What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Polyisobutene
Beeswax
Emulsion Stabilising
Hydrogenated Microcrystalline Wax
Emulsion StabilisingIsopropyl Myristate
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Stearyl Dimethicone
Emollient
Polyethylene
Abrasive
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Homosalate
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV Absorber
C26-28 Alkyl Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexyl Salicylate
UV Absorber
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Parfum
Masking
Polyester-7
Skin ConditioningButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Petrolatum
Emollient
BHT
Antioxidant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Ethyl Ferulate
Antioxidant
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate
Antioxidant
Isohexadecane
EmollientTocopherol
Antioxidant
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialEthylene/Propylene/Styrene Copolymer
Butylene/Ethylene/Styrene Copolymer
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Polyisobutene, Beeswax, Hydrogenated Microcrystalline Wax, Isopropyl Myristate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Stearyl Dimethicone, Polyethylene, Octyldodecanol, Homosalate, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, C26-28 Alkyl Dimethicone, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Parfum, Polyester-7, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate, Phenoxyethanol, Petrolatum, BHT, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ethyl Ferulate, Bisabolol, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, Isohexadecane, Tocopherol, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Ethylene/Propylene/Styrene Copolymer, Butylene/Ethylene/Styrene Copolymer, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tripeptide-1
Water
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Salicylate
UV Absorber
Octocrylene
UV Absorber
Homosalate
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Nylon-12
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Polymethyl Methacrylate
Silica
Abrasive
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ceteareth-20
CleansingCeteareth-12
EmulsifyingCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cetyl Palmitate
Emollient
Sodium Laureth Sulfate
Cleansing
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTriethanolamine
BufferingTriethylene Glycol
Masking
Aminomethyl Propanol
BufferingHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Picea Mariana Bark Extract
Antioxidant
Ethyl Ferulate
Antioxidant
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialTocopherol
Antioxidant
Eriophorum Spissum Flower/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningWater, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Octocrylene, Homosalate, Glycerin, Propylene Glycol, Nylon-12, Cyclopentasiloxane, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Glyceryl Stearate, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Silica, Phenoxyethanol, Ceteareth-20, Ceteareth-12, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Palmitate, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Triethanolamine, Triethylene Glycol, Aminomethyl Propanol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Picea Mariana Bark Extract, Ethyl Ferulate, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Tocopherol, Eriophorum Spissum Flower/Stem Extract
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ethyl ferulate is an antioxidant derived from ferulic acid and ethyl alcohol. You'll most likely see this ingredient in sunscreens.
One study from 2014 found a concentration of 10% showed a similar SPF to Benzimidazole. Though this is considered a chemical UV filter, this ingredient is not listed as so. This is due to regulatory loopholes. You'll likely find this ingredient in "100% mineral" sunscreens.
This ingredient is typically found in concentrations between 0.5-1%. It is usually created synthetically or from rice bran oil.
Learn more about Ethyl FerulateEthylhexyl Salicylate is an organic compound used to block UV rays. It primarily absorbs UVB rays but offers a small amount of UVA protection as well.
Commonly found in sunscreens, Ethylhexyl Salicylate is created from salicylic acid and 2-ethylhexanol. You might know salicylic acid as the effective acne fighter ingredient and BHA.
The ethylhexanol in this ingredient is a fatty alcohol and helps hydrate your skin, similar to oils. It is an emollient, which means it traps moisture into the skin.
According to manufacturers, Ethylhexyl Salicylate absorbs UV wavelength of 295-315 nm, with a peak absorption at 307-310 nm. UVA rays are linked to long term skin damage, such as hyperpigmentation. UVB rays emit more energy and are capable of damaging our DNA. UVB rays cause sunburn.
Learn more about Ethylhexyl SalicylateHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil is a plant oil derived from the seeds of a sunflower.
It is rich in fatty acids, primarily linoleic acid and oleic acid. This gives it emollient and skin conditioning properties.
The reason this ingredient is so effective is because it forms a thin film on the skin that reduces transepidermal water loss (TEWL) while supplying linoleic acid to the stratum corneum to improve barrier strength.
The high linoleic acid content is particularly noteworthy for acne-prone skin.
Research suggests that acne-prone skin tends to be deficient in linoleic acid in sebum. Topical application may help replenish this to support a healthier follicular environment and less comedone-promoting sebum.
One randomized study found sunflower seed oil preserved skin barrier integrity in adult volunteers with and without atopic dermatitis (outperforming olive oil).
This ingredient is well-studied, gentle, and an effective emollient suitable for most skin types.
On fungal acne: This ingredient may not be Fungal acne (Malassezia folliculitis) safe. This is because it contains fatty acids with carbon chain lengths in the C11-C24 range.
Learn more about Helianthus Annuus Seed OilHomosalate is a chemical sunscreen filter that provides protection in the UV-B range (280nm - 320 nm), with a peak protection at 306 nm. It is internationally approved for use in sunscreens.
Homosalate is not photo-stable, meaning it's strength as a UV filter degrades over time with exposure to the sun. Because of this, it's often used in combination with other chemical sunscreen filters as avobenzone (which protects from the UV-A range). Homosalate also helps act as a solvent for harder-to-dissolve UV filters.
(Part of the reason that sunscreens need to be frequently re-applied is due to the photo instability of many chemical sunscreen filters)
Currently, homosalate is approved in concentrations up to 10% in the EU and 15% in the US. The FDA is currently doing further research on the effects of homosalate, and it is possible that these approved concentrations will change in the future.
Learn more about HomosalatePhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
This is a botanical extract from the rosemary plant (the same one you cook with). In skincare, it mostly works as a skin conditioning agent.
Its activity comes from a handful of polyphenols, carnosic acid, carnosol, and rosmarinic acid. Almost 90% of the antioxidant activity of this ingredient can be attributed to canosol and carnosic acid.
These compounds protect your skin two ways:
1) They fight off free radicals, or the unstable molecules from things like sun and pollution that age and damage skin.
2) They help calm inflammation by switching off the chemical signals that tell skin to get red and irritated.
Lab studies also suggest that rosmarinic acid may help protect collagen and slow sugar-related damage to it.
The Cosmetic Ingredient Review has concluded rosemary-derived ingredients to be safe when formulated to be non-sensitizing.
Rosemary can occasionally cause allergic contact dermatitis (due to carnosol), so be sure to patch test if you have reactive or fragrance-sensitive skin.
Learn more about Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf ExtractTocopherol 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 Tocopherol
