What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%
UV Absorber
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate 7.5%
UV Absorber
Ethylhexyl Salicylate 2%
UV Absorber
Water
Skin ConditioningC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Cyclohexasiloxane
Emollient
Arachidyl Alcohol
Emollient
Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Cetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Ethylene/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingChrysanthemum Parthenium Extract
Skin ConditioningBehenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Steareth-2
EmulsifyingSodium Cocoyl Amino Acids
Cleansing
Steareth-21
CleansingParfum
Masking
Polyacrylamide
Arachidyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Methylparaben
Preservative
C13-14 Isoparaffin
Emollient
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Sarcosine
Skin Conditioning
Laureth-7
EmulsifyingEthylparaben
Preservative
Butylparaben
Masking
Propylparaben
Preservative
Isobutylparaben
Antimicrobial
Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate
Preservative
Potassium Aspartate
Skin ConditioningMagnesium Aspartate
Skin ConditioningButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate 7.5%, Ethylhexyl Salicylate 2%, Water, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Cyclopentasiloxane, Glycerin, Cyclohexasiloxane, Arachidyl Alcohol, Phenyl Trimethicone, Phenoxyethanol, Cetearyl Glucoside, Panthenol, Benzyl Alcohol, Ethylene/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Chrysanthemum Parthenium Extract, Behenyl Alcohol, Steareth-2, Sodium Cocoyl Amino Acids, Steareth-21, Parfum, Polyacrylamide, Arachidyl Glucoside, Disodium EDTA, Methylparaben, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Sarcosine, Laureth-7, Ethylparaben, Butylparaben, Propylparaben, Isobutylparaben, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, Potassium Aspartate, Magnesium Aspartate
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 2.8%
UV Absorber
Homosalate 9.5%
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexyl Salicylate 4.8%
UV Absorber
Octocrylene 7%
UV Absorber
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexyl Methoxycrylene
Skin Conditioning
Isopropyl Palmitate
Emollient
Silica
Abrasive
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Cetearyl Olivate
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingSorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPalmitic Acid
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningLeontopodium Alpinum Extract
Skin ConditioningStearic Acid
Cleansing
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Oryza Sativa Lees Extract
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Citric Acid
Buffering
Myristic Acid
Cleansing
Buddleja Davidii Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningThymus Vulgaris Leaf Extract
Skin ProtectingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 2.8%, Homosalate 9.5%, Ethylhexyl Salicylate 4.8%, Octocrylene 7%, Water, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Panthenol, Ethylhexyl Methoxycrylene, Isopropyl Palmitate, Silica, Niacinamide, Cetearyl Olivate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Sorbitan Olivate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Caprylyl Glycol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Palmitic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Leontopodium Alpinum Extract, Stearic Acid, 1,2-Hexanediol, Oryza Sativa Lees Extract, Propanediol, Sodium Hydroxide, Adenosine, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Citric Acid, Myristic Acid, Buddleja Davidii Leaf Extract, Thymus Vulgaris Leaf Extract, Tocopherol
Reviews
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 a chemical sunscreen filter that provides protection in the UV-A range.
Avobenzone is globally approved and is the most commonly used UV-A filter in the world.
Studies have found that avobenzone becomes ineffective when exposed to UV light (it is not photostable; meaning that it breaks down in sunlight). Because of this, formulations that include avobenzone will usually contain stabilizers such as octocrylene.
However, some modern formulations (looking at you, EU!) are able to stabilize avobenzone by coating the molecules.
Avobenzone does not protect against the UV-B range, so it's important to check that the sunscreen you're using contains other UV filters that do!
The highest concentration of avobenzone permitted is 3% in the US, and 5% in the EU.
Learn more about Butyl MethoxydibenzoylmethaneCetearyl alcohol is a waxy mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is an emollient and emulsifier.
Despite having "alcohol" in its name, it has nothing to do with drying solvent alcohols; the FDA also allows "alcohol-free" products to contain fatty alcohols like this ingredient.
It plays several roles in a formula:
Typical use levels for this ingredient sit around 1-10% and the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has affirmed safety at concentrations up to 25% in leave-on products.
Multiple assessments have found it to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing to most people.
However, there have been some cases of allergic contact dermatitis in patients with chronically compromised skin barriers.
Cetearyl alcohol has a comedogenic rating of 2 and irritancy rating of 1. Both of these numbers come from the 1989 study that used rabbit ears; a "2" means mildly comedogenic and a "1" means low irritancy.
Here's the catch: rabbit skin is more sensitive than human skin and throws a lot of false positives. A 1996 reappraisal found that ingredients rated 1-2 in the rabbit ear tests are generally safe for humans.
Remember comedogenic ratings are unable to assess the entire formula of a product or how it will react on your skin. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure about certain ingredients.
This ingredient is not fungal acne safe. Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol with chain lengths that fall within the range that Malassezia can metabolize.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholEthylhexyl 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 GlycerinPanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolWater. 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
