Black Girl Sunscreen Make It Pop Sungloss SPF 50 Versus bondi sands Juicy Watermelon Lip Balm with SPF 50+
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Octocrylene 9%
UV Absorber
Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%
UV Absorber
Homosalate 4.5%
Skin Conditioning
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%
UV Absorber
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Butylene/Ethylene/Styrene Copolymer
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialEthylene/Propylene/Styrene Copolymer
Ethylhexyl Olivate
Skin Conditioning
Aroma
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientGlyceryl Undecylenate
Emollient
Isohexadecane
EmollientPersea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Polyamide-3
Polybutene
Silica Cetyl Silylate
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Stevia Rebaudiana Leaf Extract
EmollientTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingOctocrylene 9%, Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%, Homosalate 4.5%, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%, Benzyl Alcohol, Butylene/Ethylene/Styrene Copolymer, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Ethylene/Propylene/Styrene Copolymer, Ethylhexyl Olivate, Aroma, Glyceryl Caprylate, Glyceryl Undecylenate, Isohexadecane, Persea Gratissima Oil, Polyamide-3, Polybutene, Silica Cetyl Silylate, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Stevia Rebaudiana Leaf Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Tripeptide-1, Xanthan Gum
Ricinus Communis Seed Oil
Masking
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Synthetic Beeswax
Emulsion Stabilising
Microcrystalline Wax
Emulsion StabilisingHydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientCocoglycerides
Emollient
Cetyl Palmitate
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Octocrylene
UV Absorber
Ethylhexyl Triazone
UV Absorber
Aroma
Triacontanyl Pvp
HumectantPEG-30 Dipolyhydroxystearate
Emulsifying
Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin Conditioning
BHA
Antioxidant
Saccharin
MaskingTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Octyldodecanol, Synthetic Beeswax, Microcrystalline Wax, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Cocoglycerides, Cetyl Palmitate, Butylene Glycol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Octocrylene, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Aroma, Triacontanyl Pvp, PEG-30 Dipolyhydroxystearate, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, BHA, Saccharin, Tocopheryl Acetate
Reviews
Alternatives
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Aroma refers to an ingredient, or mixture of ingredients, that impart or mask a flavor.
The name is slightly confusing. This is because INCI associates aroma with flavor instead of smell.
Here is the official definition from the The International Cosmetic Ingredient Dictionary and Handbook:
“Aroma is a term for ingredient labeling used to identify that a product contains a material or combination of materials normally added to a cosmetic to produce or to mask a particular flavor.”
INCI shows the only purpose of aroma to be "flavouring".
However, due to regulation differences, some companies may use aroma in place of parfum.
In Canada, this ingredient only has to be listed in concentrations above 1%.
Learn more about AromaAlso 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 MethoxydibenzoylmethaneOctocrylene is an oil-soluble organic UV filter that mainly absorbs UVB and short wave UVA II light.
Its real superpower is teamwork: octocrylene is remarkably photostable and is most famous for stabilizing avobenzone (the workhorse UVA filter).
This ingredient is commonly used to enhance both UVB and UVA protection due to its unique property in stabilizing avobenzone. It also pulls double duty by boosting water resistance and giving formulas a smooth, spreadable feel.
The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) has deemed octocrylene to be safe as a UV-filter at concentrations up to 10% (capped at 9% in propellant sprays). The US also permits it up to 10%.
Two things worth knowing:
You'll usually see this ingredient used in concentrations between 2-10% (higher amounts when used as a stabilizer for avobenzone).
Learn more about OctocryleneJojoba oil is one of the most well-studied plant-derived ingredients in cosmetics. It is an emollient with a special structure.
Because it is made up of 97-98% wax esters, it closely mirrors the linear monoesters found in human sebum. This makes it skin compatible, non-greasy, and lightweight.
Unlike other plant oils, jojoba wax doesn't easily penetrate skin. It mostly works in the uppermost layers as an emollient. This just means it forms a light barrier on the skin to help retain moisture.
Formulations with jojoba esters up to 90% reduced transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and increased barrier recovery by 81% (outperforming bisabolol at 47%).
Besides barrier support, the science also suggests jojoba to have anti-inflammatory effects and potential applications for skin infections, aging, and wound healing.
Fun fact: Indigenous cultures have used jojoba as a moisturizer and to help treat burns for centuries.
Fungal acne: The Malassezia yeast is known to metabolize fatty acids in the C11-24 range and jojoba's dominant fatty acid components fall into this range. This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Simmondsia Chinensis Seed OilTocopheryl 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
