What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%
UV Absorber
Homosalate 7.34%
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%
UV Absorber
Octocrylene 10%
UV Absorber
Butyloctyl Salicylate
Skin Conditioning
Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
Masking
Diethylhexyl 2,6-Naphthalate
EmollientEthylhexyl Methoxycrylene
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantIsododecane
EmollientMaleated Soybean Oil Glyceryl/Octyldodecanol Esters
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantOenocarpus Bataua Fruit Oil
Emollient
Parfum
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Pongamia Glabra Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Pongamia Pinnata Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningSynthetic Fluorphlogopite
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantTocopherol
Antioxidant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Benzyl Salicylate
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%, Homosalate 7.34%, Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%, Octocrylene 10%, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Diethylhexyl 2,6-Naphthalate, Ethylhexyl Methoxycrylene, Ethylhexylglycerin, CI 77491, Isododecane, Maleated Soybean Oil Glyceryl/Octyldodecanol Esters, Mica, Oenocarpus Bataua Fruit Oil, Parfum, Phenoxyethanol, Pongamia Glabra Seed Oil, Pongamia Pinnata Seed Extract, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, CI 77891, Tocopherol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Benzyl Salicylate, Citronellol, Limonene
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 MethoxydibenzoylmethaneOctocrylene 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 OctocryleneTocopherol 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 Tocopherol
