What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialAlcohol
AntimicrobialOctyldodecanol
EmollientHomosalate
Skin ConditioningOctocrylene
UV AbsorberButyloctyl Salicylate
Skin ConditioningButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV AbsorberEthylhexyl Salicylate
UV AbsorberPolyester-7
Skin ConditioningNeopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate
EmollientTriisostearin
Skin ConditioningCalophyllum Inophyllum Seed Oil
AntimicrobialParfum
MaskingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantBenzyl Salicylate
PerfumingTocopherol
AntioxidantEthylene Brassylate
MaskingLimonene
PerfumingButylphenyl Methylpropional
PerfumingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientWater
Skin ConditioningHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingCitronellol
PerfumingCassia Alata Leaf Extract
AstringentPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePlatanus Occidentalis Bark Extract
Skin ProtectingCitric Acid
BufferingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Alcohol, Octyldodecanol, Homosalate, Octocrylene, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Polyester-7, Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate, Triisostearin, Calophyllum Inophyllum Seed Oil, Parfum, Tocopheryl Acetate, Benzyl Salicylate, Tocopherol, Ethylene Brassylate, Limonene, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Water, Hexyl Cinnamal, Citronellol, Cassia Alata Leaf Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Platanus Occidentalis Bark Extract, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate
Homosalate 4%
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Salicylate 4%
UV AbsorberButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 2%
UV AbsorberOctocrylene 2%
UV AbsorberIsododecane
EmollientDimethicone/Bis-Isobutyl PPG-20 Crosspolymer
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingCaprylyl Methicone
Skin ConditioningPhenyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningDiethylhexyl 2,6-Naphthalate
EmollientHydrogenated Soybean Oil
EmollientPropylene Glycol Dicaprate
EmollientHelianthus Annuus Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningRibes Nigrum Seed Oil
EmollientOctyldodecanol
EmollientOctyldodecyl Oleate
EmollientHydrogenated Soy Polyglycerides
Skin ConditioningPEG-8 Dimethicone
EmulsifyingParfum
MaskingLimonene
PerfumingOctyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate
EmollientAlcohol
AntimicrobialHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingBenzyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialHordeum Vulgare Extract
EmollientPaeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract
Skin ProtectingMucor Miehei Extract
AstringentTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantRetinyl Palmitate
Skin ConditioningAscorbic Acid
AntioxidantSilica
AbrasiveSodium Propoxyhydroxypropyl Thiosulfate Silica
Butylene Glycol
HumectantC15-23 Alkane
SolventCucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
EmollientLinalool
PerfumingRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialSolidago Virgaurea Extract
Skin ConditioningLentinus Edodes Extract
Skin ConditioningHomosalate 4%, Ethylhexyl Salicylate 4%, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 2%, Octocrylene 2%, Isododecane, Dimethicone/Bis-Isobutyl PPG-20 Crosspolymer, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Caprylyl Methicone, Phenyl Trimethicone, Diethylhexyl 2,6-Naphthalate, Hydrogenated Soybean Oil, Propylene Glycol Dicaprate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Extract, Ribes Nigrum Seed Oil, Octyldodecanol, Octyldodecyl Oleate, Hydrogenated Soy Polyglycerides, PEG-8 Dimethicone, Parfum, Limonene, Octyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate, Alcohol, Hexyl Cinnamal, Benzyl Benzoate, Hordeum Vulgare Extract, Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract, Mucor Miehei Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Retinyl Palmitate, Ascorbic Acid, Silica, Sodium Propoxyhydroxypropyl Thiosulfate Silica, Butylene Glycol, C15-23 Alkane, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Linalool, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Solidago Virgaurea Extract, Lentinus Edodes Extract
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Alcohol comes in many different forms. Different types of alcohol will have different effects on skin. This ingredient is usually an astringent alcohol.
These alcohols are drying on the skin. They may strip away your skin's natural oils and even damage your skin barrier. Astringent alcohols may also irritate skin.
Other types of astringent alcohols include:
According to the National Rosacea Society based in the US, you should be mindful of products with these alcohols in the top half of ingredients.
Any type of sanitizing product will have high amounts of alcohol to help kill bacteria and viruses.
Fatty alcohols come from plant oils such as coconut oil. These can help hydrate the skin and are non-irritating. Some fatty alcohols include cetyl and stearyl alcohol.
Learn more about AlcoholAlso 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 MethoxydibenzoylmethaneButylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolEthylhexyl 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 SalicylateHexyl Cinnamal is a fragrance ingredient with a similar scent to jasmine. It can be naturally found in chamomile essential oil.
This ingredient is a known EU allergen and may sensitize the skin. The EU requires this ingredient to be listed separately on an ingredients list.
Hexyl Cinnamal is not water soluble but is soluble in oils.
Learn more about Hexyl CinnamalHomosalate 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 HomosalateLimonene is a fragrance that adds scent and taste to a formulation.
It's found in the peel oil of citrus fruits and other plants such as lavender and eucalyptus. The scent of limonene is generally described as "sweet citrus".
Limonene acts as an antioxidant, meaning it helps neutralize free radicals.
When exposed to air, oxidized limonene may sensitize the skin. Because of this, limonene is often avoided by people with sensitive skin.
The term 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term. For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance.
Learn more about LimoneneOctocrylene 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 OctocryleneOctyldodecanol is a fatty alcohol. It is primarily used to enhance the texture of products.
As an emulsifier, Octyldodecanol helps prevent the oils and waters from separating. It also prevents ingredients from creating foam when shaken.
Octyldodecanol is created by reducing fatty acid to an alcohol.
Due to its high molecular weight, it does not get absorbed into the skin.
Learn more about OctyldodecanolParfum is a catch-all term for an ingredient or more that is used to give a scent to products.
Also called "fragrance", this ingredient can be a blend of hundreds of chemicals or plant oils. This means every product with "fragrance" or "parfum" in the ingredients list is a different mixture.
For instance, Habanolide is a proprietary trade name for a specific aroma chemical. When used as a fragrance ingredient in cosmetics, most aroma chemicals fall under the broad labeling category of “FRAGRANCE” or “PARFUM” according to EU and US regulations.
The term 'parfum' or 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term.
For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance by INCI standards.
One example is Calendula flower extract. Calendula is an essential oil that still imparts a scent or 'fragrance'.
Depending on the blend, the ingredients in the mixture can cause allergies and sensitivities on the skin. Some ingredients that are known EU allergens include linalool and citronellol.
Parfum can also be used to mask or cover an unpleasant scent.
The bottom line is: not all fragrances/parfum/ingredients are created equally. If you are worried about fragrances, we recommend taking a closer look at an ingredient. And of course, we always recommend speaking with a professional.
Learn more about ParfumTocopheryl 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 Acetate