What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningHomosalate
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV AbsorberPropanediol
SolventEthylhexyl Salicylate
UV AbsorberAlcohol
AntimicrobialOctocrylene
UV AbsorberButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV AbsorberBenzotriazolyl Dodecyl P-Cresol
UV AbsorberPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningLavandula Angustifolia Oil
MaskingSilica
AbrasiveDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHydroxypropyl Methylcellulose Stearoxy Ether
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingButylene Glycol
HumectantBHT
AntioxidantT-Butyl Alcohol
PerfumingTocopherol
AntioxidantWater, Homosalate, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Propanediol, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Alcohol, Octocrylene, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Benzotriazolyl Dodecyl P-Cresol, Pentylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Silica, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose Stearoxy Ether, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Butylene Glycol, BHT, T-Butyl Alcohol, Tocopherol
Water
Skin ConditioningOctocrylene
UV AbsorberHomosalate
Skin ConditioningIsododecane
EmollientDipropylene Glycol
HumectantSilica
AbrasiveButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningOctyldodeceth-16
EmulsifyingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantCoptis Japonica Extract
AntimicrobialButylene Glycol
HumectantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
MaskingLitsea Cubeba Fruit Oil
MaskingCitrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
MaskingPelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil
MaskingLavandula Angustifolia Oil
MaskingMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
AntioxidantCitrus Aurantifolia Oil
CleansingEugenia Caryophyllus Leaf Oil
MaskingCinnamomum Camphora Bark Oil
MaskingMaltodextrin
AbsorbentPersea Gratissima Fruit Extract
EmollientOenothera Biennis Flower Extract
AstringentPinus Palustris Leaf Extract
TonicUlmus Davidiana Root Extract
Skin ConditioningPueraria Lobata Root Extract
HumectantCitrus Limon Fruit Extract
MaskingGlycerin
HumectantRosa Damascena Extract
MaskingLippia Citriodora Leaf Extract
AstringentAdansonia Digitata Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningRubus Idaeus Fruit Extract
AstringentPortulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin ConditioningVaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract
Skin ProtectingAchillea Millefolium Extract
CleansingArnica Montana Flower Extract
MaskingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
EmollientArtemisia Capillaris Extract
Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract
Phellinus Linteus Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantHibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningWater, Octocrylene, Homosalate, Isododecane, Dipropylene Glycol, Silica, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, 1,2-Hexanediol, Octyldodeceth-16, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Tromethamine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Coptis Japonica Extract, Butylene Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Litsea Cubeba Fruit Oil, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Citrus Aurantifolia Oil, Eugenia Caryophyllus Leaf Oil, Cinnamomum Camphora Bark Oil, Maltodextrin, Persea Gratissima Fruit Extract, Oenothera Biennis Flower Extract, Pinus Palustris Leaf Extract, Ulmus Davidiana Root Extract, Pueraria Lobata Root Extract, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Glycerin, Rosa Damascena Extract, Lippia Citriodora Leaf Extract, Adansonia Digitata Leaf Extract, Rubus Idaeus Fruit Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Vaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract, Achillea Millefolium Extract, Arnica Montana Flower Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Artemisia Capillaris Extract, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract, Phellinus Linteus Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Extract, Beta-Glucan
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
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 MethoxydibenzoylmethaneButylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolEthylhexylglycerin 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 EthylhexylglycerinHomosalate is a chemical sunscreen filter that provides protection in the UV-B range (280nm - 320 nm), with a peak protection at 306 nm. It is internationally approved for use in sunscreens.
Homosalate is not photo-stable, meaning it's strength as a UV filter degrades over time with exposure to the sun. Because of this, it's often used in combination with other chemical sunscreen filters as avobenzone (which protects from the UV-A range). Homosalate also helps act as a solvent for harder-to-dissolve UV filters.
(Part of the reason that sunscreens need to be frequently re-applied is due to the photo instability of many chemical sunscreen filters)
Currently, homosalate is approved in concentrations up to 10% in the EU and 15% in the US. The FDA is currently doing further research on the effects of homosalate, and it is possible that these approved concentrations will change in the future.
Learn more about HomosalateLavandula Angustifolia Oil is more commonly known as lavender essential oil. It is considered a fragrancing ingredient.
Lavender imparts a famous scent. While the smell is lovely, this ingredient and may sensitize skin in topical products. This is because about 85% of the oil is made up of linalool and linalyl acetate.
When exposed to air, these two compounds become strong allergens. This ingredient exhibits cytotoxicity at low concentrations; amounts of 0.25% have been shown to damage skin cells.
A study from Japan found this ingredient caused lavender sensitivity after widespread exposure.
Lavender essential oil has some antimicrobial, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties. However, the cons of this ingredient may outweight the pros.
More research is needed to confirm lavender essential oil's effects when used in aromatherapy.
Lavandula Angustifolia is known as the English Lavender and famous for creating purple fields in Provence, France.
Learn more about Lavandula Angustifolia OilOctocrylene 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 OctocryleneSilica, 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