What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate 6%
UV Absorber
Ethylhexyl Salicylate 2%
UV Absorber
Titanium Dioxide 2.34%
Cosmetic Colorant
Zinc Oxide 3.84%
Cosmetic Colorant
Water
Skin ConditioningCyclomethicone
Emollient
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
Humectant
PEG-10 Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Methyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialDimethicone
Emollient
Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingMagnesium Sulfate
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Talc
Abrasive
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Aluminum Hydroxide
EmollientTrihydroxystearin
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantMethicone
Emollient
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Polyester-1
Silica Dimethyl Silylate
EmollientTriethoxycaprylylsilane
Parfum
Masking
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Eugenol
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
CI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77288
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate 6%, Ethylhexyl Salicylate 2%, Titanium Dioxide 2.34%, Zinc Oxide 3.84%, Water, Cyclomethicone, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycerin, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Methyl Trimethicone, CI 77891, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Dimethicone, Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Magnesium Sulfate, Butylene Glycol, Centella Asiatica Extract, Talc, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Aluminum Hydroxide, Trihydroxystearin, Phenoxyethanol, Mica, Methicone, Palmitic Acid, Stearic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Polyester-1, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Parfum, Hexyl Cinnamal, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Linalool, Citronellol, Geraniol, Eugenol, Limonene, CI 77492, CI 77288, CI 77491, CI 77499
Water
Skin ConditioningHomosalate
Skin Conditioning
Octocrylene
UV Absorber
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Ethylhexyl Salicylate
UV Absorber
Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexyl Cocoate
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate Citrate
Emollient
Hydrogenated Coco-Glycerides
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glycyrrhetinic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Glycyrrhiza Inflata Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Vp/Hexadecene Copolymer
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSilica Dimethyl Silylate
EmollientDimethicone
Emollient
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingTrisodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Homosalate, Octocrylene, Alcohol Denat., Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Ethylhexyl Cocoate, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Hydrogenated Coco-Glycerides, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycyrrhetinic Acid, Glycyrrhiza Inflata Root Extract, Vp/Hexadecene Copolymer, Xanthan Gum, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Dimethicone, Sodium Hydroxide, Trisodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Dimethicone 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 SalicylateEthylhexylglycerin 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 EthylhexylglycerinPhenoxyethanol is one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.
Learn more about PhenoxyethanolThis silica is mainly used to thicken oils and suspend particles in oils. It is not water soluble.
According to the manufacturer, it:
The manufacturer also claims this ingredient to be useful in makeup.
In lipstick formulations, this ingredient improves color payoff, reduces pigment settling, and reduces oil bleeding. This ingredient also improves the grip of powder products such as dry shampoos.
Learn more about Silica Dimethyl SilylateWater. 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
