What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV Absorber
Homosalate
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexyl Salicylate
UV Absorber
Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV Filter
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientCyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Octocrylene
UV Absorber
C20-22 Alkyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingC20-22 Alcohols
Emulsion Stabilising
Silica
Abrasive
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Viscum Album Leaf Extract
SoothingPortulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin Conditioning
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Tromethamine
BufferingDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingCereus Grandiflorus Extract
Antioxidant
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Glycine Soja Lipids
Skin ConditioningMicrocrystalline Cellulose
AbsorbentXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPolyisobutene
Carex Humillis Root Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
Masking
Citrus Limon Peel Oil
Masking
Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil
Perfuming
Pinus Sylvestris Leaf Oil
Masking
Citrus Aurantifolia Oil
Cleansing
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Masking
Echium Plantagineum Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract
Malpighia Glabra Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningTerminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Cellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingAdansonia Digitata Seed Oil
Emollient
Ascidian Tunic Extract
Sorbitan Oleate
Emulsifying
Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside
CleansingHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Cardiospermum Halicacabum Flower/Leaf/Vine Extract
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil Unsaponifiables
Emollient
Isoceteth-10
EmulsifyingIsoceteth-25
EmulsifyingWater, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Homosalate, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Alcohol, Butylene Glycol, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Cyclopentasiloxane, Octocrylene, C20-22 Alkyl Phosphate, C20-22 Alcohols, Silica, 1,2-Hexanediol, Cetyl Alcohol, Viscum Album Leaf Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Glyceryl Stearate, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Tromethamine, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Octyldodecanol, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Cereus Grandiflorus Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Glycine Soja Lipids, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Polyisobutene, Carex Humillis Root Extract, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Citrus Limon Peel Oil, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil, Pinus Sylvestris Leaf Oil, Citrus Aurantifolia Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Echium Plantagineum Seed Oil, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract, Malpighia Glabra Fruit Extract, Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract, Cellulose Gum, Adansonia Digitata Seed Oil, Ascidian Tunic Extract, Sorbitan Oleate, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Cardiospermum Halicacabum Flower/Leaf/Vine Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil Unsaponifiables, Isoceteth-10, Isoceteth-25
Water
Skin ConditioningOctocrylene
UV Absorber
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV Absorber
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Benzophenone-3
UV Absorber
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Vp/Hexadecene Copolymer
Acrylates Copolymer
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Dimethicone
Emollient
Caprylyl Methicone
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialAluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate
Absorbent
Alumina
Abrasive
Polyhydroxystearic Acid
Emulsifying
Isopropyl Titanium Triisostearate
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Triethanolamine
BufferingTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Caulerpa Racemosa Extract
AstringentTetrasodium EDTA
BHT
Antioxidant
Water, Octocrylene, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Titanium Dioxide, Benzophenone-3, Propylene Glycol, Vp/Hexadecene Copolymer, Acrylates Copolymer, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Dimethicone, Caprylyl Methicone, Glyceryl Stearate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Alumina, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Isopropyl Titanium Triisostearate, Butylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Triethanolamine, Tocopheryl Acetate, Caulerpa Racemosa Extract, Tetrasodium EDTA, BHT
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolThis 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 MethoxycinnamateGlyceryl 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 StearateOctocrylene is an oil-soluble organic UV filter that mainly absorbs UVB and short wave UVA II light.
Its real superpower is teamwork: octocrylene is remarkably photostable and is most famous for stabilizing avobenzone (the workhorse UVA filter).
This ingredient is commonly used to enhance both UVB and UVA protection due to its unique property in stabilizing avobenzone. It also pulls double duty by boosting water resistance and giving formulas a smooth, spreadable feel.
The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) has deemed octocrylene to be safe as a UV-filter at concentrations up to 10% (capped at 9% in propellant sprays). The US also permits it up to 10%.
Two things worth knowing:
You'll usually see this ingredient used in concentrations between 2-10% (higher amounts when used as a stabilizer for avobenzone).
Learn more about OctocrylenePhenoxyethanol 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.
Water. 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
