What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Diisopropyl Adipate
EmollientMethylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol
UV Filter
Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin Conditioning
Diethylhexyl Butamido Triazone
UV Absorber
Polyglyceryl-2 Dipolyhydroxystearate
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Benzoic Acid
Masking
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Disodium EDTA
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Hydroxycapric Acid
Skin ConditioningLauryl Glucoside
CleansingOxothiazolidine
Skin ProtectingPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Sodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Lauryl Glucose Carboxylate
CleansingSorbic Acid
Preservative
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Tocopheryl Glucoside
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingWater, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Diisopropyl Adipate, Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Diethylhexyl Butamido Triazone, Polyglyceryl-2 Dipolyhydroxystearate, Glycerin, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Decyl Glucoside, Benzoic Acid, Butylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Caprylyl Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Hydroxycapric Acid, Lauryl Glucoside, Oxothiazolidine, Propylene Glycol, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Lauryl Glucose Carboxylate, Sorbic Acid, Tocopherol, Tocopheryl Glucoside, Xanthan Gum
Butane
Water
Skin ConditioningHomosalate
Skin Conditioning
Octocrylene
UV Absorber
Glycerin
Humectant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Ethylhexyl Salicylate
UV Absorber
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientNylon-12
Diisopropyl Sebacate
EmollientButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer
P-Anisic Acid
Masking
Cyclohexasiloxane
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Sodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Thermus Thermophillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningPEG-32
HumectantPEG-8 Laurate
Emulsifying
Ethylhexyl Triazone
UV Absorber
Triethanolamine
BufferingPolyglyceryl-6 Polyricinoleate
Emulsifying
Poly C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate
Emulsion StabilisingPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Drometrizole Trisiloxane
UV Absorber
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Disodium EDTA
Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Scutellaria Baicalensis Extract
AntimicrobialParfum
Masking
Butane, Water, Homosalate, Octocrylene, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Nylon-12, Diisopropyl Sebacate, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer, P-Anisic Acid, Cyclohexasiloxane, Tocopherol, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Hyaluronate, Phenoxyethanol, Thermus Thermophillus Ferment, PEG-32, PEG-8 Laurate, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Triethanolamine, Polyglyceryl-6 Polyricinoleate, Poly C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate, Pentylene Glycol, Drometrizole Trisiloxane, Caprylyl Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Potassium Sorbate, Scutellaria Baicalensis Extract, Parfum
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 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 or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAGlycerin (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
