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
Octocrylene 10%
UV Absorber
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialOctyldodecanol
Emollient
Dibutyl Adipate
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Diethylhexyl Carbonate
EmollientDiisopropyl Sebacate
EmollientPolyester-8
Skin Conditioning
Lauryl Lactate
EmollientPolyamide-3
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Chondrus Crispus Extract
Skin Conditioning
Alaria Esculenta Extract
Skin ProtectingTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Hordeum Vulgare Extract
EmollientSalicornia Herbacea Extract
Skin ConditioningSqualane
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Raphanus Sativus Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Amyris Balsamifera Bark Oil
Masking
Citrus Aurantium Amara Flower Oil
Masking
Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
Masking
Coffea Arabica Seed Oil
Masking
Cupressus Sempervirens Leaf/Nut/Stem Oil
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Myroxylon Pereirae Oil
Masking
Rosa Damascena Flower Oil
Masking
Santalum Album Oil
Masking
Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Diethylhexyl Syringylidenemalonate
Skin ProtectingPentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%, Homosalate 10%, Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%, Octocrylene 10%, Alcohol, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Octyldodecanol, Dibutyl Adipate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Diethylhexyl Carbonate, Diisopropyl Sebacate, Polyester-8, Lauryl Lactate, Polyamide-3, Persea Gratissima Oil, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Alaria Esculenta Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Extract, Hordeum Vulgare Extract, Salicornia Herbacea Extract, Squalane, Glycerin, Raphanus Sativus Seed Extract, Glycine Soja Oil, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Amyris Balsamifera Bark Oil, Citrus Aurantium Amara Flower Oil, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Coffea Arabica Seed Oil, Cupressus Sempervirens Leaf/Nut/Stem Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Myroxylon Pereirae Oil, Rosa Damascena Flower Oil, Santalum Album Oil, Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract, Diethylhexyl Syringylidenemalonate, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Citric Acid
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%
UV Absorber
Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%
UV Absorber
Octocrylene 10%
UV Absorber
Water
Skin ConditioningC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialButyloctyl Salicylate
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Potassium Aluminum Silicate
Diisopropyl Sebacate
EmollientDiisopropyl Adipate
EmollientLauryl Lactate
EmollientMica
Cosmetic ColorantPropanediol
Solvent
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Vp/Eicosene Copolymer
Chondrus Crispus Extract
Skin Conditioning
Limonium Gerberi Extract
Skin ProtectingFerulic Acid
Antimicrobial
Citrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Lens Esculenta Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Stearate Citrate
Emollient
Silica
Abrasive
Ethylene Brassylate
MaskingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingAminomethyl Propanol
BufferingSodium Lactate
Buffering
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Disodium EDTA
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Synthetic Fluorphlogopite
Tin Oxide
Abrasive
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%, Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%, Octocrylene 10%, Water, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Sodium Potassium Aluminum Silicate, Diisopropyl Sebacate, Diisopropyl Adipate, Lauryl Lactate, Mica, Propanediol, Glyceryl Stearate, Vp/Eicosene Copolymer, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Limonium Gerberi Extract, Ferulic Acid, Citrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Lens Esculenta Fruit Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetyl Phosphate, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Silica, Ethylene Brassylate, Caprylyl Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Aminomethyl Propanol, Sodium Lactate, Sodium PCA, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Disodium EDTA, Chlorphenesin, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Tin Oxide, CI 77891, CI 77491
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 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 MethoxydibenzoylmethaneC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate is made up of Benzoic Acid and long chain alcohols. It has a low molecular weight.
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate is an emollient and texture enhancer. Due to its solubility, it is often used in sunscreens to help evenly distribute active ingredients.
As an emollient, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate helps soften and hydrate your skin. Emollients create a film on your skin that traps moisture within.
This ingredient has been reported to cause eye irritation.
Learn more about C12-15 Alkyl BenzoateThis ingredient is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping the skin prevent moisture loss.
It helps thicken a product's formula and makes it easier to spread by dissolving clumping compounds.
Caprylic Triglyceride is made by combining glycerin with coconut oil, forming a clear liquid. Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. 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. Be sure to 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.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideChondrus Crispus Extract comes from a red algae native to the northern Atlantic coasts of Europe and North America. It helps hydrate the skin and is rich in antioxidants.
The antioxidants in chondrus crispus include lutein and zeaxanthin. Lutein has the ability to filter blue light from screens.
Other contents of chondrus crispus include polysaccharides, peptides, and amino acids. These help hydrate the skin.
What's the difference between algae and seaweed?
Algae is a broad term that includes seaweed. Not all algae is seaweed.
We don't have a description for Diisopropyl Sebacate yet.
Ethylhexyl 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 SalicylateGlycerin (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 GlycerinHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil is a plant oil derived from the seeds of a sunflower.
It is rich in fatty acids, primarily linoleic acid and oleic acid. This gives it emollient and skin conditioning properties.
The reason this ingredient is so effective is because it forms a thin film on the skin that reduces transepidermal water loss (TEWL) while supplying linoleic acid to the stratum corneum to improve barrier strength.
The high linoleic acid content is particularly noteworthy for acne-prone skin.
Research suggests that acne-prone skin tends to be deficient in linoleic acid in sebum. Topical application may help replenish this to support a healthier follicular environment and less comedone-promoting sebum.
One randomized study found sunflower seed oil preserved skin barrier integrity in adult volunteers with and without atopic dermatitis (outperforming olive oil).
This ingredient is well-studied, gentle, and an effective emollient suitable for most skin types.
On fungal acne: This ingredient may not be Fungal acne (Malassezia folliculitis) safe. This is because it contains fatty acids with carbon chain lengths in the C11-C24 range.
Learn more about Helianthus Annuus Seed OilLauryl Lactate, AKA koplactate, is an ester of lauryl alcohol and lactic acid. It is considered a mild AHA derivative.
This ingredient has emollient, skin conditioning, and very gentle exfoliating properties. According to a manufacturer, it can act as a penetration enhancer for active ingredients.
Octocrylene 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 Octocrylene
