What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Homosalate 7%
Skin Conditioning
Octocrylene 7%
UV Absorber
Ethylhexyl Salicylate 4.5%
UV Absorber
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%
UV Absorber
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Silica
Abrasive
Dextrin Palmitate
Emulsifying
Butyloctyl Salicylate
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Triacontanyl Pvp
HumectantHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Algae Extract
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingIsododecane
EmollientAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Benzoate
Masking
Acrylates/Dimethicone Copolymer
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Disodium EDTA
Oryzanol
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Dextrin
AbsorbentLitchi Chinensis Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Dicetyldimonium Chloride
EmulsifyingSorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Phosphatidylcholine
Emulsifying7-Dehydrocholesterol
Emulsion StabilisingHomosalate 7%, Octocrylene 7%, Ethylhexyl Salicylate 4.5%, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%, Water, Glycerin, Phenyl Trimethicone, Silica, Dextrin Palmitate, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Butylene Glycol, Triacontanyl Pvp, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Tocopheryl Acetate, Salicylic Acid, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Polysorbate 20, Caprylyl Glycol, Algae Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Xanthan Gum, Isododecane, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Sodium Benzoate, Acrylates/Dimethicone Copolymer, Tocopherol, Disodium EDTA, Oryzanol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Dextrin, Litchi Chinensis Seed Extract, Polysorbate 60, Dicetyldimonium Chloride, Sorbitan Isostearate, Phosphatidylcholine, 7-Dehydrocholesterol
Zinc Oxide 11%
Cosmetic Colorant
Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%
UV Absorber
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Water
Skin ConditioningPetrolatum
Emollient
Isopropyl Palmitate
Emollient
Butyloctyl Salicylate
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexyl Methoxycrylene
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Oleth-3 Phosphate
SurfactantHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPEG-20 Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate
Emulsifying
Polyisobutene
Cetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
Pongamia Pinnata Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningPolyether-1
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Carnosine
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningBisabolol
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
PEG-7 Trimethylolpropane Coconut Ether
Emulsifying
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Triethoxycaprylylsilane
Zingiber Officinale Root Extract
Masking
Zinc Oxide 11%, Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%, Hyaluronic Acid, Water, Petrolatum, Isopropyl Palmitate, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Ethylhexyl Methoxycrylene, Cetearyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Phenoxyethanol, Oleth-3 Phosphate, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, PEG-20 Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate, Polyisobutene, Cetearyl Glucoside, Pongamia Pinnata Seed Extract, Polyether-1, Tocopheryl Acetate, Carnosine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Bisabolol, Tocopherol, PEG-7 Trimethylolpropane Coconut Ether, Sodium Hyaluronate, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Butyloctyl Salicylate is a chemical UV filter structurally similar to octisalate. It is a photostabilizer, SPF booster, emollient and solvent. This ingredient helps evenly spread out ingredients.
According to a manufacturer, it is suitable for pairing with micro Titanium Dioxide, Zinc Oxide, and pigments.
Photostabilizers help stabilize UV-filters and prevents them from degrading quickly.
Learn more about Butyloctyl SalicylateEthylhexyl 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 SalicylateThis is a synthetic polymer. It helps improve the texture of products by adding thickness and gel-like feel.
It is also an emulsifer, meaning it prevents ingredients such as oil and water from separating. It also helps evenly disperse other ingredients.
Phenoxyethanol 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.
Sodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateTocopherol 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 TocopherolTocopheryl 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
