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
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientC18-38 Alkyl Hydroxystearoyl Stearate
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Oil
Emollient
Butyloctyl Salicylate
Skin Conditioning
Vp/Hexadecene Copolymer
Ozokerite
Emulsion StabilisingCetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Vanillin
Masking
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Phytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate
Skin ConditioningErythritol
Humectant
Water
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Chondrus Crispus Extract
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Methyl Dihydroabietate
Trihydroxystearin
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 15850
Cosmetic ColorantButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%, Homosalate 10%, Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, C18-38 Alkyl Hydroxystearoyl Stearate, Butyrospermum Parkii Oil, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Vp/Hexadecene Copolymer, Ozokerite, Cetyl Alcohol, Vanillin, Glyceryl Stearate, Phytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate, Erythritol, Water, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Tocopherol, Methyl Dihydroabietate, Trihydroxystearin, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, CI 77891, CI 77491, CI 15850
Homosalate 10%
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%
UV Absorber
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 5%
UV Absorber
Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine 3%
Skin Conditioning
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Butyloctyl Salicylate
Skin Conditioning
Camphor
Masking
Canola Oil
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Citric Acid
Buffering
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Aroma
Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Hydrogenated Coconut Oil
Emollient
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientJojoba Esters
Emollient
Lanolin Oil
Emollient
Menthol
Masking
Microcrystalline Wax
Emulsion StabilisingOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water
Skin ConditioningSaccharin
MaskingTheobroma Cacao Seed Butter
Emollient
Thymol
AntimicrobialVanillin
Masking
Paraffin
Perfuming
Lanolin
Emollient
Beeswax
Emulsion Stabilising
Homosalate 10%, Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 5%, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine 3%, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Camphor, Canola Oil, Cetyl Alcohol, Citric Acid, Tocopheryl Acetate, Aroma, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Hydrogenated Coconut Oil, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Jojoba Esters, Lanolin Oil, Menthol, Microcrystalline Wax, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Water, Saccharin, Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter, Thymol, Vanillin, Paraffin, Lanolin, Beeswax
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice comes from leaves of the aloe plant. Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice is best known for helping to soothe sunburns. It is also anti-inflammatory, moisturizing, antiseptic, and can help heal wounds.
Aloe is packed with good stuff including Vitamins A, C, and E. These vitamins are antioxidants, which help fight free-radicals and the damage they may cause. Free-radicals are molecules that may damage your skin cells, such as pollution.
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice also contains sugars. These sugars come in the form of monosaccharides and polysaccharides, folic acid, and choline. These sugars are able to help bind moisture to skin.
It also contains minerals such as calcium, 12 anthraquinones, fatty acids, amino acids, and Vitamin B12.
Learn more about Aloe Barbadensis Leaf JuiceAlso 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 MethoxydibenzoylmethaneButyloctyl Salicylate is a chemical UV filter structurally similar to octisalate. It is a photostabilizer, SPF booster, emollient and solvent. This ingredient helps evenly spread out ingredients.
According to a manufacturer, it is suitable for pairing with micro Titanium Dioxide, Zinc Oxide, and pigments.
Photostabilizers help stabilize UV-filters and prevents them from degrading quickly.
Learn more about Butyloctyl SalicylateCetyl Alcohol is a fatty alcohol. Fatty Alcohols are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product.
Its main roles are:
Though it has "alcohol" in the name, it is not related to denatured alcohol or ethyl alcohol.
The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
Learn more about Cetyl AlcoholCitric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidEthylhexyl 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 SalicylateHomosalate is a chemical sunscreen filter that provides protection in the UV-B range (280nm - 320 nm), with a peak protection at 306 nm. It is internationally approved for use in sunscreens.
Homosalate is not photo-stable, meaning it's strength as a UV filter degrades over time with exposure to the sun. Because of this, it's often used in combination with other chemical sunscreen filters as avobenzone (which protects from the UV-A range). Homosalate also helps act as a solvent for harder-to-dissolve UV filters.
(Part of the reason that sunscreens need to be frequently re-applied is due to the photo instability of many chemical sunscreen filters)
Currently, homosalate is approved in concentrations up to 10% in the EU and 15% in the US. The FDA is currently doing further research on the effects of homosalate, and it is possible that these approved concentrations will change in the future.
Learn more about HomosalateHydrogenated Polyisobutene is a synthetic polymer. Polymers are compounds with high molecular weight. Hydrogenated Polyisobutene is an emollient and texture enhancer.
In one study, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene showed better skin hydration levels than Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride. As an emollient, it helps keep your skin soft and hydrated by trapping moisture in.
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene is often used as a mineral oil replacement.
Learn more about Hydrogenated PolyisobuteneVanillin is the main compound of the vanilla bean. It is naturally occuring but can also be artificially created.
This ingredient exhibits antioxidant properties but is also a known skin-irritant.
Vanillism is the term of contact-dermatitis associated with the vanilla plant. The sap of the vanilla plant triggers skin irritation, swelling, and redness.
Learn more about VanillinWater. 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
