This chemical sunscreen covers most of the UV range, lighter on the deep UVA that drives aging.
This chemical sunscreen covers the full UV range and blocks ~98% of UVB at SPF 50.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantDibutyl Adipate
EmollientDiethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV FilterHydrogenated Polyisobutene
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingEthylhexyl Triazone
UV AbsorberPolyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
EmulsifyingSilica
AbrasiveCetearyl Olivate
Polyquaternium-51
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientSorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Stearate Se
EmulsifyingMethyl Glucose Sesquistearate
EmollientSorbitan Stearate
EmulsifyingCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
MaskingLavandula Angustifolia Oil
MaskingCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingDisodium EDTA
Actinidia Arguta Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin ConditioningAnthemis Nobilis Flower Oil
MaskingNelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientHibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Butylene Glycol, Dibutyl Adipate, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Silica, Cetearyl Olivate, Polyquaternium-51, Cetearyl Alcohol, Sorbitan Olivate, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate, Sorbitan Stearate, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Centella Asiatica Extract, Disodium EDTA, Actinidia Arguta Fruit Extract, Adenosine, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Oil, Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract, Tocopherol, Caprylyl Glycol, Hibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin
Water
Skin ConditioningDibutyl Adipate
EmollientOctocrylene
UV AbsorberMethylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol
UV FilterTetrabutyl Ethylidenebisphenol
AntioxidantPropanediol
SolventButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV AbsorberGlycerin
HumectantDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientBis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin ConditioningAscorbyl Glucoside
AntioxidantCorn Starch Modified
AbsorbentDicaprylyl Ether
EmollientSilica
AbrasiveTocopherol
AntioxidantCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientDecyl Glucoside
CleansingC20-22 Alkyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingC20-22 Alcohols
Emulsion StabilisingHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCoco-Glucoside
CleansingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSqualane
EmollientSodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Citrate
Buffering1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientGlycol
HumectantGlycine Soja Oil
EmollientCitric Acid
BufferingEctoin
Skin ConditioningMannitol
HumectantXylitol
HumectantPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingRhamnose
HumectantPropylene Glycol
HumectantAsiaticoside
AntioxidantMadecassic Acid
Skin ConditioningAsiatic Acid
Skin ConditioningSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingFructooligosaccharides
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingLaminaria Ochroleuca Extract
Skin ConditioningParfum
MaskingWater, Dibutyl Adipate, Octocrylene, Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol, Tetrabutyl Ethylidenebisphenol, Propanediol, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Glycerin, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Corn Starch Modified, Dicaprylyl Ether, Silica, Tocopherol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Decyl Glucoside, C20-22 Alkyl Phosphate, C20-22 Alcohols, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Coco-Glucoside, Pentylene Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Squalane, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Citrate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Glycol, Glycine Soja Oil, Citric Acid, Ectoin, Mannitol, Xylitol, Polysorbate 60, Rhamnose, Propylene Glycol, Asiaticoside, Madecassic Acid, Asiatic Acid, Sorbitan Isostearate, Fructooligosaccharides, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Laminaria Ochroleuca Extract, Parfum
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives
Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolCetearyl alcohol is a waxy mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is an emollient and emulsifier.
Despite having "alcohol" in its name, it has nothing to do with drying solvent alcohols; the FDA also allows "alcohol-free" products to contain fatty alcohols like this ingredient.
It plays several roles in a formula:
Typical use levels for this ingredient sit around 1-10% and the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has affirmed safety at concentrations up to 25% in leave-on products.
Multiple assessments have found it to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing to most people.
However, there have been some cases of allergic contact dermatitis in patients with chronically compromised skin barriers.
Cetearyl alcohol has a comedogenic rating of 2 and irritancy rating of 1. Both of these numbers come from the 1989 study that used rabbit ears; a "2" means mildly comedogenic and a "1" means low irritancy.
Here's the catch: rabbit skin is more sensitive than human skin and throws a lot of false positives. A 1996 reappraisal found that ingredients rated 1-2 in the rabbit ear tests are generally safe for humans.
Remember comedogenic ratings are unable to assess the entire formula of a product or how it will react on your skin. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure about certain ingredients.
This ingredient is not fungal acne safe. Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol with chain lengths that fall within the range that Malassezia can metabolize.
A 2019 study has also observed Malassezia growth in the presence of this ingredient, confirming it to be not-fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholDibutyl 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 AdipateDicaprylyl Carbonate comes from carbonic acid and caprylyl alcohol, a fatty alcohol. It is an emollient and gives skin a velvet feel. The sources of Dicaprylyl Carbonate may be synthetic or from animals.
As an emollient, Dicaprylyl Carbonate creates a film on the skin. This film traps moisture in, keeping your skin soft and hydrated.
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 GlycerinSilica, also known as silicon dioxide, is a naturally occurring mineral. It is used as a fine, spherical, and porous powder in cosmetics.
Though it has exfoliant properties, the function of silica varies depending on the product.
The unique structure of silica enhances the spreadability and adds smoothness, making it a great texture enhancer.
It is also used as an active carrier, emulsifier, and mattifier due to its ability to absorb excess oil.
In some products, tiny microneedles called spicules are made from silica or hydrolyzed sponge. When you rub them in, they lightly polish away dead skin layers and enhance the penetration of active ingredients.
Learn more about SilicaTocopherol 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 TocopherolWater. 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