What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialEthylhexyl Triazone
UV AbsorberDiethylhexyl Adipate
EmollientButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV AbsorberBis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantDiethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV FilterSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialCocos Nucifera Fruit Extract
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Lauryl/Myristyl Polyricinoleate
EmollientParfum
MaskingCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Benzoate
MaskingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeWater, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Diethylhexyl Adipate, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Glycerin, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Niacinamide, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Cocos Nucifera Fruit Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Lauryl/Myristyl Polyricinoleate, Parfum, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate
Water
Skin ConditioningButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV AbsorberOctocrylene
UV AbsorberTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic ColorantEthylhexyl Salicylate
UV AbsorberZinc Oxide
Cosmetic ColorantGlycine Soja Phytoplacenta Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantPhospholipids
Skin ConditioningGlycereth-26
HumectantAluminum Hydroxide
EmollientHydroxyethyl Urea
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingRoyal Jelly
Butylene Glycol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningLecithin
EmollientHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantChamaecyparis Obtusa Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningPotassium Olivoyl PCA
CleansingCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningTromethamine
BufferingGalactoarabinan
Caprylyl Glycol
EmollientHydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin
MaskingMelatonin
AntioxidantAdenosine
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Octocrylene, Titanium Dioxide, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Zinc Oxide, Glycine Soja Phytoplacenta Extract, Glycerin, Phospholipids, Glycereth-26, Aluminum Hydroxide, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Niacinamide, Royal Jelly, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Lecithin, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Chamaecyparis Obtusa Leaf Extract, Potassium Olivoyl PCA, Ceramide NP, Tromethamine, Galactoarabinan, Caprylyl Glycol, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Melatonin, Adenosine, Sodium Hyaluronate, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin
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 an oil-soluble used to absorb the full spectrum of UVA rays (peak 357 nm).
It's one of the most effective UVA filters available but has a major caveat of photostability: avobenzone is susceptible to photodegradation.
This means it can lose efficacy when exposed to sunlight without the help of a stabilizing agent.
Studies show antioxidants (like vitamin E or vitamin C) and some UV filters (like octocrylene and Tinosorb S) can meaningfully improve its stability in a formulation.
The maximum allowable concentration according to regulation is 3% in the US + Canada, and 5% in the EU, Australia, China, Korea, and ASEAN countries.
It has a well-support safety profile: a comprehensive 2025 review found minimal toxicity with no evidence of carcinogenicity.
Overall, avobenzone is a safe and regulated ingredient used in sunscreen for over 40 years.
Learn more about Butyl MethoxydibenzoylmethaneGlycerin (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 GlycerinNiacinamide is a multitasking form of vitamin B3 that strengthens the skin barrier, reduces pores and dark spots, regulates oil, and improves signs of aging.
And the best part? It's gentle and well-tolerated by most skin types, including sensitive and reactive skin.
You might have heard of "niacin flush", or the reddening of skin that causes itchiness. Niacinamide has not been found to cause this.
In very rare cases, some individuals may not be able to tolerate niacinamide at all or experience an allergic reaction to it.
If you are experiencing flaking, irritation, and dryness with this ingredient, be sure to double check all your products as this ingredient can be found in all categories of skincare.
When incorporating niacinamide into your routine, look out for concentration amounts. Typically, 5% niacinamide provides benefits such as fading dark spots. However, if you have sensitive skin, it is better to begin with a smaller concentration.
When you apply niacinamide to your skin, your body converts it into nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD). NAD is an essential coenzyme that is already found in your cells as "fuel" and powers countless biological processes.
In your skin, NAD helps repair cell damage, produce new healthy cells, support collagen production, strengthen the skin barrier, and fight environmental stressors (like UV and pollution).
Our natural NAD levels start to decline with age, leading to slower skin repair, visible aging, and a weaker skin barrier. By providing your skin niacinamide, you're recharging your skin's NAD levels. This leads to stronger, healthier, and younger looking skin.
Another name for vitamin B3 is nicotinamide. This vitamin is water-soluble and our bodies don't store it. We obtain Vitamin B3 from either food or skincare. Meat, fish, wheat, yeast, and leafy greens contain vitamin B3.
The type of niacinamide used in skincare is synthetically created.
Learn more about NiacinamidePhenoxyethanol 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.
Sodium 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