This chemical sunscreen covers the full UV range and blocks ~98% of UVB at SPF 50.
This chemical sunscreen covers the full UV range and blocks ~98% of UVB at SPF 50.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-2 Isostearate
Emulsifying
Glycerin
Humectant
Benzophenone-3
UV Absorber
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexyl Triazone
UV Absorber
Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV Filter
Octocrylene
UV Absorber
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV Absorber
Emulsifying Wax Nf
Ricinus Communis Seed Oil
Masking
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter
Emollient
Hamamelis Virginiana Water
Astringent
Alpha-Arbutin
Antioxidant
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Avena Sativa Kernel Extract
Abrasive
Milk Protein
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Oil
Emollient
Coffea Arabica Seed Extract
Masking
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Water, Polyglyceryl-2 Isostearate, Glycerin, Benzophenone-3, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Octocrylene, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Emulsifying Wax Nf, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetyl Alcohol, Stearic Acid, Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter, Hamamelis Virginiana Water, Alpha-Arbutin, Ceramide AP, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Milk Protein, Phenoxyethanol, Persea Gratissima Oil, Hyaluronic Acid, Ascorbic Acid, Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Oil, Coffea Arabica Seed Extract, Niacinamide, Tocopherol
Water
Skin ConditioningHomosalate
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV Filter
Ethylhexyl Salicylate
UV Absorber
Glycerin
Humectant
Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialSilica
Abrasive
Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
UV Absorber
Dibutyl Adipate
EmollientTerephthalylidene Dicamphor Sulfonic Acid
UV Absorber
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Tromethamine
BufferingPotassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingBehenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientScutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
Astringent
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Panax Ginseng Root Water
Masking
Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
Emulsifying
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Parfum
Masking
Propanediol
Solvent
T-Butyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Bupleurum Falcatum Root Extract
Skin ConditioningAngelica Acutiloba Root Extract
Skin ConditioningOphiopogon Japonicus Root Extract
Skin ConditioningMyristic Acid
Cleansing
Lauric Acid
Cleansing
Centella Asiatica Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Water, Homosalate, Butylene Glycol, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Glycerin, Phenyl Trimethicone, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Silica, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Dibutyl Adipate, Terephthalylidene Dicamphor Sulfonic Acid, Cetearyl Alcohol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Tromethamine, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Glyceryl Stearate, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Behenyl Alcohol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Glyceryl Caprylate, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Stearic Acid, Panax Ginseng Root Water, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Palmitic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, Parfum, Propanediol, T-Butyl Alcohol, Bupleurum Falcatum Root Extract, Angelica Acutiloba Root Extract, Ophiopogon Japonicus Root Extract, Myristic Acid, Lauric Acid, Centella Asiatica Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Tocopherol
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate (DHHB) is a chemical UV-A absorber. It is formulated for high UVA protection (320-400 nm).
DHHB is well-liked for:
DHHB has been approved by the EU, Japan, Taiwan, and South America for use up to 10%. Unfortunately, it has not been approved for use in the US or Canada due to slow regulatory processes.
This ingredient is soluble in oils, fats, and lipids.
Learn more about Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl BenzoateGlycerin (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 GlycerinGlyceryl Stearate is made by reacting glycerin with stearic acid (typically sourced from plant oils like palm or coconut). It's an emulsifier, emollient, and mild occlusive.
Emulsifiers help ingredients like oil and water stay mixed so your formula stays nicely blended and uniform in texture.
This ingredient is typically used in concentrations between 1-10%. Studies have found it to be non-sensitizing, non-phototoxic, and non-photoallergenic.
A close cousin of this ingredient is Glyceryl Stearate SE ("self-emulsifying"). This just has a small amount of sodium or potassium stearate added so it can emulsify without a co-emulsifier.
Since this ingredient is an ester of a C18 fatty acid, it may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast can potentially metabolize within the C11-C24 range.
Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.
Learn more about Glyceryl StearateStearic Acid is a fatty acid that is already found in your skin. It's one of the free fatty acids that works alongside ceramides and cholesterols to maintain your barrier.
In cosmetics, it is a multitasker:
Safety-wise, the CIR Expert Panel has concluded it to be safe in cosmetics when formulated to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing.
Free stearic acid is a C18 fatty acid that the Malassezia yeast can substrate, so this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Stearic AcidTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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
