What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%
UV Absorber
Octocrylene 10%
UV Absorber
Water
Skin ConditioningDiisopropyl Adipate
EmollientCyclomethicone
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Polymethyl Methacrylate
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingDisodium EDTA
Triethanolamine
BufferingButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%, Octocrylene 10%, Water, Diisopropyl Adipate, Cyclomethicone, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Phenoxyethanol, Benzyl Alcohol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Tocopheryl Acetate, Carbomer, Disodium EDTA, Triethanolamine
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 2.5%
UV Absorber
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate 7.5%
UV Absorber
Ethylhexyl Salicylate 1.5%
UV Absorber
Benzophenone-3 3.5%
UV Absorber
Water
Skin ConditioningEmulsifying Wax Nf
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingDimethicone
Emollient
Behentrimonium Methosulfate
Surfactant
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Myristoyl Pentapeptide-17
Skin Conditioning
Myristoyl Tetrapeptide-13
Skin Conditioning
Ascorbyl Linoleate
Antioxidant
Retinyl Linoleate
Skin Conditioning
Lysophosphatidic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Arginine
Masking
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Carboxymethyl Beta-Glucan
CleansingEthyl Macadamiate
Skin Conditioning
Borago Officinalis Seed Oil
Emollient
Triticum Vulgare Germ Oil
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Retinyl Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Citrus Paradisi Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Rosa Canina Fruit Extract
Astringent
Hamamelis Virginiana Extract
Antiseborrhoeic
Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate
Emulsifying
Polyglyceryl-5 Oleate
Emulsifying
PPG-2 Myristyl Ether Propionate
Emollient
Pentaerythrityl Tetracaprylate/Tetracaprate
EmollientDisodium EDTA
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 2.5%, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate 7.5%, Ethylhexyl Salicylate 1.5%, Benzophenone-3 3.5%, Water, Emulsifying Wax Nf, Cetyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Cetyl Phosphate, Dimethicone, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Myristoyl Pentapeptide-17, Myristoyl Tetrapeptide-13, Ascorbyl Linoleate, Retinyl Linoleate, Lysophosphatidic Acid, Panthenol, Allantoin, Arginine, Beta-Glucan, Sodium Carboxymethyl Beta-Glucan, Ethyl Macadamiate, Borago Officinalis Seed Oil, Triticum Vulgare Germ Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Retinyl Palmitate, Citrus Paradisi Fruit Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Rosa Canina Fruit Extract, Hamamelis Virginiana Extract, Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate, Polyglyceryl-5 Oleate, PPG-2 Myristyl Ether Propionate, Pentaerythrityl Tetracaprylate/Tetracaprate, Disodium EDTA, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenoxyethanol
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 MethoxydibenzoylmethaneDisodium 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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol 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.
Tocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateWater. 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
