What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Salicylate
UV Absorber
Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol
UV Filter
Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin Conditioning
Diethylhexyl Butamido Triazone
UV Absorber
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialDibutyl Adipate
EmollientPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Sorbitol
Humectant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingCetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Triethanolamine
BufferingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Lecithin
Emollient
Acrylic Acid/Vp Crosspolymer
SurfactantPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder
Skin Conditioning
Water, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Diethylhexyl Butamido Triazone, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Dibutyl Adipate, Pentylene Glycol, Alcohol, Sorbitol, Dimethicone, Cetyl Phosphate, Cetyl Alcohol, Triethanolamine, Tocopherol, Decyl Glucoside, Lecithin, Acrylic Acid/Vp Crosspolymer, Propylene Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder
Water
Skin ConditioningHomosalate
Skin Conditioning
Octocrylene
UV Absorber
Cera Alba
Emollient
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexyl Salicylate
UV Absorber
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Isopropyl Palmitate
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Cyclohexasiloxane
Emollient
Ceteareth-20
CleansingHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingTriethanolamine
BufferingTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Sodium Carrageenan
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Chloride
MaskingWater, Homosalate, Octocrylene, Cera Alba, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Isopropyl Palmitate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cyclopentasiloxane, Cyclohexasiloxane, Ceteareth-20, Hydroxyacetophenone, Benzyl Alcohol, Carbomer, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Triethanolamine, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Carrageenan, Sodium Chloride
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 an oil-soluble used to absorb the full spectrum of UVA rays (peak 357 nm).
It's one of the most effective UVA filters available but has a major caveat of photostability: avobenzone is susceptible to photodegradation.
This means it can lose efficacy when exposed to sunlight without the help of a stabilizing agent.
Studies show antioxidants (like vitamin E or vitamin C) and some UV filters (like octocrylene and Tinosorb S) can meaningfully improve its stability in a formulation.
The maximum allowable concentration according to regulation is 3% in the US + Canada, and 5% in the EU, Australia, China, Korea, and ASEAN countries.
It has a well-support safety profile: a comprehensive 2025 review found minimal toxicity with no evidence of carcinogenicity.
Overall, avobenzone is a safe and regulated ingredient used in sunscreen for over 40 years.
Learn more about Butyl MethoxydibenzoylmethaneEthylhexyl Salicylate (also called Octisalate or Octyl Salicylate) is an oil-soluble organic UV filter that's been used in sunscreen since the 1950's.
It absorbs UVB light in the 280-320 nm range with a peak absorbance around 306 nm.
You'll often see it paired with other UV filters to boost overall SPF because octisalate is a fairly week filter on its own.
The reason you'll see it so often is because it can help solubilize and stabilize the trickier filters like oxybenzone and avobenzone.
Unlike these filters, octisalate has pretty good photostability and doesn't create skin-damaging free radicals when exposed to sunlight.
The fatty-alcohol part of the molecule also gives it a light, emollient feel so it doubles as a nice texture enhancer.
Usage levels vary around the world:
Safety-wise, this ingredient has a pretty reassuring track record. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Products (SCCP) found very low skin penetration in human skin tests and negative results for irritation, phototoxicity, and photoallergy.
The real-world allergy risk is pretty low too; a 2012 European study of 1,031 people recorded only 2 reactions to it (a rate of 0.19%).
You might have seen scary headlines about sunscreen getting into your blood.
In 2019, the FDA found that several chemical filters can absorb through the skin and show up in the bloodstream at small but measurable levels.
Here's the important part: these tiny levels are just a cutoff the FDA uses to decide which ingredients need more testing and doesn't mean anything harmful was found.
The researchers were clear that the results are no reason to stop wearing sunscreen.
Learn more about Ethylhexyl SalicylateTriethanolamine (TEA) is an emulsifier and pH adjuster. It is created using ethylene oxide and ammonia. This gives Triethanolamine a nitrogen core and a similar scent to ammonia.
As an emulsifier, it prevents ingredients from separating and enhances texture by adding volume to a product.
PH adjusters are common in cosmetic products. The pH of a product can affect the effectiveness of other ingredients. A product with a high pH may also irritate the skin.
If you are looking for the tea leaf ingredient, click here.
Learn more about TriethanolamineWater. 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
