What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
4-Methylbenzylidene Camphor
UV AbsorberButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV AbsorberEthylhexyl Triazone
UV AbsorberOctocrylene
UV AbsorberC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantGlycerin
HumectantHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingColloidal Oatmeal
AbsorbentCaprylhydroxamic Acid
PEG-15 Cocamine
EmulsifyingPEG-40 Stearate
EmulsifyingWater
Skin ConditioningSilica
AbrasiveTriethanolamine
BufferingCera Alba
Emollient4-Methylbenzylidene Camphor, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Octocrylene, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Caprylyl Glycol, Carbomer, Tocopheryl Acetate, Glycerin, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Colloidal Oatmeal, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, PEG-15 Cocamine, PEG-40 Stearate, Water, Silica, Triethanolamine, Cera Alba
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV AbsorberHomosalate
Skin ConditioningOctocrylene
UV AbsorberAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
EmollientCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientDisodium EDTA
Tocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantGlycerin
HumectantGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientHydrated Silica
AbrasiveHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialIsopropyl Palmitate
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePolyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate
EmulsifyingPotassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingWater
Skin ConditioningVp/Hexadecene Copolymer
Tromethamine
BufferingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Homosalate, Octocrylene, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Carbomer, Cetearyl Alcohol, Disodium EDTA, Tocopheryl Acetate, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate, Hydrated Silica, Hydroxyacetophenone, Alcohol Denat., Isopropyl Palmitate, Phenoxyethanol, Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Water, Vp/Hexadecene Copolymer, Tromethamine, Xanthan Gum
Reviews
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 MethoxydibenzoylmethaneCarbomer is a high-molecular weight polymer of acrylic acid. It is used to form gels and thicken formulas.
Due to its large molecular size, carbomer has minimal skin penetration and is considered an inert ingredient.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Learn more about CarbomerGlycerin (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 GlycerinOctocrylene is an oil-soluble organic UV filter that mainly absorbs UVB and short wave UVA II light.
Its real superpower is teamwork: octocrylene is remarkably photostable and is most famous for stabilizing avobenzone (the workhorse UVA filter).
This ingredient is commonly used to enhance both UVB and UVA protection due to its unique property in stabilizing avobenzone. It also pulls double duty by boosting water resistance and giving formulas a smooth, spreadable feel.
The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) has deemed octocrylene to be safe as a UV-filter at concentrations up to 10% (capped at 9% in propellant sprays). The US also permits it up to 10%.
Two things worth knowing:
You'll usually see this ingredient used in concentrations between 2-10% (higher amounts when used as a stabilizer for avobenzone).
Learn more about OctocryleneTocopheryl 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