What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%
UV Absorber
Homosalate 10%
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%
UV Absorber
Octocrylene 8%
UV Absorber
Water
Skin ConditioningC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialTriacontanyl Pvp
HumectantEuphorbia Cerifera Wax
Silica
Abrasive
PEG-15 Cocamine
EmulsifyingAcrylates/Steareth-20 Methacrylate Copolymer
PEG-40 Stearate
Emulsifying
Glyceryl Behenate
Emollient
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
Masking
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Mentha Viridis Leaf Oil
Astringent
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
Glycerin
Humectant
Citrus Limon Peel Oil
Masking
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin Conditioning
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Daucus Carota Sativa Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Beta-Carotene
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Linalool
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Citral
Perfuming
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%, Homosalate 10%, Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%, Octocrylene 8%, Water, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Triacontanyl Pvp, Euphorbia Cerifera Wax, Silica, PEG-15 Cocamine, Acrylates/Steareth-20 Methacrylate Copolymer, PEG-40 Stearate, Glyceryl Behenate, Panthenol, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Caprylyl Glycol, Mentha Viridis Leaf Oil, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Glycerin, Citrus Limon Peel Oil, Persea Gratissima Oil, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Glycine Soja Oil, Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Daucus Carota Sativa Root Extract, Beta-Carotene, Tocopherol, Linalool, Limonene, Citral
Water
Skin ConditioningIsopropyl Palmitate
Emollient
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Dicaprylyl Ether
Emollient
Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin Conditioning
Diisopropyl Adipate
EmollientDiisopropyl Sebacate
EmollientEthylhexyl Triazone
UV Absorber
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Glycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV Filter
Triethanolamine
BufferingTocopherol
Antioxidant
C12-22 Alkyl Acrylate/Hydroxyethylacrylate Copolymer
StabilisingOxidized Starch Acetate
Skin ConditioningPhenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid
UV Absorber
Oryza Sativa Cera
Skin ConditioningOryza Sativa Bran Wax
Skin Conditioning
Acrylates Copolymer
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingAluminum Hydroxide
EmollientCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Drometrizole Trisiloxane
UV Absorber
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingPEG-20
HumectantStearic Acid
Cleansing
Terephthalylidene Dicamphor Sulfonic Acid
UV Absorber
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingWater, Isopropyl Palmitate, Alcohol Denat., Dicaprylyl Ether, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Diisopropyl Adipate, Diisopropyl Sebacate, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Glycerin, Propanediol, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Triethanolamine, Tocopherol, C12-22 Alkyl Acrylate/Hydroxyethylacrylate Copolymer, Oxidized Starch Acetate, Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid, Oryza Sativa Cera, Oryza Sativa Bran Wax, Acrylates Copolymer, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Aluminum Hydroxide, Caprylyl Glycol, Drometrizole Trisiloxane, Hydroxyacetophenone, Hydroxyethylcellulose, PEG-20, Stearic Acid, Terephthalylidene Dicamphor Sulfonic Acid, Titanium Dioxide, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Xanthan Gum
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Also known as Avobenzone, this ingredient is an oil-soluble used to absorb the full spectrum of UVA rays (peak 357 nm).
It's one of the most effective UVA filters available but has a major caveat of photostability: avobenzone is susceptible to photodegradation.
This means it can lose efficacy when exposed to sunlight without the help of a stabilizing agent.
Studies show antioxidants (like vitamin E or vitamin C) and some UV filters (like octocrylene and Tinosorb S) can meaningfully improve its stability in a formulation.
The maximum allowable concentration according to regulation is 3% in the US + Canada, and 5% in the EU, Australia, China, Korea, and ASEAN countries.
It has a well-support safety profile: a comprehensive 2025 review found minimal toxicity with no evidence of carcinogenicity.
Overall, avobenzone is a safe and regulated ingredient used in sunscreen for over 40 years.
Learn more about Butyl MethoxydibenzoylmethaneCaprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolGlycerin (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 GlycerinTocopherol 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
