This chemical sunscreen covers the full UV range and blocks ~98% of UVB at SPF 50.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-4 Diisostearate/Polyhydroxystearate/Sebacate
Emulsifying
Glycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Diphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientDisteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingPhenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Behenate/Eicosadioate
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-3 Oleate
Emulsifying
Acrylates/Dimethicone Copolymer
Skin Conditioning
Sorbitan Sesquioleate
Emulsifying
Magnesium Sulfate
Silica
Abrasive
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
Diisostearoyl Polyglyceryl-3 Dimer Dilinoleate
Emollient
Triethoxycaprylylsilane
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Aluminum Hydroxide
EmollientSilica Silylate
Emollient
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningBetaine
Humectant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Tranexamic Acid
Astringent
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Leontopodium Alpinum Callus Culture Extract
Antioxidant
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Ceramide Ns
Skin Conditioning
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Cholesterol
Emollient
Ceramide As
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Copper Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Skin Conditioning
Oligopeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Dipeptide-2
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Stearalkonium Hectorite
Gel FormingPropylene Carbonate
SolventTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
CI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Polyglyceryl-4 Diisostearate/Polyhydroxystearate/Sebacate, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Diphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Phenyl Trimethicone, Glyceryl Behenate/Eicosadioate, Polyglyceryl-3 Oleate, Acrylates/Dimethicone Copolymer, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Magnesium Sulfate, Silica, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Diisostearoyl Polyglyceryl-3 Dimer Dilinoleate, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Caprylyl Glycol, Aluminum Hydroxide, Silica Silylate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Betaine, Tocopheryl Acetate, Tranexamic Acid, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Adenosine, Cetearyl Alcohol, Stearic Acid, 1,2-Hexanediol, Tocopherol, Leontopodium Alpinum Callus Culture Extract, Ceramide NP, Glycine Soja Oil, Ceramide Ns, Phytosphingosine, Cholesterol, Ceramide As, Ceramide AP, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Copper Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Oligopeptide-1, Dipeptide-2, Ceramide EOP, Tripeptide-1, Stearalkonium Hectorite, Propylene Carbonate, Titanium Dioxide, CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499
Water
Skin ConditioningAlcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
UV Absorber
Ethylhexyl Triazone
UV Absorber
Dibutyl Adipate
EmollientDipropylene Glycol Dibenzoate
EmollientButylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate
EmollientPhenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid
UV Absorber
Glycerin
Humectant
Polyglyceryl-6 Stearate
Emollient
Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV Filter
Silica
Abrasive
Silica Dimethyl Silylate
EmollientTapioca Starch
Glycyrrhiza Inflata Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Glycyrrhetinic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Arginine Hcl
Skin ConditioningSodium PCA
Humectant
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Copernicia Cerifera Cera
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-6 Behenate
Emulsion Stabilising
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCarrageenan
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Alumina
Abrasive
Parfum
Masking
CI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Alcohol Denat., CI 77891, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Dibutyl Adipate, Dipropylene Glycol Dibenzoate, Butylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid, Glycerin, Polyglyceryl-6 Stearate, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Silica, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Tapioca Starch, Glycyrrhiza Inflata Root Extract, Glycyrrhetinic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Arginine Hcl, Sodium PCA, Sodium Lactate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Copernicia Cerifera Cera, Polyglyceryl-6 Behenate, Xanthan Gum, Carrageenan, Sodium Hydroxide, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Alumina, Parfum, CI 77492, CI 77491, CI 77499
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Cetearyl alcohol is a waxy mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is an emollient and emulsifier.
Despite having "alcohol" in its name, it has nothing to do with drying solvent alcohols; the FDA also allows "alcohol-free" products to contain fatty alcohols like this ingredient.
It plays several roles in a formula:
Typical use levels for this ingredient sit around 1-10% and the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has affirmed safety at concentrations up to 25% in leave-on products.
Multiple assessments have found it to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing to most people.
However, there have been some cases of allergic contact dermatitis in patients with chronically compromised skin barriers.
Cetearyl alcohol has a comedogenic rating of 2 and irritancy rating of 1. Both of these numbers come from the 1989 study that used rabbit ears; a "2" means mildly comedogenic and a "1" means low irritancy.
Here's the catch: rabbit skin is more sensitive than human skin and throws a lot of false positives. A 1996 reappraisal found that ingredients rated 1-2 in the rabbit ear tests are generally safe for humans.
Remember comedogenic ratings are unable to assess the entire formula of a product or how it will react on your skin. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure about certain ingredients.
This ingredient is not fungal acne safe. Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol with chain lengths that fall within the range that Malassezia can metabolize.
A 2019 study has also observed Malassezia growth in the presence of this ingredient, confirming it to be not-fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholCi 77491 is also hydrated iron III oxide. It's sole purpose is to give a red/pink hue to products.
Iron III oxides are classified as inorganic chemicals for coloring.
Synthetically created Ci 77491 is considered safer than those naturally found. This is because the synthetically created version may contain less impurities. Iron oxides are generally non-toxic and non-allergenic.
Learn more about CI 77491CI 77492 is also hydrated iron III oxide. It's sole purpose is to give a yellow hue to products.
Iron III oxides are classified as inorganic chemicals for coloring.
Synthetically created CI 77492 is considered safer than those naturally found. This is because the synthetically created version may contain less impurities. Iron oxides are generally non-toxic and non-allergenic.
Learn more about CI 77492Ci 77499 is also hydrated iron III oxide. It is created from mixing red and black iron oxides. This helps give shades of darkness to a product.
Iron III oxides are classified as inorganic chemicals for coloring.
Ethylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 GlycerinSilica, also known as silicon dioxide, is a naturally occurring mineral. It is used as a fine, spherical, and porous powder in cosmetics.
Though it has exfoliant properties, the function of silica varies depending on the product.
The unique structure of silica enhances the spreadability and adds smoothness, making it a great texture enhancer.
It is also used as an active carrier, emulsifier, and mattifier due to its ability to absorb excess oil.
In some products, tiny microneedles called spicules are made from silica or hydrolyzed sponge. When you rub them in, they lightly polish away dead skin layers and enhance the penetration of active ingredients.
Learn more about SilicaWater. 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
