What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Alcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialDibutyl Adipate
EmollientDiethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV FilterCocoglycerides
EmollientEthylhexyl Salicylate
UV AbsorberEthylhexyl Triazone
UV AbsorberDiethylhexyl Butamido Triazone
UV AbsorberAcrylates/Octylacrylamide Copolymer
Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantLithops Pseudotruncatella Callus Lysate
Skin ConditioningPolygonum Aviculare Extract
EmollientTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantMacadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
EmollientPanthenol
Skin ConditioningWater
Skin ConditioningGinkgo Biloba Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Potassium Sorbate
PreservativeCyamopsis Tetragonoloba Gum
Emulsion StabilisingParfum
MaskingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPhytic Acid
Sodium Benzoate
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingAmyl Salicylate
PerfumingLinalyl Acetate
MaskingGeranyl Acetate
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingTerpineol
MaskingMethyl Salicylate
PerfumingAlcohol Denat., C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Dibutyl Adipate, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Cocoglycerides, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Diethylhexyl Butamido Triazone, Acrylates/Octylacrylamide Copolymer, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Glycerin, Lithops Pseudotruncatella Callus Lysate, Polygonum Aviculare Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Panthenol, Water, Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract, Pentylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Potassium Sorbate, Cyamopsis Tetragonoloba Gum, Parfum, Xanthan Gum, Phytic Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol, Benzyl Alcohol, Amyl Salicylate, Linalyl Acetate, Geranyl Acetate, Geraniol, Terpineol, Methyl Salicylate
Water
Skin ConditioningOctocrylene
UV AbsorberDibutyl Adipate
EmollientDiethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV FilterButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV AbsorberC15-19 Alkane
SolventPhenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid
UV AbsorberArginine
MaskingAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialDiethylhexyl Butamido Triazone
UV AbsorberEthylhexyl Triazone
UV AbsorberGlycerin
HumectantBis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin ConditioningPropylheptyl Caprylate
EmollientPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningPolyester-5
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantSqualane
EmollientAleurites Moluccanus Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantLecithin
EmollientPotassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingGellan Gum
Polyglyceryl-4 Stearate
EmulsifyingCetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingLauroyl Lysine
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Polysilicone-11
Ascorbyl Palmitate
AntioxidantLinalyl Acetate
MaskingMethyl Benzoate
PerfumingAmyl Salicylate
PerfumingMethyl Salicylate
PerfumingGeranyl Acetate
PerfumingParfum
MaskingCitric Acid
BufferingWater, Octocrylene, Dibutyl Adipate, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, C15-19 Alkane, Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid, Arginine, Alcohol Denat., Diethylhexyl Butamido Triazone, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Glycerin, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Propylheptyl Caprylate, Pentylene Glycol, Polyester-5, Cetearyl Alcohol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Niacinamide, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Squalane, Aleurites Moluccanus Seed Oil, Panthenol, Tocopherol, Lecithin, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Gellan Gum, Polyglyceryl-4 Stearate, Cetyl Phosphate, Lauroyl Lysine, Hydroxyacetophenone, Caprylyl Glycol, Dimethicone, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Chlorphenesin, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Polysilicone-11, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Linalyl Acetate, Methyl Benzoate, Amyl Salicylate, Methyl Salicylate, Geranyl Acetate, Parfum, Citric Acid
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Alcohol Denat. is an alcohol with a denaturant property. It is created by mixing ethanol with other additives.
The "denat" part just means "denatured"; common denaturants include Denatonium Benzoate, t-butyl alcohol, and Diethyl Phthalate. This step makes the alcohol undrinkable (and lets brand skip taxes related to beverage alcohol).
This ingredient gets a bad rep because it is irritating and drying due to its astringent property. Astringents draw out natural oils in tissue to constrict pores and dry out your skin.
However, alcohol denat. is not all that bad.
Due to its low molecular weight, alcohol denat. tends to evaporate quickly. One study on pig skin found half of applied alcohol evaporated in 10 seconds and less than 3% stayed on skin.
This also helps other ingredients become better absorbed upon application.
Studies are conflicted about whether this ingredient causes skin dehydration. One study from 2005 found adding emollients to propanol-based sanitizer decreased skin dryness and irritation. Another study found irritation only occurs if your skin is already damaged.
Small amounts of alcohol are generally tolerated by oily skin or people who live in humid environments.
The rule of thumb is this ingredient will probably not affect your skin much if it is near the end of an ingredients list.
One thing to note:
People with ALDH2 (aldehyde dehydrogenase 2) deficiency may experience skin irritation from continued alcohol use. About 8% of the world's population have this deficiency.
The Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has determined denatured alcohols to be safe for use in concentrations between 0.05% and 12% (depending on which denaturant is used).
Also...
This ingredient has antimicrobial and solvent properties.
The antimicrobial property helps preserve products and increase their shelf life. As a solvent, it helps dissolve other ingredients.
Look for formulas that contain glycerin, hyaluronic acid, or panthenol if you want to offset any drying effect.
This ingredient will trip away your skin's natural oils/lipids that help it lock in moisture. This can worsen dryness, trigger eczema flare-ups, and aggravate rosacea.
Be sure to patch test any product with this ingredient if you have dry or sensitive skin, eczema, or rosacea.
Learn more about Alcohol Denat.Amyl Salicylate is a fragrance. It can cause irritation.
This ingredient is better known as bemotrizinol or Tinosorb S and is one of the best broad-spectrum UV filters in modern sunscreen.
It works by absorbing UV light across a whole range (280-400 nm) with peaks around 310 nm (UVB) and 340-345 nm (UVA). This means it covers UVB plus the deeper UVA wavelengths that drive photoaging and pigmentation.
Another pro?
It's exceptionally photostable, barely degrades in sunlight, and acts as a "bodyguard" for less stable filters.
That's why you'll see it paired with avobenzone or octinoxate; this team up ensures they keep working through sun exposure.
Safety reviews have been reassuring across the board. This ingredient shows low absorption through the skin, rarely irritates, and lab studies found it doesn't act like a hormone in the body (a concern that's been raised about some older sunscreen filters).
On maximum concentrations:
In 2026, the US F.D.A finally added it as an OTC sunscreen ingredient at concentrations up to 6% for adults / children 6 months and older
Learn more about Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl TriazineDibutyl Adipate is a lightweight, oil-soluble ester that acts as an emollient and solvent. It helps products spread more easily and leaves a soft, silky, dry-touch finish without being greasy.
You'll likely see this ingredient in sunscreens because it does a nice job dissolving UV filters and keeping them evenly distributed.
This ingredient has been found to be safe as used in cosmetics, wasn't a skin or eye irritant in clinical patch testing, and wasn't phototoxic.
In a clinical comedogenicity test, this ingredient tested negative so it isn't likely to clog pores.
Typical use levels are about 5-8% for sunscreens + nail products, but can range from 0.005%-8% depending on the product.
Learn more about Dibutyl AdipateDiethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate (DHHB) is a chemical UV-A absorber. It is formulated for high UVA protection (320-400 nm).
DHHB is well-liked for:
DHHB has been approved by the EU, Japan, Taiwan, and South America for use up to 10%. Unfortunately, it has not been approved for use in the US or Canada due to slow regulatory processes.
This ingredient is soluble in oils, fats, and lipids.
Learn more about Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl BenzoateDiethylhexyl Butamido Triazone is a photostable UV absorber. It protects in both the UVB and UVA II range.
The great thing about this ingredient is that it is ultra-photostable at low concentrations.
It is also pretty water-resistant and is highly oil-soluble (so your oil cleanser will get it off right away).
This ingredient is currently available in Europe and Japan, but not in the US.
Learn more about Diethylhexyl Butamido TriazoneEthylhexyl Triazone is a modern chemical sunscreen that protects from UV-B radiation.
It is the most effective of existing UV-B filters, as it provides the highest level of photo-stable absorption. It protects from the entire UV-B range (280 to 320nm), with it's highest level of protection at 314nm.
Ethylhexyl Triazone is oil soluble, oderless and colorless, which mean it is able to be incorporated into a variety of different formulations.
It is not currently available within the United States due to slow changing FDA regulations. Outside of the US, it is used in formulations at concentrations up to 5%.
Learn more about Ethylhexyl TriazoneGeranyl Acetate is a fragrance. It can cause irritation.
Glycerin (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 GlycerinLinalyl Acetate is the acetate ester of linalool and can be naturally found in many flowers and spice plants.
This ingredient is often used to add a scent or mask an unpleasant one in products.
Linalyl acetate is mildly toxic to humans and toxic to fish.
Learn more about Linalyl AcetateMethyl Salicylate is a fragrance. It can cause irritation and worsen rosacea.
Panthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolParfum 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 ParfumPentylene glycol is typically used within a product to thicken it. It also adds a smooth, soft, and moisturizing feel to the product. It is naturally found in plants such as sugar beets.
The hydrophilic trait of Pentylene Glycol makes it a humectant. As a humectant, Pentylene Glycol helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This can help keep your skin hydrated.
This property also makes Pentylene Glycol a great texture enhancer. It can also help thicken or stabilize a product.
Pentylene Glycol also acts as a mild preservative and helps to keep a product microbe-free.
Some people may experience mild eye and skin irritation from Pentylene Glycol. We always recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient in your routine.
Pentylene Glycol has a low molecular weight and is part of the 1,2-glycol family.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolTetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate is a chelating agent. Chelating agents help prevent metal ions from binding to other ingredients. This helps prevent unwanted effects and reactions from a product. These metal ions may come from water and are found in miniscule amounts.
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate can also help other preservatives be more effective.
Water. 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