What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningHomosalate
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Octocrylene
UV Absorber
Ethylhexyl Salicylate
UV Absorber
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate
Absorbent
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Dimethicone
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Behentrimonium Methosulfate
Surfactant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingMyristic Acid
Cleansing
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Cholesterol
Emollient
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCeramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Water, Homosalate, Glycerin, Octocrylene, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Niacinamide, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Dimethicone, Cetearyl Alcohol, PEG-100 Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Phenoxyethanol, Stearic Acid, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Caprylyl Glycol, Palmitic Acid, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Xanthan Gum, Disodium EDTA, Tocopherol, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Myristic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Phytosphingosine, Cholesterol, Carbomer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Ceramide EOP
Water
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Octocrylene
UV Absorber
Diisopropyl Sebacate
EmollientEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV Absorber
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Diethylhexyl Succinate
EmollientSd Alcohol 40-B
Astringent
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Benzophenone-3
UV Absorber
Trehalose
Humectant
PEG/PPG-14/7 Dimethyl Ether
Skin ConditioningBeheneth-20
EmulsifyingPPG-17
Skin ConditioningDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Triethanolamine
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Theanine
EmollientDisodium EDTA
Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose Stearoxy Ether
Methylparaben
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
PEG/PPG-17/4 Dimethyl Ether
Skin ConditioningPhytosteryl Macadamiate
Skin Conditioning
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantSodium Citrate
BufferingAlcohol
Antimicrobial
Sodium Metaphosphate
BufferingPolyquaternium-51
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
BHT
Antioxidant
Linalool
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Benzyl Benzoate
Antimicrobial
Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
CI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantAngelica Acutiloba Root Extract
Skin ConditioningPaeonia Albiflora Root Extract
Skin ConditioningCrataegus Monogyna Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningPanax Ginseng Root Extract
Emollient
Hydrolyzed Silk
Humectant
Glycine
Buffering
Ononis Spinosa Root Extract
AntiseborrhoeicRosa Canina Fruit Extract
Astringent
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Hibiscus Esculentus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningZanthoxylum Piperitum Peel Extract
AntimicrobialFagus Sylvatica Bud Extract
TonicSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Perilla Ocymoides Leaf Extract
TonicBenzoic Acid
Masking
Rosa Roxburghii Fruit Extract
TonicIsodonis Japonicus Leaf/Stalk Extract
MaskingHydrolyzed Conchiolin Protein
Skin ConditioningBupleurum Falcatum Root Extract
Skin ConditioningWater, Cyclopentasiloxane, Glycerin, Octocrylene, Diisopropyl Sebacate, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Butylene Glycol, Diethylhexyl Succinate, Sd Alcohol 40-B, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Benzophenone-3, Trehalose, PEG/PPG-14/7 Dimethyl Ether, Beheneth-20, PPG-17, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Behenyl Alcohol, Carbomer, Polysorbate 20, Triethanolamine, Phenoxyethanol, Stearyl Alcohol, Theanine, Disodium EDTA, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose Stearoxy Ether, Methylparaben, Parfum, Mica, Tocopheryl Acetate, PEG/PPG-17/4 Dimethyl Ether, Phytosteryl Macadamiate, CI 77891, Sodium Citrate, Alcohol, Sodium Metaphosphate, Polyquaternium-51, Citric Acid, Hexyl Cinnamal, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Citronellol, Limonene, BHT, Linalool, Geraniol, Benzyl Benzoate, Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract, CI 77491, Angelica Acutiloba Root Extract, Paeonia Albiflora Root Extract, Crataegus Monogyna Flower Extract, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Hydrolyzed Silk, Glycine, Ononis Spinosa Root Extract, Rosa Canina Fruit Extract, Tocopherol, Hibiscus Esculentus Fruit Extract, Zanthoxylum Piperitum Peel Extract, Fagus Sylvatica Bud Extract, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Perilla Ocymoides Leaf Extract, Benzoic Acid, Rosa Roxburghii Fruit Extract, Isodonis Japonicus Leaf/Stalk Extract, Hydrolyzed Conchiolin Protein, Bupleurum Falcatum Root Extract
Reviews
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 MethoxydibenzoylmethaneCarbomer is a high-molecular weight polymer of acrylic acid. It is used to form gels and thicken formulas.
Due to its large molecular size, carbomer has minimal skin penetration and is considered an inert ingredient.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Learn more about CarbomerDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAGlycerin (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 GlycerinOctocrylene 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 OctocrylenePhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Tocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
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.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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
