Posay is our closest single-product match at 50 out of 100 for $39.99 (1.7 fl oz). It shares SPF 50, iron oxide tint.
Brilliant Defense SPF 50 costs $42 for 2 oz. The closest dupe costs $39.99, a saving of about $2.01. Prices change, so check the seller page.
No. Dupes share the key actives but can differ in concentration, vehicle and supporting ingredients. Missing from this one: Chemical filters. See our methodology for how we score.
SkinBetter Science · spf
~$22.98our build, 2 partsOriginal ~$75, build ~$22.98.
CeraVe
SkinBetter Science · spf
$13.99our build, 1 partOriginal ~$75, build $13.99.
CeraVe
SkinBetter Science · exfoliant
~$37our build, 4 partsOriginal $125, build ~$37.
The Ordinary