This chemical sunscreen covers the full UV range and blocks ~98% of UVB at SPF 50.
This brightening day moisturizer is formulated around Niacinamide and Alpha-Arbutin to fade the look of dark spots and brighten dull-looking skin.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Water
MaskingDiethylhexyl Succinate
EmollientPropanediol
SolventWater
Skin ConditioningDrometrizole Trisiloxane
UV AbsorberEthylhexyl Triazone
UV AbsorberNiacinamide
SmoothingDiethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV FilterTerephthalylidene Dicamphor Sulfonic Acid
UV Absorber1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientMethyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningHamamelis Virginiana Leaf Water
AstringentTromethamine
BufferingSodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingArachidyl Alcohol
EmollientCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningArachidyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingSodium Metaphosphate
BufferingAdenosine
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantAllantoin
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeAloe Barbadensis Leaf Water, Diethylhexyl Succinate, Propanediol, Water, Drometrizole Trisiloxane, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Niacinamide, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Terephthalylidene Dicamphor Sulfonic Acid, 1,2-Hexanediol, Behenyl Alcohol, Methyl Trimethicone, Hamamelis Virginiana Leaf Water, Tromethamine, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Arachidyl Alcohol, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Arachidyl Glucoside, Sodium Metaphosphate, Adenosine, Tocopherol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Allantoin, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate
Water
Skin ConditioningHomosalate
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Dimethyl Paba
UV AbsorberEthylhexyl Salicylate
UV AbsorberButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV AbsorberTerephthalylidene Dicamphor Sulfonic Acid
UV AbsorberPhenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid
UV AbsorberGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPEG-100 Stearate
SurfactantGlycerin
HumectantCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialNiacinamide
SmoothingZinc Oxide
Cosmetic ColorantAlpha-Arbutin
AntioxidantAzelaic Acid
BufferingOlea Europaea Leaf Extract
PerfumingAscorbyl Glucoside
AntioxidantZinc PCA
HumectantAscorbic Acid
AntioxidantHydrolyzed Caesalpinia Spinosa Gum
AbsorbentCaesalpinia Spinosa Gum
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientCeteareth-20
CleansingDimethiconol
EmollientAllantoin
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantSodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentParfum
MaskingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeBHT
AntioxidantDisodium EDTA
ChelatingWater, Homosalate, Ethylhexyl Dimethyl Paba, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Terephthalylidene Dicamphor Sulfonic Acid, Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Niacinamide, Zinc Oxide, Alpha-Arbutin, Azelaic Acid, Olea Europaea Leaf Extract, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Zinc PCA, Ascorbic Acid, Hydrolyzed Caesalpinia Spinosa Gum, Caesalpinia Spinosa Gum, Phenoxyethanol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Dimethicone, Ceteareth-20, Dimethiconol, Allantoin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Polyacrylate, Parfum, Potassium Sorbate, BHT, Disodium EDTA
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Allantoin is a soothing ingredient known for its protective and moisturizing properties; it's basically a quiet workhorse ingredient you can find in a huge range of cosmetics.
Though it can be derived from the comfrey plant, allantoin is produced synthetically for cosmetic products to ensure purity.
Research shows it can encourage your skin cells to turn over and renew by stimulating keratinocyte and fibroblast proliferation.
It also has mild keratolytic properties to help loosen and shed dead skin cells without being harsh.
Studies also suggest allantoin can help calm inflammation by dialing down some of the chemical signals your skin sends out when it is irritated.
This ingredient is typically used in the 0.1-0.5% range, and the FDA recognizes it as a skin protectant in OTC products up to 2%.
Overall, allantoin is a wonderful addition to most routines; it is stable across a wide pH range (~4-8), works well with other ingredients, and is considered non-sensitizing/non-irritating.
Fun fact: Allantoin is naturally occurring in comfrey root, beets, chamomile, and wheat sprouts. Our bodies even produce it as a byproduct of uric acid metabolism.
Learn more about AllantoinNiacinamide is a multitasking form of vitamin B3 that strengthens the skin barrier, reduces pores and dark spots, regulates oil, and improves signs of aging.
And the best part? It's gentle and well-tolerated by most skin types, including sensitive and reactive skin.
You might have heard of "niacin flush", or the reddening of skin that causes itchiness. Niacinamide has not been found to cause this.
In very rare cases, some individuals may not be able to tolerate niacinamide at all or experience an allergic reaction to it.
If you are experiencing flaking, irritation, and dryness with this ingredient, be sure to double check all your products as this ingredient can be found in all categories of skincare.
When incorporating niacinamide into your routine, look out for concentration amounts. Typically, 5% niacinamide provides benefits such as fading dark spots. However, if you have sensitive skin, it is better to begin with a smaller concentration.
When you apply niacinamide to your skin, your body converts it into nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD). NAD is an essential coenzyme that is already found in your cells as "fuel" and powers countless biological processes.
In your skin, NAD helps repair cell damage, produce new healthy cells, support collagen production, strengthen the skin barrier, and fight environmental stressors (like UV and pollution).
Our natural NAD levels start to decline with age, leading to slower skin repair, visible aging, and a weaker skin barrier. By providing your skin niacinamide, you're recharging your skin's NAD levels. This leads to stronger, healthier, and younger looking skin.
Another name for vitamin B3 is nicotinamide. This vitamin is water-soluble and our bodies don't store it. We obtain Vitamin B3 from either food or skincare. Meat, fish, wheat, yeast, and leafy greens contain vitamin B3.
The type of niacinamide used in skincare is synthetically created.
Learn more about NiacinamidePotassium Sorbate is a preservative used to prevent yeast and mold in products. It is commonly found in both cosmetic and food products.
This ingredient comes from potassium salt derived from sorbic acid. Sorbic acid is a natural antibiotic and effective against fungus.
Both potassium sorbate and sorbic acid can be found in baked goods, cheeses, dried meats, dried fruit, ice cream, pickles, wine, yogurt, and more.
You'll often find this ingredient used with other preservatives.
Learn more about Potassium SorbateTerephthalylidene Dicamphor Sulfonic Acid (aka ecamsule or Mexoryl SX) is a water-soluble organic UV filter developed and patented by L'Oreal back in 1982.
It's one of the better UVA protectors out there and shields skin across a broad UVA range (~290-390 nm) with peak absorption right around 345 nm.
This peak absorption happens to be the exact type of UVA light that sinks deepest into skin and does the most to cause aging and dark spots.
Ecamsule works by soaking up UV rays and turning them into a tiny bit of harmless heat. The molecule basically flips, releases that energy as heat, then snaps back to its original shape and does it all over again. This is also why it's so stable in sunlight and doesn't break down or wear out the way some filters do.
The clinical backing for this ingredient is solid as well:
A large 2008 review by Fourtanier & colleagues (2008) pulled together human trials showing ecamsule-containing sunscreens prevented UV-induced pigmentation, DNA damage, and signs of aging.
That built on earlier work by Seite et al. (1998) that found it protected skin from repeated low-level UVA exposure. And a controlled study by DeLeo et al. (2009) showed that even an SPF 40 cream with ecamsule helped prevent sun-triggered rash even under the real sun.
On concentrations:
Because this ingredient is an acid, it has to be neutralized so it doesn't tank the product's pH.
Safety-wise, it's pretty well tolerated. There are some rare cases of mild irritation mostly in people with sensitivities towards camphor derivatives.
A 2019 FDA study found that volunteers who slathered on sunscreen heavily for several days had tiny amounts of ecamsule show up in their blood. This was slightly above the level at which the FDA asks for extra safety testing; this just means the FDA wants more safety studies done and not evidence that anything harmful actually happens. No problems were found and dermatologists still recommend using sunscreen.
Learn more about Terephthalylidene Dicamphor Sulfonic AcidWater. 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