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 ConditioningTuna 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, Tuna 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 ConditioningDiisopropyl Sebacate
EmollientAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialEthylhexyl Salicylate
UV AbsorberEthylhexyl Triazone
UV AbsorberBis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin ConditioningDiisopropyl Adipate
EmollientPEG-8
HumectantDipropylene Glycol
HumectantC12-22 Alkyl Acrylate/Hydroxyethylacrylate Copolymer
StabilisingGlycerin
HumectantDrometrizole Trisiloxane
UV AbsorberAluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate
AbsorbentButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV AbsorberMethoxypropylamino Cyclohexenylidene Ethoxyethylcyanoacetate
StabilisingSilica
AbrasiveTocopherol
AntioxidantDiethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV FilterAcrylates Copolymer
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantPentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
AntioxidantSodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentTerephthalylidene Dicamphor Sulfonic Acid
UV AbsorberTriethanolamine
BufferingTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Water, Diisopropyl Sebacate, Alcohol Denat., Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Diisopropyl Adipate, PEG-8, Dipropylene Glycol, C12-22 Alkyl Acrylate/Hydroxyethylacrylate Copolymer, Glycerin, Drometrizole Trisiloxane, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Methoxypropylamino Cyclohexenylidene Ethoxyethylcyanoacetate, Silica, Tocopherol, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Acrylates Copolymer, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Caprylyl Glycol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Sodium Polyacrylate, Terephthalylidene Dicamphor Sulfonic Acid, Triethanolamine, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Acrylates Copolymer is used as a film-forming agent and texture enhancer.
After applied, Acrylates Copolymer forms a thin film cover that helps skin feel more soft. It can help sunscreens become more water-resistant.
It is also used to make a product more thick.
Learn more about Acrylates CopolymerAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer is a synthetic polymer. It is used to thicken and improve the texture of products. Due to its properties, it can prevent water and oil ingredients from separating.
Alcohol Denat. is an alcohol with a denaturant property. It is created by mixing ethanol with other additives.
This ingredient gets a bad rep because it is irritating and drying - mostly due to its astringent property. Astringents draw out natural oils in tissue, constricting pores and leaving your skin dried out.
However, alcohol denat. is not all that bad.
Due to its low molecular weight, alcohol denat. tends to evaporate quickly. One study on pig skin found half of applied alcohol evaporated in 10 seconds and less than 3% stayed on skin.
This also helps other ingredients become better absorbed upon application.
Studies are conflicted about whether this ingredient causes skin dehydration. One study from 2005 found adding emollients to propanol-based sanitizer decreased skin dryness and irritation. Another study found irritation only occurs if your skin is already damaged.
Small amounts of alcohol are generally tolerated by oily skin or people who live in humid environments.
The rule of thumb is if this alcohol is near the end of an ingredients list, it will probably not affect your skin much.
Also...
This ingredient has antimicrobial and solvent properties.
The antimicrobial property helps preserve products and increase their shelf life. As a solvent, it helps dissolve other ingredients.
Other types of astringent alcohols include:
Learn more about Alcohol Denat.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 MethoxydibenzoylmethaneCaprylyl Glycol is a humectant and emollient, meaning it attracts and preserves moisture.
It is a common ingredient in many products, especially those designed to hydrate skin. The primary benefits are retaining moisture, skin softening, and promoting a healthy skin barrier.
Though Caprylyl Glycol is an alcohol derived from fatty acids, it is not the kind that can dry out skin.
This ingredient is also used as a preservative to extend the life of products. It has slight antimicrobial properties.
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolDipropylene Glycol is a synthetically created humectant, stabilizer, and solvent.
This ingredient helps:
Dipropylene glycol is technically an alcohol, but it belongs to the glycol family (often considered part of the ‘good’ alcohols). This means it is hydrating and gentle on skin unlike drying solvent alcohols like denatured alcohol.
As a masking agent, Dipropylene Glycol can be used to cover the smell of other ingredients. However, it does not have a scent.
Studies show Dipropylene Glycol is considered safe to use in skincare.
Learn more about Dipropylene GlycolEthylhexyl Salicylate is an organic compound used to block UV rays. It primarily absorbs UVB rays but offers a small amount of UVA protection as well.
Commonly found in sunscreens, Ethylhexyl Salicylate is created from salicylic acid and 2-ethylhexanol. You might know salicylic acid as the effective acne fighter ingredient and BHA.
The ethylhexanol in this ingredient is a fatty alcohol and helps hydrate your skin, similar to oils. It is an emollient, which means it traps moisture into the skin.
According to manufacturers, Ethylhexyl Salicylate absorbs UV wavelength of 295-315 nm, with a peak absorption at 307-310 nm. UVA rays are linked to long term skin damage, such as hyperpigmentation. UVB rays emit more energy and are capable of damaging our DNA. UVB rays cause sunburn.
Learn more about Ethylhexyl SalicylateGlycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.
A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.
As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.
Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.
Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.
In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.
This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinWater. 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. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water