This chemical sunscreen covers most of the UV range, lighter on the deep UVA that drives aging.
This acne moisturizer is formulated around Niacinamide and Zinc PCA to clear breakouts and balance excess oil.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%
UV Absorber
Homosalate 10%
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%
UV Absorber
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Butyloctyl Salicylate
Skin Conditioning
Propanediol
Solvent
Dimethicone
Emollient
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
ChelatingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Cholesterol
Emollient
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Dextrin Palmitate
Emulsifying
Dibutyl Ethylhexanoyl Glutamide
Skin ConditioningStearic Acid
Cleansing
Oleic Acid
Emollient
Dibutyl Lauroyl Glutamide
Skin ConditioningDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Eugenia Caryophyllus Bud Extract
Perfuming
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Lecithin
Emollient
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Poly C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate
Emulsion StabilisingPullulan
Sclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingSolidago Virgaurea Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%, Homosalate 10%, Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%, Water, Glycerin, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Propanediol, Dimethicone, Beta-Glucan, Sodium Hyaluronate, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Ceramide NP, Cholesterol, Phytosphingosine, Caprylyl Glycol, Dextrin Palmitate, Dibutyl Ethylhexanoyl Glutamide, Stearic Acid, Oleic Acid, Dibutyl Lauroyl Glutamide, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Eugenia Caryophyllus Bud Extract, Hydroxyacetophenone, Lactic Acid, Lecithin, Octyldodecanol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Panthenol, Poly C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate, Pullulan, Sclerotium Gum, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Solidago Virgaurea Extract, Tocopherol, Xanthan Gum
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Isodecyl Neopentanoate
EmollientNiacinamide
Smoothing
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cyclohexasiloxane
Emollient
PPG-15 Stearyl Ether
EmollientPolyacrylamide
Sclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingZinc PCA
Humectant
Polymethyl Methacrylate
C13-14 Isoparaffin
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Parfum
Masking
Laureth-7
EmulsifyingLactic Acid
Buffering
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Madecassoside
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
BHT
Antioxidant
Biosaccharide Gum-2
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
ChelatingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingArginine
Masking
Citral
Perfuming
Water, Glycerin, Isodecyl Neopentanoate, Niacinamide, Cyclopentasiloxane, Cetyl Alcohol, Cyclohexasiloxane, PPG-15 Stearyl Ether, Polyacrylamide, Sclerotium Gum, Zinc PCA, Polymethyl Methacrylate, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Phenoxyethanol, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Sodium Benzoate, Parfum, Laureth-7, Lactic Acid, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Madecassoside, Sodium Hyaluronate, Potassium Sorbate, BHT, Biosaccharide Gum-2, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hydroxide, Arginine, Citral
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
This ingredient is a silicone elastomer that works as a texture enhancer, adds a silky slip, and also helps absorb excess oil.
Because it's a large macromolecule that's insoluble in water and chemically inert, it's not expected to penetrate or be absorbed into skin.
Human patch tests with a facial lotion containing 1% of this ingredient found no sensitization.
Learn more about Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone CrosspolymerGlycerin (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 GlycerinLactic Acid is another well-loved alpha hydroxy acid (AHA). It is gentler than glycolic acid but still highly effective.
Its main role is to exfoliate the surface of the skin by loosening the “glue” that holds dead skin cells together. Shedding those old cells leads to smoother, softer, and more even-toned skin.
Because lactic acid molecules are larger than glycolic acid, they don’t penetrate as deeply. This means they’re less likely to sting or irritate, making it a great choice for beginners or those with sensitive skin.
Like glycolic acid, it can:
Lactic acid also acts as a humectant (like hyaluronic acid). It can draw water into the skin to improve hydration and also plays a role in the skin's natural moisturizing factor (NMF) in the form of sodium lactate.
Studies show it can boost ceramide production to strengthen the skin barrier and even help balance the skin’s microbiome.
To get results, choose products with a pH between 3-4.
Lower strengths (5-12%) focus on surface exfoliation; higher strengths (12% and up) can reach deeper in the dermis (deeper, supportive layer) to improve skin texture and firmness over time.
Though it was originally derived from milk, most modern lactic acid used in skincare is vegan. It is made through non-dairy fermentation to create a bio-identical and stable form suitable for all formulations.
When lactic acid shows up near the end of an ingredient list, it usually means the brand added just a tiny amount to adjust the product’s pH.
Legend has it that Cleopatra used to bathe in sour milk to help reduce wrinkles.
Lactic acid is truly a gentle multitasker: it exfoliates, hydrates, strengthens, and brightens. It's a great ingredient for giving your skin a smooth, glowing, and healthy look without the harshness of stronger acids.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Lactic AcidSclerotium Gum is a natural sugar-based fiber made by fermenting a fungus called Sclerotium rolfsii. It's often used as the plant-friendly alternative for synthetic thickeners like carbomer.
In skincare, it works as a thickener, gel former, and stabilizer that keeps heavy ingredients suspended so a product does not separate.
It is non-ionic and forms a triple helix in solution. This is just a fancy way of saying it builds a smooth, cushiony, and non-sticky gel that feels silkier than many other gums.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it is very sturdy and holds up across a wide pH range (~2-11). It's also good at resisting heat and hydrolysis.
Since it holds water at the skin surface, it can provide some light hydration as well.
Typical use levels are around 0.25-2%; formulators usually use 0.2-0.5% to thicken lotions and up to 2% for a firmer gel base.
This ingredient has been found safe in cosmetics with no meaningful evidence of skin sensitization.
Learn more about Sclerotium GumSodium 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
