What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 1.5%
UV Absorber
Homosalate 5%
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexyl Salicylate 4%
UV Absorber
Octocrylene 6%
UV Absorber
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Methicone
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Glycine Soja Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Parfum
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Polyacrylate-13
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Steareth-21
CleansingPolyisobutene
Disodium EDTA
Silica
Abrasive
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 1.5%, Homosalate 5%, Ethylhexyl Salicylate 4%, Octocrylene 6%, Water, Caprylyl Methicone, Glycerin, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Glycine Soja Seed Extract, Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Crosspolymer, Pentylene Glycol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Parfum, Phenoxyethanol, Glyceryl Stearate, Polyacrylate-13, Chlorphenesin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Steareth-21, Polyisobutene, Disodium EDTA, Silica, Polysorbate 20, Sodium Hydroxide, Titanium Dioxide, Mica
Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid 2%
UV Absorber
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate 7.5%
UV Absorber
Ethylhexyl Salicylate 4.5%
UV Absorber
Titanium Dioxide 2.4%
Cosmetic Colorant
Zinc Oxide 4.8%
Cosmetic Colorant
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialDimethicone
Emollient
Cyclomethicone
Emollient
Methylpropanediol
SolventCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Ceteareth-20
CleansingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Glyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
Lactic Acid
Buffering
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Coco-Glycerides
Emollient
Vp/Hexadecene Copolymer
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPEG-40
HumectantRicinus Communis Seed Oil
Masking
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingTrisodium EDTA
Alumina
Abrasive
Sodium Cetearyl Sulfate
Cleansing
Triethoxycaprylylsilane
Simethicone
Emollient
Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid 2%, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate 7.5%, Ethylhexyl Salicylate 4.5%, Titanium Dioxide 2.4%, Zinc Oxide 4.8%, Water, Glycerin, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Dimethicone, Cyclomethicone, Methylpropanediol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Ceteareth-20, Phenoxyethanol, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Sodium Lactate, Lactic Acid, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydrogenated Coco-Glycerides, Vp/Hexadecene Copolymer, Xanthan Gum, PEG-40, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Sodium Hydroxide, Trisodium EDTA, Alumina, Sodium Cetearyl Sulfate, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Simethicone
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ethylhexyl 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 SalicylateGlycerin (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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol 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.
Sodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideTitanium dioxide is a mineral UV filter widely used in sunscreens and cosmetics.
It is one of only two UV filters officially classified as “mineral” by regulatory agencies, the other being zinc oxide.
Titanium dioxide provides broad-spectrum protection mostly in the UVB and UVAII range, with some protection in the UVAI range.
While its UVA protection isn’t as strong as zinc oxide’s, the difference is minor.
A common myth is that mineral UV filters reflect UV light. However, modern research shows titanium dioxide absorbs UV radiation like chemical filters (~95% absorption & 5% reflection).
Thanks to its non-irritating nature, titanium dioxide is suitable for sensitive, acne-prone, or redness-prone skin. It is unlikely to cause "eye sting" like other sunscreen ingredients.
A major drawback of this ingredient is its white cast and thick texture. This is why mineral sunscreens often leave a white cast and are less cosmetically elegant than chemical/hybrid sunscreens.
To improve white cast and spreadability, micronized or nano-sized titanium dioxide is often used.
There are ongoing concerns surrounding nano-titanium oxide's impact on marine ecosystems.
There is no conclusive evidence that any form of titanium oxide (or any other sunscreen ingredients) will cause harm to marine ecosystems or coral reefs. The science is still developing but many consumers are keeping a close eye on this issue.
Please note, many destinations have reef-safety sunscreen rules. For instance, the U.S. Virgin Islands advises all visitors to use non-nano mineral sunscreens.
Nano mineral sunscreens once raised safety concerns about absorption into skin.
Extensive research has shown that they do not penetrate healthy or damaged skin; they remain safely on the surface and the top layer of dead skin (stratum corneum).
You'll likely find titanium dioxide bundled with alumina, silica, or dimethicone. These ingredients help make titanium dioxide highly photostable; this prevents it from interacting with other formula components under UV light.
Learn more about Titanium DioxideWater. 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
