What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDibutyl Adipate
EmollientPropanediol
SolventAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialEthylhexyl Triazone
UV AbsorberTerephthalylidene Dicamphor Sulfonic Acid
UV AbsorberGlycerin
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingPolyglyceryl-3 Distearate
EmulsifyingTromethamine
Buffering1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientDiethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV FilterCaprylyl Methicone
Skin ConditioningPolysilicone-15
UV FilterCaprylic/Capric/Succinic Triglyceride
EmollientPalmitic Acid
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientBis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin ConditioningPolymethylsilsesquioxane
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingStearic Acid
CleansingMethylpropanediol
SolventAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Silica
AbrasiveMelia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningParfum
MaskingPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingGlyceryl Stearate Citrate
EmollientAdenosine
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentPolyether-1
Myristic Acid
CleansingT-Butyl Alcohol
PerfumingAllantoin
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Water
MaskingBiosaccharide Gum-1
HumectantTocopherol
AntioxidantWater, Dibutyl Adipate, Propanediol, Alcohol Denat., Ethylhexyl Triazone, Terephthalylidene Dicamphor Sulfonic Acid, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Polyglyceryl-3 Distearate, Tromethamine, 1,2-Hexanediol, Pentylene Glycol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Caprylyl Methicone, Polysilicone-15, Caprylic/Capric/Succinic Triglyceride, Palmitic Acid, Glyceryl Stearate, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Stearic Acid, Methylpropanediol, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Silica, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Parfum, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Adenosine, Disodium EDTA, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Sodium Polyacrylate, Polyether-1, Myristic Acid, T-Butyl Alcohol, Allantoin, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Water, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Tocopherol
Water
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV AbsorberEthylhexyl Salicylate
UV AbsorberButylene Glycol
HumectantPhenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid
UV AbsorberCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV AbsorberBis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin ConditioningMethyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Glyceryl Stearate
EmollientCitrus Aurantifolia Flower Extract
AstringentCetearyl Olivate
Sea Water
HumectantPrunus Persica Flower Extract
MoisturisingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientNylon-12
Sorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingPyrus Malus Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientPolyacrylate-13
Panthenol
Skin ConditioningPolyisobutene
PEG-100 Stearate
SurfactantTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantPunica Granatum Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningSorbitan Stearate
EmulsifyingOryza Sativa Bran Extract
Skin ConditioningMalpighia Glabra Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
EmollientEucalyptus Globulus Leaf Extract
PerfumingRosa Damascena Flower Water
MaskingPrunus Avium Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingBHT
AntioxidantDisodium EDTA
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientParfum
MaskingWater, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Butylene Glycol, Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Glyceryl Stearate, Citrus Aurantifolia Flower Extract, Cetearyl Olivate, Sea Water, Prunus Persica Flower Extract, Cetearyl Alcohol, Nylon-12, Sorbitan Olivate, Sodium Hydroxide, Pyrus Malus Flower Extract, Dimethicone, Polyacrylate-13, Panthenol, Polyisobutene, PEG-100 Stearate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Punica Granatum Flower Extract, Sorbitan Stearate, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Malpighia Glabra Fruit Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Extract, Rosa Damascena Flower Water, Prunus Avium Flower Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Flower Extract, Citrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract, Sorbitan Isostearate, Polysorbate 20, BHT, Disodium EDTA, 1,2-Hexanediol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylyl Glycol, Parfum
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
This ingredient is better known as bemotrizinol or Tinosorb S and is one of the best broad-spectrum UV filters in modern sunscreen.
It works by absorbing UV light across a whole range (280-400 nm) with peaks around 310 nm (UVB) and 340-345 nm (UVA). This means it covers UVB plus the deeper UVA wavelengths that drive photoaging and pigmentation.
Another pro?
It's exceptionally photostable, barely degrades in sunlight, and acts as a "bodyguard" for less stable filters.
That's why you'll see it paired with avobenzone or octinoxate; this team up ensures they keep working through sun exposure.
Safety reviews have been reassuring across the board. This ingredient shows low absorption through the skin, rarely irritates, and lab studies found it doesn't act like a hormone in the body (a concern that's been raised about some older sunscreen filters).
On maximum concentrations:
In 2026, the US F.D.A finally added it as an OTC sunscreen ingredient at concentrations up to 6% for adults / children 6 months and older
Learn more about Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl TriazineCetearyl alcohol is a waxy mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is an emollient and emulsifier.
Despite having "alcohol" in its name, it has nothing to do with drying solvent alcohols; the FDA also allows "alcohol-free" products to contain fatty alcohols like this ingredient.
It plays several roles in a formula:
Typical use levels for this ingredient sit around 1-10% and the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has affirmed safety at concentrations up to 25% in leave-on products.
Multiple assessments have found it to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing to most people.
However, there have been some cases of allergic contact dermatitis in patients with chronically compromised skin barriers.
Cetearyl alcohol has a comedogenic rating of 2 and irritancy rating of 1. Both of these numbers come from the 1989 study that used rabbit ears; a "2" means mildly comedogenic and a "1" means low irritancy.
Here's the catch: rabbit skin is more sensitive than human skin and throws a lot of false positives. A 1996 reappraisal found that ingredients rated 1-2 in the rabbit ear tests are generally safe for humans.
Remember comedogenic ratings are unable to assess the entire formula of a product or how it will react on your skin. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure about certain ingredients.
This ingredient is not fungal acne safe. Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol with chain lengths that fall within the range that Malassezia can metabolize.
A 2019 study has also observed Malassezia growth in the presence of this ingredient, confirming it to be not-fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAEthylhexylglycerin 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 EthylhexylglycerinGlyceryl Stearate is made by reacting glycerin with stearic acid (typically sourced from plant oils like palm or coconut). It's an emulsifier, emollient, and mild occlusive.
Emulsifiers help ingredients like oil and water stay mixed so your formula stays nicely blended and uniform in texture.
This ingredient is typically used in concentrations between 1-10%. Studies have found it to be non-sensitizing, non-phototoxic, and non-photoallergenic.
A close cousin of this ingredient is Glyceryl Stearate SE ("self-emulsifying"). This just has a small amount of sodium or potassium stearate added so it can emulsify without a co-emulsifier.
Since this ingredient is an ester of a C18 fatty acid, it may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast can potentially metabolize within the C11-C24 range.
Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.
Learn more about Glyceryl StearateParfum 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 ParfumWater. 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