What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningOctocrylene
UV AbsorberButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV AbsorberEthylhexyl Salicylate
UV AbsorberCellulose
AbsorbentHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingSilica
AbrasivePhenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid
UV AbsorberDiisopropyl Sebacate
EmollientStearyl/Octyldodecyl Citrate Crosspolymer
HumectantCaprylyl Methicone
Skin ConditioningBis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin ConditioningDiisopropyl Adipate
EmollientLauryl Glucoside
CleansingMyristyl Glucoside
CleansingPolyglyceryl-6 Laurate
EmulsifyingEthylhexyl Triazone
UV AbsorberHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingIsohexadecane
EmollientTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantGlycerin
HumectantCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeParfum
MaskingDMDM Hydantoin
PreservativeDisodium EDTA
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAlpha-Isomethyl Ionone
PerfumingBenzyl Salicylate
PerfumingHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingWater, Octocrylene, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Cellulose, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Silica, Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid, Diisopropyl Sebacate, Stearyl/Octyldodecyl Citrate Crosspolymer, Caprylyl Methicone, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Diisopropyl Adipate, Lauryl Glucoside, Myristyl Glucoside, Polyglyceryl-6 Laurate, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan Isostearate, Isohexadecane, Tocopheryl Acetate, Glycerin, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum, DMDM Hydantoin, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hydroxide, Ethylhexylglycerin, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Benzyl Salicylate, Hexyl Cinnamal, Limonene, Linalool
Water
Skin ConditioningOctocrylene
UV AbsorberButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV AbsorberButyloctyl Salicylate
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Salicylate
UV AbsorberSilica
AbrasiveDiisopropyl Adipate
EmollientPropanediol
SolventEthylhexyl Triazone
UV AbsorberPolyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
EmulsifyingPolyester-7
Skin ConditioningLauryl Glucoside
CleansingSaccharide Isomerate
HumectantMyristyl Glucoside
CleansingMicrocrystalline Cellulose
AbsorbentPolyglyceryl-6 Laurate
EmulsifyingPropylene Glycol Dibenzoate
Skin ConditioningParfum
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingDiethylhexyl Syringylidenemalonate
Skin ProtectingCellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingCarica Papaya Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCocos Nucifera Fruit Extract
EmollientMangifera Indica Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningAnanas Sativus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrullus Lanatus Seed Oil
EmollientHylocereus Undatus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingGlycerin
HumectantVanillin
MaskingCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Citrate
BufferingTetramethyl Acetyloctahydronaphthalenes
MaskingRose Ketones
PerfumingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Benzaldehyde
MaskingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Metabisulfite
AntioxidantWater, Octocrylene, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Silica, Diisopropyl Adipate, Propanediol, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Polyester-7, Lauryl Glucoside, Saccharide Isomerate, Myristyl Glucoside, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Polyglyceryl-6 Laurate, Propylene Glycol Dibenzoate, Parfum, Phenoxyethanol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Tocopherol, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Diethylhexyl Syringylidenemalonate, Cellulose Gum, Carica Papaya Fruit Extract, Cocos Nucifera Fruit Extract, Mangifera Indica Fruit Extract, Ananas Sativus Fruit Extract, Citrullus Lanatus Seed Oil, Hylocereus Undatus Fruit Extract, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Vanillin, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Tetramethyl Acetyloctahydronaphthalenes, Rose Ketones, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Benzaldehyde, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Metabisulfite
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 MethoxydibenzoylmethaneDiisopropyl Adipate comes from isopropyl alcohol and Adipic Acid.
It is a solvent and emollient. As a solvent, it is used to help other ingredients dissolve into the solution. It is also often used to soften hard ingredients.
Emollients help hydrate the skin by creating a thin barrier. This thin barrier prevents moisture from escaping.
Learn more about Diisopropyl AdipateEthylhexyl Salicylate (also called Octisalate or Octyl Salicylate) is an oil-soluble organic UV filter that's been used in sunscreen since the 1950's.
It absorbs UVB light in the 280-320 nm range with a peak absorbance around 306 nm.
You'll often see it paired with other UV filters to boost overall SPF because octisalate is a fairly week filter on its own.
The reason you'll see it so often is because it can help solubilize and stabilize the trickier filters like oxybenzone and avobenzone.
Unlike these filters, octisalate has pretty good photostability and doesn't create skin-damaging free radicals when exposed to sunlight.
The fatty-alcohol part of the molecule also gives it a light, emollient feel so it doubles as a nice texture enhancer.
Usage levels vary around the world:
Safety-wise, this ingredient has a pretty reassuring track record. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Products (SCCP) found very low skin penetration in human skin tests and negative results for irritation, phototoxicity, and photoallergy.
The real-world allergy risk is pretty low too; a 2012 European study of 1,031 people recorded only 2 reactions to it (a rate of 0.19%).
You might have seen scary headlines about sunscreen getting into your blood.
In 2019, the FDA found that several chemical filters can absorb through the skin and show up in the bloodstream at small but measurable levels.
Here's the important part: these tiny levels are just a cutoff the FDA uses to decide which ingredients need more testing and doesn't mean anything harmful was found.
The researchers were clear that the results are no reason to stop wearing sunscreen.
Learn more about Ethylhexyl SalicylateEthylhexyl 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 TriazoneEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 GlycerinLauryl Glucoside sugar- and lipid-based cleansing agent. It is created from glucose and lauryl alcohol.
This ingredient is a surfactant, making it easier to rinse oil, dirt, and other pollutants away.
A British study found lauryl glucoside to cause skin sensitivity for some people. We recommend speaking with a professional if you have concerns.
Other names for this ingredient include "Lauryl Polyglucose", "Lauryl glycoside", and "D-Glucopyranoside".
Learn more about Lauryl GlucosideWe don't have a description for Myristyl Glucoside yet.
Octocrylene 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 OctocryleneParfum 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 ParfumPhenoxyethanol 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.
Polyglyceryl-6 Laurate isn't fungal acne safe.
Silica, 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 SilicaWater. 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