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 ConditioningC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialDiethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV Filter
Ethylhexyl Triazone
UV Absorber
Oryza Sativa Starch
AbsorbentPhenylene Bis-Diphenyltriazine
Stabilising
Glycerin
Humectant
Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
UV Absorber
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Laurate
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Tapioca Starch
Vp/Eicosene Copolymer
Benzoic Acid
Masking
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Parfum
Masking
Glyceryl Behenate
Emollient
Glyceryl Dibehenate
Emollient
PPG-1-PEG-9 Lauryl Glycol Ether
EmulsifyingCI 17200
Cosmetic ColorantTocopheryl Glucoside
EmollientTribehenin
Emollient
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingZinc Gluconate
Skin Conditioning
Water, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Oryza Sativa Starch, Phenylene Bis-Diphenyltriazine, Glycerin, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Glyceryl Laurate, Glyceryl Stearate, Stearyl Alcohol, Tapioca Starch, Vp/Eicosene Copolymer, Benzoic Acid, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Caprylyl Glycol, Parfum, Glyceryl Behenate, Glyceryl Dibehenate, PPG-1-PEG-9 Lauryl Glycol Ether, CI 17200, Tocopheryl Glucoside, Tribehenin, Xanthan Gum, Zinc Gluconate
Water
Skin ConditioningHomosalate
Skin Conditioning
Silica
Abrasive
Propanediol
Solvent
Ethylhexyl Salicylate
UV Absorber
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantDipropylene Glycol
HumectantC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialDiethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV Filter
Dimethicone
Emollient
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
UV Absorber
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCetearyl Olivate
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Aluminum Hydroxide
EmollientIsohexadecane
EmollientSorbitan Stearate
Emulsifying
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Parfum
Masking
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPolysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Tromethamine
BufferingTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Xanthan Gum
Emulsifying1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Sorbitan Oleate
Emulsifying
Disodium EDTA
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingLeontopodium Alpinum Flower/Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMyristic Acid
Cleansing
Vp/Hexadecene Copolymer
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract
Masking
Helianthus Annuus Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Acrylates/Dimethicone Copolymer
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract
Masking
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Morus Alba Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Pueraria Lobata Root Extract
HumectantCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Chrysanthemum Indicum Flower Extract
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Artemisia Princeps Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCinnamomum Cassia Bark Extract
Masking
Diospyros Kaki Leaf Extract
Skin Protecting
Citric Acid
Buffering
Centaurea Cyanus Flower Water
Skin Conditioning
Helichrysum Italicum Flower Water
Skin ConditioningThymus Vulgaris Leaf Water
Skin ConditioningWater, Homosalate, Silica, Propanediol, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, CI 77891, Dipropylene Glycol, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Dimethicone, Alcohol Denat., Polysorbate 60, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Butylene Glycol, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Glyceryl Stearate, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Cetearyl Olivate, Stearic Acid, Sorbitan Olivate, Aluminum Hydroxide, Isohexadecane, Sorbitan Stearate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Caprylyl Glycol, Parfum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Carbomer, Polysorbate 80, Palmitic Acid, Tromethamine, Tocopheryl Acetate, Xanthan Gum, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sorbitan Oleate, Disodium EDTA, Potassium Hydroxide, Leontopodium Alpinum Flower/Leaf Extract, Myristic Acid, Vp/Hexadecene Copolymer, Cyclopentasiloxane, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Extract, Acrylates/Dimethicone Copolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Morus Alba Fruit Extract, Pueraria Lobata Root Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Chrysanthemum Indicum Flower Extract, Sodium Benzoate, Artemisia Princeps Leaf Extract, Cinnamomum Cassia Bark Extract, Diospyros Kaki Leaf Extract, Citric Acid, Centaurea Cyanus Flower Water, Helichrysum Italicum Flower Water, Thymus Vulgaris Leaf Water
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
This ingredient is better known as bemotrizinol or Tinosorb S and is one of the best broad-spectrum UV filters in modern sunscreen.
It works by absorbing UV light across a whole range (280-400 nm) with peaks around 310 nm (UVB) and 340-345 nm (UVA). This means it covers UVB plus the deeper UVA wavelengths that drive photoaging and pigmentation.
Another pro?
It's exceptionally photostable, barely degrades in sunlight, and acts as a "bodyguard" for less stable filters.
That's why you'll see it paired with avobenzone or octinoxate; this team up ensures they keep working through sun exposure.
Safety reviews have been reassuring across the board. This ingredient shows low absorption through the skin, rarely irritates, and lab studies found it doesn't act like a hormone in the body (a concern that's been raised about some older sunscreen filters).
On maximum concentrations:
In 2026, the US F.D.A finally added it as an OTC sunscreen ingredient at concentrations up to 6% for adults / children 6 months and older
Learn more about Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl TriazineC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate is a lightweight emollient made by combinig benzoic acid with fatty alcohols that are 12-15 carbons long.
In cosmetics, it plays several roles:
The Cosmetic Review Expert Panel has concluded the alkyl benzoate group to be safe as used in cosmetics; it wasn't found to be a skin irritant and unlikely to be absorbed due to its low water solubility.
This report recorded almost 1000 reported uses with concentrations up to 59% in leave-on products but your cosmetics will typically use 0.5-15% depending on the product.
It's often called a "SPF booster": this is because it keeps UV filters properly dissolved and evenly distributed to support a sunscreen's performance. It doesn't actually raise SPF on its own.
Overall, this ingredient is well tolerated.
This ingredient is fungal acne safe because it is an ester of benzoic acid.
Think of this ingredient as two parts stuck together: an oily part and an acid part. Malassezia only gets a meal when it can snip off a fatty acid to eat. With C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, the acid part is benzoic acid, which isn't a fatty acid and which the yeast can't use as food.
Benzoic acid is actually used as a preservative to stop yeast from growing.
The oily part is a blend of C12-15 fatty alcohols but fatty alcohols in this size range can support only a little Malassezia growth (mostly for one species of Malassezia as well).
In the ingredient, those alcohols stay locked inside the molecule. The yeast can only reach them by snipping the benzoate bond, and that type of bond is harder for it to cut than a normal fatty bond.
So not much gets released. And whatever does get snipped comes packaged with benzoic acid, which discourages yeast growth.
Learn more about C12-15 Alkyl BenzoateCaprylyl 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 GlycolDiethylamino 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 BenzoateGlyceryl 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 StearateParfum is a catch-all term for an ingredient or more that is used to give a scent to products.
Also called "fragrance", this ingredient can be a blend of hundreds of chemicals or plant oils. This means every product with "fragrance" or "parfum" in the ingredients list is a different mixture.
For instance, Habanolide is a proprietary trade name for a specific aroma chemical. When used as a fragrance ingredient in cosmetics, most aroma chemicals fall under the broad labeling category of “FRAGRANCE” or “PARFUM” according to EU and US regulations.
The term 'parfum' or 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term.
For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance by INCI standards.
One example is Calendula flower extract. Calendula is an essential oil that still imparts a scent or 'fragrance'.
Depending on the blend, the ingredients in the mixture can cause allergies and sensitivities on the skin. Some ingredients that are known EU allergens include linalool and citronellol.
Parfum can also be used to mask or cover an unpleasant scent.
The bottom line is: not all fragrances/parfum/ingredients are created equally. If you are worried about fragrances, we recommend taking a closer look at an ingredient. And of course, we always recommend speaking with a professional.
Learn more about ParfumPotassium Cetyl Phosphate is the potassium salt of a mixture. This mixture consists of the esters from phosphoricacid and cetyl alcohol.
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate is an emulsifier and cleansing agent. Emulsifiers help stabilize a product. It does this by preventing certain ingredients from separating.
As a cleansing agent, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate helps gather oils, dirts, and pollutants from your skin. This makes it easier to rinse them away with water.
Learn more about Potassium Cetyl PhosphateWater. 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum
