What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Dimethyl Ether
SolventWater
Skin ConditioningHomosalate
Skin Conditioning
Octocrylene
UV Absorber
Ethylhexyl Salicylate
UV Absorber
Cera Alba
Emollient
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialCetyl Dimethicone
Emollient
Cocoglycerides
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
PEG-15 Cocamine
EmulsifyingPEG-40 Stearate
Emulsifying
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Hexadecene
SolventChlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Disodium EDTA
Poly C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate
Emulsion StabilisingBis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Triethanolamine
BufferingBHT
Antioxidant
Dimethyl Ether, Water, Homosalate, Octocrylene, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Cera Alba, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Cetyl Dimethicone, Cocoglycerides, Glycerin, PEG-15 Cocamine, PEG-40 Stearate, Phenoxyethanol, Hexadecene, Chlorphenesin, Disodium EDTA, Poly C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Tocopheryl Acetate, Triethanolamine, BHT
Water
Skin ConditioningDiisopropyl Sebacate
EmollientOctocrylene
UV Absorber
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Tribehenin PEG-20 Esters
EmollientDiethylhexyl Butamido Triazone
UV Absorber
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV Absorber
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingPolymethylsilsesquioxane
Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol
UV Filter
Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone
Perfuming
Aluminum Hydroxide
EmollientAluminum Stearate
Cosmetic ColorantAngelica Archangelica Root Extract
Masking
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Benzyl Benzoate
Antimicrobial
BHT
Antioxidant
C30-45 Alkyl Cetearyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Emollient
Calcium Sodium Phosphosilicate
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Cinnamal
Perfuming
Cinnamyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Citric Acid
Buffering
Citronellol
Perfuming
Citrus Aurantium Amara Peel Extract
MaskingCoffea Arabica Seed Extract
Masking
Cyclohexasiloxane
Emollient
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Dimethylmethoxy Chromanol
Antioxidant
Disodium EDTA
Farnesol
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer
Hippophae Rhamnoides Oil
Emollient
Hydroxycitronellal
Perfuming
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingLecithin
Emollient
Linalool
Perfuming
Magnesium Aluminum Silicate
Absorbent
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Mauritia Flexuosa Fruit Oil
Skin Conditioning
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantPalmitic Acid
Emollient
PEG-8
HumectantPolysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Pongamia Pinnata Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningRuby Powder
Skin ConditioningSclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingSorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Synthetic Fluorphlogopite
Tin Oxide
Abrasive
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingChlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sorbic Acid
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
CI 14700
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Diisopropyl Sebacate, Octocrylene, Alcohol, Propylene Glycol, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Cyclopentasiloxane, Glycerin, Tribehenin PEG-20 Esters, Diethylhexyl Butamido Triazone, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Titanium Dioxide, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Aluminum Hydroxide, Aluminum Stearate, Angelica Archangelica Root Extract, Ascorbic Acid, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Benzyl Benzoate, BHT, C30-45 Alkyl Cetearyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Calcium Sodium Phosphosilicate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, Cinnamal, Cinnamyl Alcohol, Citric Acid, Citronellol, Citrus Aurantium Amara Peel Extract, Coffea Arabica Seed Extract, Cyclohexasiloxane, Decyl Glucoside, Dimethylmethoxy Chromanol, Disodium EDTA, Farnesol, Geraniol, Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer, Hippophae Rhamnoides Oil, Hydroxycitronellal, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Lecithin, Linalool, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Maltodextrin, Mauritia Flexuosa Fruit Oil, Mica, Palmitic Acid, PEG-8, Polysorbate 60, Pongamia Pinnata Seed Extract, Ruby Powder, Sclerotium Gum, Sorbitan Isostearate, Stearic Acid, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Tin Oxide, Tocopherol, Xanthan Gum, Chlorphenesin, Phenoxyethanol, Sorbic Acid, Parfum, CI 14700, CI 77891
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
BHT is a synthetic antioxidant and preservative.
As an antioxidant, it helps your body fight off free-radicals. Free-radicals are molecules that may damage your skin cells.
As a preservative, it is used to stabilize products and prevent them from degrading. Specifically, BHT prevents degradation from oxidation.
The concerns related to BHT come from oral studies; this ingredient is currently allowed for use by both the FDA and EU.
However, it was recently restricted for use in the UK as of April 2024.
Learn more about BHTAlso 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 MethoxydibenzoylmethaneChlorphenesin is a synthetic preservative. It helps protect a product against bacteria in order to extend shelf life. In most cases, Chlorphenesin is paired with other preservatives such as phenoxyethanol and caprylyl glycol.
Chlorphenesin is a biocide. This means it is able to help fight the microorganisms on our skin. It is also able to fight odor-releasing bacteria.
Chlorphenesin is soluble in both water and glycerin.
Studies show Chlorphenesin is easily absorbed by our skin. You should speak with a skincare professional if you have concerns about using Chlorphenesin.
Learn more about ChlorphenesinDisodium 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 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 OctocrylenePhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Water. 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
