What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV Absorber
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Benzophenone-3
UV Absorber
Phospholipids
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Isododecane
EmollientDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientGlycerin
Humectant
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Silica
Abrasive
Dimethicone
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Glyceryl Citrate/Lactate/Linoleate/Oleate
Emulsifying
Propanediol
Solvent
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Ascorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Fructooligosaccharides
Humectant
Beta Vulgaris Root Extract
Skin ConditioningTerminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Citrus Sinensis Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Sodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingPolyacrylate-13
Polyisobutene
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningOctenidine Hcl
AntimicrobialWater, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Benzophenone-3, Phospholipids, Butylene Glycol, Isododecane, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Glycerin, Titanium Dioxide, Silica, Dimethicone, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glyceryl Citrate/Lactate/Linoleate/Oleate, Propanediol, Niacinamide, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Tocopheryl Acetate, Fructooligosaccharides, Beta Vulgaris Root Extract, Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract, Citrus Sinensis Fruit Extract, Sodium Gluconate, Xanthan Gum, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Polyacrylate-13, Polyisobutene, Polysorbate 20, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Octenidine Hcl
Water
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Salicylate
UV Absorber
Octocrylene
UV Absorber
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Zinc Oxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Terephthalylidene Dicamphor Sulfonic Acid
UV Absorber
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Diazolidinyl Urea
Preservative
Isobutane
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingIsopropyl Myristate
Emollient
Shea Butter Glycerides
Emulsifying
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Collagen
Moisturising
Sesamum Indicum Seed Oil
Emollient
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Ceteareth-20
CleansingGlycerin
Humectant
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Parfum
Masking
Water, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Octocrylene, Titanium Dioxide, Zinc Oxide, Terephthalylidene Dicamphor Sulfonic Acid, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Phenoxyethanol, Diazolidinyl Urea, Isobutane, Carbomer, Isopropyl Myristate, Shea Butter Glycerides, Glyceryl Stearate, Propylene Glycol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Collagen, Sesamum Indicum Seed Oil, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Ceteareth-20, Glycerin, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Parfum
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 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 MethoxydibenzoylmethaneGlycerin (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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol 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.
Titanium dioxide is a mineral UV filter widely used in sunscreens and cosmetics.
It is one of only two UV filters officially classified as “mineral” by regulatory agencies, the other being zinc oxide.
Titanium dioxide provides broad-spectrum protection mostly in the UVB and UVAII range, with some protection in the UVAI range.
While its UVA protection isn’t as strong as zinc oxide’s, the difference is minor.
A common myth is that mineral UV filters reflect UV light. However, modern research shows titanium dioxide absorbs UV radiation like chemical filters (~95% absorption & 5% reflection).
Thanks to its non-irritating nature, titanium dioxide is suitable for sensitive, acne-prone, or redness-prone skin. It is unlikely to cause "eye sting" like other sunscreen ingredients.
A major drawback of this ingredient is its white cast and thick texture. This is why mineral sunscreens often leave a white cast and are less cosmetically elegant than chemical/hybrid sunscreens.
To improve white cast and spreadability, micronized or nano-sized titanium dioxide is often used.
There are ongoing concerns surrounding nano-titanium oxide's impact on marine ecosystems.
There is no conclusive evidence that any form of titanium oxide (or any other sunscreen ingredients) will cause harm to marine ecosystems or coral reefs. The science is still developing but many consumers are keeping a close eye on this issue.
Please note, many destinations have reef-safety sunscreen rules. For instance, the U.S. Virgin Islands advises all visitors to use non-nano mineral sunscreens.
Nano mineral sunscreens once raised safety concerns about absorption into skin.
Extensive research has shown that they do not penetrate healthy or damaged skin; they remain safely on the surface and the top layer of dead skin (stratum corneum).
You'll likely find titanium dioxide bundled with alumina, silica, or dimethicone. These ingredients help make titanium dioxide highly photostable; this prevents it from interacting with other formula components under UV light.
Learn more about Titanium DioxideTocopheryl 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
