What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid 2%
UV Absorber
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate 7.5%
UV Absorber
Ethylhexyl Salicylate 4.5%
UV Absorber
Titanium Dioxide 2.4%
Cosmetic Colorant
Zinc Oxide 4.8%
Cosmetic Colorant
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialDimethicone
Emollient
Cyclomethicone
Emollient
Methylpropanediol
SolventCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Ceteareth-20
CleansingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Glyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
Lactic Acid
Buffering
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Coco-Glycerides
Emollient
Vp/Hexadecene Copolymer
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPEG-40 Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingTrisodium EDTA
Alumina
Abrasive
Sodium Cetearyl Sulfate
Cleansing
Triethoxycaprylylsilane
Simethicone
Emollient
Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid 2%, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate 7.5%, Ethylhexyl Salicylate 4.5%, Titanium Dioxide 2.4%, Zinc Oxide 4.8%, Water, Glycerin, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Dimethicone, Cyclomethicone, Methylpropanediol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Ceteareth-20, Phenoxyethanol, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Sodium Lactate, Lactic Acid, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydrogenated Coco-Glycerides, Vp/Hexadecene Copolymer, Xanthan Gum, PEG-40 Castor Oil, Sodium Hydroxide, Trisodium EDTA, Alumina, Sodium Cetearyl Sulfate, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Simethicone
Water
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV Absorber
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Ethylhexyl Triazone
UV Absorber
Triethanolamine
BufferingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Silica
Abrasive
Polyglyceryl-10 Pentaisostearate
Emollient
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingHydrolyzed Collagen
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV Filter
Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
Diethoxyethyl Succinate
SolventArginine
Masking
Polystyrene
Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane
EmollientIsononyl Isononanoate
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Polyvinyl Alcohol
Glycol Dimethacrylate Crosspolymer
Methylparaben
Preservative
Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantWater, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Alcohol Denat., Butylene Glycol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Triethanolamine, Xanthan Gum, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Silica, Polyglyceryl-10 Pentaisostearate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Glycerin, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Disodium EDTA, Diethoxyethyl Succinate, Arginine, Polystyrene, Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, Isononyl Isononanoate, Phenoxyethanol, Polyvinyl Alcohol, Glycol Dimethacrylate Crosspolymer, Methylparaben, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Dipropylene Glycol
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
This 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 MethoxycinnamateGlycerin (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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum
