What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Zinc Oxide 9%
Cosmetic Colorant
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate 7.5%
UV Absorber
Water
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Octyldodecyl Neopentanoate
EmollientButylene Glycol
Humectant
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPolyisobutene
PEG-7 Trimethylolpropane Coconut Ether
Emulsifying
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Oleth-3 Phosphate
SurfactantPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate
Preservative
Isopropyl Palmitate
Emollient
Ethylhexyl Stearate
Emollient
Iron Oxides
Triethoxycaprylylsilane
Zinc Oxide 9%, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate 7.5%, Water, Cyclopentasiloxane, Niacinamide, Octyldodecyl Neopentanoate, Butylene Glycol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Polyisobutene, PEG-7 Trimethylolpropane Coconut Ether, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Lactic Acid, Oleth-3 Phosphate, Phenoxyethanol, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, Isopropyl Palmitate, Ethylhexyl Stearate, Iron Oxides, Triethoxycaprylylsilane
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%
UV Absorber
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate 5%
UV Absorber
Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%
UV Absorber
Homosalate 6.8%
Skin Conditioning
Octocrylene 3%
UV Absorber
Water
Skin ConditioningButyloctyl Salicylate
Skin Conditioning
Silica
Abrasive
Dimethicone
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Diethylhexyl 2,6-Naphthalate
EmollientTriacontanyl Pvp
HumectantArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Isododecane
EmollientGlycerin
Humectant
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Propanediol
Solvent
Steareth-21
CleansingHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialTocopherol
Antioxidant
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Retinyl Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Squalane
Emollient
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Melanin
Skin ProtectingCetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
Steareth-2
EmulsifyingPolysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingAcrylates Copolymer
Polymethyl Methacrylate
Disodium EDTA
Ethyl Ferulate
Antioxidant
Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
Cleansing
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Parfum
Masking
Iron Oxides
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate 5%, Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%, Homosalate 6.8%, Octocrylene 3%, Water, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Silica, Dimethicone, Cetearyl Alcohol, Diethylhexyl 2,6-Naphthalate, Triacontanyl Pvp, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Isododecane, Glycerin, Bisabolol, Propanediol, Steareth-21, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Tocopherol, Ascorbic Acid, Retinyl Palmitate, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Squalane, Beta-Glucan, Melanin, Cetearyl Glucoside, Steareth-2, Polysorbate 60, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Acrylates Copolymer, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Disodium EDTA, Ethyl Ferulate, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Sodium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Pentylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Parfum, Iron Oxides
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
This ingredient is also known as Octinoxate and is one of the oldest and most widely used chemical UV filters in skincare.
It has a simple job: soap up UVB radiation (290-320 nm), the wavelengths responsible for sunburn and a big chunk of long-term sun damage.
In formulas, it's always paired with a separate UVA filter because octinoxate solely protects skin from UVB.
Because it's an oil-soluble liquid, it's easy to blend into the oil phase of lotions/creams and gives a cosmetically elegant feel.
The one quirk about formulating this ingredient is photostability; the molecule slowly changes shape into a less effective version when sunlight hits it. So the longer you're in the sun, the weaker its protection gets. The drop can be more than 30% in some formulas.
It also doesn't play nice with Avobenzone (the common UVA filter) since avobenzone destabilizes octinoxate and the two degrade each other. But don't worry: brands have solved this issue by adding photostabilizers like Tinosorb S to prevent degradation and keep SPF stable under heavy UV exposure.
The maximum allowed level is 10% in the EU and Australia, 7.5% in the US and Canada, and 20% in Japan.
The Cosmetic Ingredient Review Panel has concluded this ingredient to be safe in cosmetics up to 10%.
One last thing worth knowing for context:
Octinoxate has been the subject of ongoing review in Europe where the Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety's (SCCS) 2025 final opinion is that this ingredient is an endocrine-active substance.
Lab and animal studies suggest it can act a bit like a hormone in the body (mildly mimicking estrogen and slightly blocking male hormones). It's important to know this hasn't really been shown to happen in everyday human use.
This ingredient is also banned in Hawaii over coral reef concerns.
Learn more about Ethylhexyl MethoxycinnamateThis is a synthetic polymer. It helps improve the texture of products by adding thickness and gel-like feel.
It is also an emulsifer, meaning it prevents ingredients such as oil and water from separating. It also helps evenly disperse other ingredients.
Phenoxyethanol 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.
Tocopheryl 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 WaterThis ingredient is a combination of red, black, and yellow iron oxide pigments. This combination of colors is usually found in foundation, because it results in a "skin" color.
The EU typically uses CI numbers for colorants when applicable, such as CI 77489. In the US, iron oxides are regulated as color additives and "iron oxides" is the most commonly used name in US cosmetic practice.
A 2021 paper looked at skincare formulations containing iron oxides and found that they reduced transmission of blue light when measured optically. In simple terms, the pigment particles helped block or scatter part of the visible light spectrum in lab testing and the authors suggest this could translate into better protection against blue-light-related skin effects.
There is also clinical and experimental research showing that tinted products containing iron oxides can reduce visible light-induced pigmentation:
Please note, whether a product reduces visible or blue light depends on things like:
In the EU's CosIng database, iron oxides are only listed as a colorant. CosIng groups ingredients by their main cosmetic role, such as colorant, preservative, or UV filter.
Though studies say iron oxides can "attenuate blue light", they're describing an optical property and not an officially recognized cosmetic function.
So CosIng isn’t contradicting the research. It’s just classifying iron oxides by what they officially are: pigments that add color.
Learn more about Iron Oxides
