What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Octocrylene 8%
UV Absorber
Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol 6%
UV Filter
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 4.5%
UV Absorber
Water
Skin ConditioningDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientAlcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Hydroxypropyl Dimethicone Behenate
Skin Conditioning
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
C20-22 Alkyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingC20-22 Alcohols
Emulsion Stabilising
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingMethylparaben
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
Disodium EDTA
Propylparaben
Preservative
Ethylparaben
Preservative
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingMannitol
Humectant
Xylitol
Humectant
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Ectoin
Skin Conditioning
Fructooligosaccharides
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Rhamnose
HumectantLaminaria Ochroleuca Extract
Skin Conditioning
Octocrylene 8%, Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol 6%, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 4.5%, Water, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Alcohol Denat., Hydroxypropyl Dimethicone Behenate, Decyl Glucoside, C20-22 Alkyl Phosphate, C20-22 Alcohols, Tocopheryl Acetate, Phenoxyethanol, Xanthan Gum, Methylparaben, Parfum, Disodium EDTA, Propylparaben, Ethylparaben, Sodium Hydroxide, Mannitol, Xylitol, Propylene Glycol, Citric Acid, Ectoin, Fructooligosaccharides, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Rhamnose, Laminaria Ochroleuca Extract
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride (aka MCT Oil) is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping to prevent moisture loss.
Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. One perk of this ingredient is that it is very stable, resistant to oxidation, and unlikely to go rancid.
In practice, that translates to a long shelf life and a consistently elegant skin feel.
While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this. Just patch test if you have concerns.
Fractionated coconut oil and MCT Oil are both listed as Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride according to INCI. This is because INCI names are based on the ingredient’s final chemical composition and not its marketing name or source.
This ingredient is treated as the gold standard fungal acne safe oil. Even though it is coconut derived, the problematic lauric acid is stripped out.
This leaves just caprylic (C8) and capric (C10) acid. These chain lengths actually trend antifungal; a 2020 study found caprylic acid was enough to disrupt Malassezia furfur cell membrane, with a caprylic acid derivative damaging membrane structures at concentrations as low as 0.2%.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideDicaprylyl Carbonate comes from carbonic acid and caprylyl alcohol, a fatty alcohol. It is an emollient and gives skin a velvet feel. The sources of Dicaprylyl Carbonate may be synthetic or from animals.
As an emollient, Dicaprylyl Carbonate creates a film on the skin. This film traps moisture in, keeping your skin soft and hydrated.
Tocopheryl Acetate is a stable, shelf-friendly form of vitamin E.
Formulators love it because plain vitamin E oxidizes quickly once it hits air. This acetate version stays stable and resists going off, helping to extend a product's shelf life.
It's actually inactive on its own and works like a slow-release "storage" form; the enzymes in your skin called esterases gradually convert it into active vitamin E over time.
One in vivo study showed 5% of the acetate in the living layer of the epidermis converted to vitamin E after 5 days of application. This study also found the skin gained protection against UV damage even though the conversion was slow and small.
Once converted, vitamin E acts as a skin's main fat-soluble antioxidant that fights free radicals to protect skin from damage.
Topical vitamin E generally boosts the skin's photoprotection, and it reduced UV-damage in animal models.
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.
Overall, it has a pretty solid safety profile and has been found to be non-irritating and non-comedogenic. Allergic reactions may happen but stay rare due to how widely the ingredient gets used.
The concentration will vary depending on the formula; industry data shows 0.1% in baby lotions, 3% in lipsticks, and 5% in foot powders. You can also find this ingredient at 100% in a pure vitamin E oil.
Most leave-on skincare keeps it at the lower end, often between 0.5-1%.
Learn more about Tocopheryl Acetate
