What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 2.7%
UV Absorber
Homosalate 9%
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexyl Salicylate 4.5%
UV Absorber
Octocrylene 9%
UV Absorber
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Benzotriazolyl Dodecyl P-Cresol
UV Absorber1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientIsododecane
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Acrylates/Polytrimethylsiloxymethacrylate Copolymer
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Olivate
Inulin Lauryl Carbamate
Emulsion StabilisingSorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingMagnesium Aluminum Silicate
AbsorbentTromethamine
BufferingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Trisodium EDTA
Myristica Fragrans Extract
MaskingStellaria Media Extract
Skin ConditioningAlchemilla Vulgaris Leaf Extract
Antioxidant
Equisetum Arvense Leaf Extract
AstringentUrtica Dioica Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningRubus Idaeus Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningNepeta Cataria Extract
TonicCalendula Officinalis Flower Extract
Masking
Avena Sativa Kernel Extract
Abrasive
Baptisia Tinctoria Root Extract
Skin ConditioningLonicera Japonica Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningMorinda Citrifolia Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Masking
Citrus Aurantifolia Oil
Cleansing
Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil
Masking
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
Masking
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 2.7%, Homosalate 9%, Ethylhexyl Salicylate 4.5%, Octocrylene 9%, Water, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Cetearyl Alcohol, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Panthenol, Benzotriazolyl Dodecyl P-Cresol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glyceryl Caprylate, Isododecane, Glyceryl Stearate, Niacinamide, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Acrylates/Polytrimethylsiloxymethacrylate Copolymer, Cetearyl Olivate, Inulin Lauryl Carbamate, Sorbitan Olivate, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Tromethamine, Xanthan Gum, Butylene Glycol, Trisodium EDTA, Myristica Fragrans Extract, Stellaria Media Extract, Alchemilla Vulgaris Leaf Extract, Equisetum Arvense Leaf Extract, Urtica Dioica Leaf Extract, Rubus Idaeus Leaf Extract, Nepeta Cataria Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Baptisia Tinctoria Root Extract, Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract, Morinda Citrifolia Fruit Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Citrus Aurantifolia Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%
UV Absorber
Homosalate 9%
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexyl Salicylate 4.5%
UV Absorber
Octocrylene 9%
UV Absorber
Water
Skin ConditioningC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialNeopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate
EmollientStyrene/Acrylates Copolymer
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Diethylhexyl Syringylidenemalonate
Skin ProtectingVp/Eicosene Copolymer
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Glycyrrhiza Inflata Root Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycyrrhetinic Acid
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%, Homosalate 9%, Ethylhexyl Salicylate 4.5%, Octocrylene 9%, Water, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate, Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer, Butylene Glycol, Diethylhexyl Syringylidenemalonate, Vp/Eicosene Copolymer, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glycyrrhiza Inflata Root Extract, Glycyrrhetinic Acid, Tocopherol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Potassium Hydroxide, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives
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 MethoxydibenzoylmethaneButylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolEthylhexyl Salicylate is an organic compound used to block UV rays. It primarily absorbs UVB rays but offers a small amount of UVA protection as well.
Commonly found in sunscreens, Ethylhexyl Salicylate is created from salicylic acid and 2-ethylhexanol. You might know salicylic acid as the effective acne fighter ingredient and BHA.
The ethylhexanol in this ingredient is a fatty alcohol and helps hydrate your skin, similar to oils. It is an emollient, which means it traps moisture into the skin.
According to manufacturers, Ethylhexyl Salicylate absorbs UV wavelength of 295-315 nm, with a peak absorption at 307-310 nm. UVA rays are linked to long term skin damage, such as hyperpigmentation. UVB rays emit more energy and are capable of damaging our DNA. UVB rays cause sunburn.
Learn more about Ethylhexyl SalicylateHomosalate is a chemical sunscreen filter that provides protection in the UV-B range (280nm - 320 nm), with a peak protection at 306 nm. It is internationally approved for use in sunscreens.
Homosalate is not photo-stable, meaning it's strength as a UV filter degrades over time with exposure to the sun. Because of this, it's often used in combination with other chemical sunscreen filters as avobenzone (which protects from the UV-A range). Homosalate also helps act as a solvent for harder-to-dissolve UV filters.
(Part of the reason that sunscreens need to be frequently re-applied is due to the photo instability of many chemical sunscreen filters)
Currently, homosalate is approved in concentrations up to 10% in the EU and 15% in the US. The FDA is currently doing further research on the effects of homosalate, and it is possible that these approved concentrations will change in the future.
Learn more about HomosalateOctocrylene 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 OctocryleneWater. 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. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water
