What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%
UV AbsorberHomosalate 5%
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Salicylate 4.5%
UV AbsorberOctocrylene 2.8%
UV AbsorberBenzophenone-3 3%
UV AbsorberWater
Skin ConditioningAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialButylene Glycol
HumectantTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialAnthemis Nobilis Flower Extract
MaskingAlgae Extract
EmollientTriticum Vulgare Germ Extract
Skin ConditioningLaminaria Ochroleuca Extract
Skin ConditioningPolygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract
AntioxidantSqualane
EmollientHordeum Vulgare Extract
EmollientLilium Tigrinum Extract
Skin ConditioningOpuntia Tuna Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCaffeine
Skin ConditioningAcrylates Copolymer
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientCholesterol
EmollientErgothioneine
AntioxidantGlycerin
HumectantSucrose
HumectantAlcaligenes Polysaccharides
EmollientThermus Thermophillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningSorbitan Sesquiisostearate
EmulsifyingTetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
AntioxidantHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingAcrylates/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Copolymer
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingDehydroxanthan Gum
Emulsion StabilisingDipropylene Glycol
HumectantCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPPG-8-Ceteth-20
EmulsifyingDextrin Palmitate
EmulsifyingCyclodextrin
AbsorbentAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSorbeth-30 Tetraisostearate
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPolymethylsilsesquioxane
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
BHT
AntioxidantEthylbisiminomethylguaiacol Manganese Chloride
AntioxidantDisodium EDTA
Phenoxyethanol
PreservativeButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%, Homosalate 5%, Ethylhexyl Salicylate 4.5%, Octocrylene 2.8%, Benzophenone-3 3%, Water, Alcohol Denat., Butylene Glycol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract, Algae Extract, Triticum Vulgare Germ Extract, Laminaria Ochroleuca Extract, Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract, Squalane, Hordeum Vulgare Extract, Lilium Tigrinum Extract, Opuntia Tuna Fruit Extract, Caffeine, Acrylates Copolymer, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Caprylyl Glycol, Cholesterol, Ergothioneine, Glycerin, Sucrose, Alcaligenes Polysaccharides, Thermus Thermophillus Ferment, Sorbitan Sesquiisostearate, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Hexylene Glycol, Acrylates/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Copolymer, Sodium Hydroxide, Dehydroxanthan Gum, Dipropylene Glycol, Carbomer, PPG-8-Ceteth-20, Dextrin Palmitate, Cyclodextrin, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Sorbeth-30 Tetraisostearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, BHT, Ethylbisiminomethylguaiacol Manganese Chloride, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol
Water
Skin ConditioningDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientVitis Vinifera Fruit Water
Skin ConditioningDibutyl Adipate
EmollientIsoamyl P-Methoxycinnamate
UV AbsorberPropanediol
SolventButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV AbsorberC20-22 Alkyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingEthylhexyl Triazone
UV AbsorberC20-22 Alcohols
Emulsion StabilisingBenzotriazolyl Dodecyl P-Cresol
UV AbsorberBis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantCaprylyl/Capryl Glucoside
CleansingParfum
Masking1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientSodium Hydroxide
BufferingPalmitoyl Grape Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningPicea Abies Wood Extract
Vitis Vinifera Juice
AntioxidantCitric Acid
BufferingO-Cymen-5-Ol
AntimicrobialPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Benzoate
MaskingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeTocopherol
AntioxidantBenzyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialBenzyl Salicylate
PerfumingCitronellol
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingWater, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Vitis Vinifera Fruit Water, Dibutyl Adipate, Isoamyl P-Methoxycinnamate, Propanediol, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, C20-22 Alkyl Phosphate, Ethylhexyl Triazone, C20-22 Alcohols, Benzotriazolyl Dodecyl P-Cresol, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Glycerin, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Parfum, 1,2-Hexanediol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Sodium Hydroxide, Palmitoyl Grape Seed Extract, Picea Abies Wood Extract, Vitis Vinifera Juice, Citric Acid, O-Cymen-5-Ol, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Tocopheryl Acetate, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Tocopherol, Benzyl Benzoate, Benzyl Salicylate, Citronellol, Geraniol, Hexyl Cinnamal, Linalool
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Also known as Avobenzone, this ingredient is a chemical sunscreen filter that provides protection in the UV-A range.
Avobenzone is globally approved and is the most commonly used UV-A filter in the world.
Studies have found that avobenzone becomes ineffective when exposed to UV light (it is not photostable; meaning that it breaks down in sunlight). Because of this, formulations that include avobenzone will usually contain stabilizers such as octocrylene.
However, some modern formulations (looking at you, EU!) are able to stabilize avobenzone by coating the molecules.
Avobenzone does not protect against the UV-B range, so it's important to check that the sunscreen you're using contains other UV filters that do!
The highest concentration of avobenzone permitted is 3% in the US, and 5% in the EU.
Learn more about Butyl MethoxydibenzoylmethaneGlycerin (or glycerol) is a compound naturally found in your skin. It's a powerhouse humectant that pulls water into the stratum corneum.
Topically, glycerin does several things at once:
Your skin makes glycerin on its own (mostly from sebaceous oil breakdown) and shuttles it to your outermost layer of skin, or your epidermis, via aquaporin-3.
Aquaporin-3 is a transporter that is essential for normal skin hydration, elasticity, and repair. Interestingly, mice lacking in AQP3 have dry and less elastic skin that can be fully corrected with glycerin.
This ingredient is non-irritating, plays well with almost every ingredient, and works across all skin types. Typical use is anywhere between 3-10% but can go up to 79% in some leave-on products.
Just know very high concentrations (>40%) can feel tacky in low humidity.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinGlyceryl 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 StearateSodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideTocopheryl 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 Water