What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV Absorber
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Diglycerin
Humectant
Ethylhexyl Salicylate
UV Absorber
Dimethicone
Emollient
Isohexadecane
EmollientLauryl PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Cyclotetrasiloxane
Emollient
Magnesium Sulfate
Dimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer
Triethoxycaprylylsilane
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Canola Oil
Emollient
Zea Mays Oil
Emulsifying
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Water, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Titanium Dioxide, Diglycerin, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Dimethicone, Isohexadecane, Lauryl PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Cyclopentasiloxane, Cyclotetrasiloxane, Magnesium Sulfate, Dimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Caprylyl Glycol, Canola Oil, Zea Mays Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin
Homosalate 8.5%
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%
UV Absorber
Octocrylene 8.5%
UV Absorber
Zinc Oxide 12.1%
Cosmetic Colorant
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Propanediol
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
Cetearyl Olivate
Polyhydroxystearic Acid
Emulsifying
Ethylhexyl Methoxycrylene
Skin Conditioning
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingLauroyl Lysine
Skin Conditioning
Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Dimethicone
Emollient
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Inulin Lauryl Carbamate
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTriethoxycaprylylsilane
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Polyester-8
Skin Conditioning
Diethylhexyl Syringylidenemalonate
Skin ProtectingCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Menthone Glycerin Acetal
Refreshing
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Arachidyl Alcohol
Emollient
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Citrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingCoco-Glucoside
Cleansing
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Silica
Abrasive
Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion Stabilising
Arachidyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingSodium Citrate
BufferingParfum
Masking
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Magnesium Aspartate
Skin ConditioningZinc Gluconate
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Copper Gluconate
Skin Conditioning
Homosalate 8.5%, Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%, Octocrylene 8.5%, Zinc Oxide 12.1%, Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Propanediol, Glycerin, Cetearyl Olivate, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Ethylhexyl Methoxycrylene, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Lauroyl Lysine, Phenyl Trimethicone, Dimethicone, Sorbitan Olivate, Inulin Lauryl Carbamate, Xanthan Gum, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Polyester-8, Diethylhexyl Syringylidenemalonate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Menthone Glycerin Acetal, Lactic Acid, Arachidyl Alcohol, Chlorphenesin, Citrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract, Niacinamide, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Coco-Glucoside, Behenyl Alcohol, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Silica, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Arachidyl Glucoside, Sodium Citrate, Parfum, Sodium Hyaluronate, Magnesium Aspartate, Zinc Gluconate, Phenoxyethanol, Copper Gluconate
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 GlycolChlorphenesin is a synthetic preservative. It helps protect a product against bacteria in order to extend shelf life. In most cases, Chlorphenesin is paired with other preservatives such as phenoxyethanol and caprylyl glycol.
Chlorphenesin is a biocide. This means it is able to help fight the microorganisms on our skin. It is also able to fight odor-releasing bacteria.
Chlorphenesin is soluble in both water and glycerin.
Studies show Chlorphenesin is easily absorbed by our skin. You should speak with a skincare professional if you have concerns about using Chlorphenesin.
Learn more about ChlorphenesinDimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeEthylhexyl 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 SalicylatePhenoxyethanol 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.
Triethoxycaprylylsilane is a silicon-based surface modifier that makes sunscreens feel silky and makeup stay put.
Its main job is to coat mineral particles like titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, and color pigments in a thin, oily layer so they spread smoothly, don't clump, and stick to skin better.
This ingredient is typically used at low levels (up to 2.5% in eyeshadow and 1% in lipstick).
Learn more about TriethoxycaprylylsilaneWater. 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
