What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV AbsorberButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV AbsorberEpilobium Angustifolium Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningAcrylates Crosspolymer
AbsorbentInulin Lauryl Carbamate
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexyl Triazone
UV AbsorberChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialBisabolol
AntioxidantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantBakuchiol
AntimicrobialEctoin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeOctocrylene
UV AbsorberSodium Surfactin
CleansingQuaternium-73
Water, Glycerin, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Epilobium Angustifolium Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Acrylates Crosspolymer, Inulin Lauryl Carbamate, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Chlorphenesin, Bisabolol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Bakuchiol, Ectoin, Phenoxyethanol, Octocrylene, Sodium Surfactin, Quaternium-73
Water
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV AbsorberOctocrylene
UV AbsorberGlycerin
HumectantMethyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantPEG-40
HumectantPropylene Glycol
HumectantButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV AbsorberHydrogenated Castor Oil
EmollientPropanediol
SolventPEG-40 Stearate
EmulsifyingZinc Oxide
Cosmetic ColorantSteareth-2
EmulsifyingSteareth-21
CleansingPEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate
EmulsifyingCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningPolygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract
AntioxidantScutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
AstringentSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
MaskingRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialPotassium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantHydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantHyaluronic Acid
HumectantHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningHydrogen Dimethicone
PEG-10 Dimethicone
Skin ConditioningPEG-Crosspolymer
Dimethicone
EmollientPolyacrylate-1 Crosspolymer
Isohexadecane
EmollientOrange Roughy Oil
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Methicone
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientCitric Acid
BufferingWater, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Octocrylene, Glycerin, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Xanthan Gum, Tocopheryl Acetate, PEG-40, Propylene Glycol, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Propanediol, PEG-40 Stearate, Zinc Oxide, Steareth-2, Steareth-21, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Centella Asiatica Extract, Pentylene Glycol, Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Ceramide NP, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Potassium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrogen Dimethicone, PEG-10 Dimethicone, PEG-Crosspolymer, Dimethicone, Polyacrylate-1 Crosspolymer, Isohexadecane, Orange Roughy Oil, Ethylhexylglycerin, Cetearyl Methicone, Cyclopentasiloxane, Citric Acid
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 MethoxydibenzoylmethaneEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate is an organic compound that provides UVB protection. It often goes by the more common name of octinoxate. It is created from methoxycinnamic acid and 2-ethylhexanol.
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate absorbs UVB rays with wavelengths between 280-320 nm. UV absorbers protect your skin by using chemical reactions to convert UV rays into heat and energy.
UVB (290-320 nm) rays emit more energy than UVA rays. They are capable of damaging DNA, causing sunburns and are thought to be linked to skin cancer.
The state of Hawaii has banned sunscreens containing octinoxate due to its potential impact on coral reefs. More research is needed to bridge gaps in this research. The European Union allows higher levels of octinoxate in sunscreens than the US and Australia.
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate is oil soluble. It is not stable and may lose efficacy when exposed to sunlight.
Learn more about Ethylhexyl MethoxycinnamateGlycerin (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 GlycerinOctocrylene protects skin from sun damage. It absorbs UV-B with peak absorption of 304 nm. It is a common sunscreen ingredient and often paired with avobenzone, a UVA filter. This is because octocrylene stabilizes other sunscreen ingredients by protecting them from degradation when exposed to sunlight. Octocrylene is a photostable ingredient and loses about 10% of SPF in 95 minutes.
Octocrylene also acts as an emollient, meaning it helps skin retain moisture and softens skin. It is oil-soluble and hydrophobic, enhancing water-resistant properties in a product.
Those who are using ketoprofen, a topical anti-inflammatory drug, may experience an allergic reaction when using octocrylene. It is best to speak with a healthcare professional about using sunscreens with octocrylene.
The EU allows a maximum of these concentrations:
Learn more about OctocryleneSodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateWater. 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