What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin Conditioning
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Ethylhexyl Triazone
UV Absorber
Dicaprylyl Ether
Emollient
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Glycerin
Humectant
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingC20-22 Alkyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingMicrocrystalline Cellulose
AbsorbentHamamelis Virginiana Leaf Water
Astringent
Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV Filter
Physalis Angulata Extract
Skin ProtectingDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Lactobacillus
Skin ConditioningLycopene
Antioxidant
Polymnia Sonchifolia Root Juice
Skin ConditioningAlpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide
Cleansing
Sodium Carboxymethyl Beta-Glucan
CleansingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Lecithin
Emollient
Glyceryl Rosinate
Perfuming
C20-22 Alcohols
Emulsion Stabilising
Cellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingOryza Sativa Starch
AbsorbentCellulose
Absorbent
Sodium Sulfate
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
Water, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Dicaprylyl Ether, Alcohol Denat., Glycerin, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, C20-22 Alkyl Phosphate, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Hamamelis Virginiana Leaf Water, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Physalis Angulata Extract, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Lactobacillus, Lycopene, Polymnia Sonchifolia Root Juice, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Sodium Carboxymethyl Beta-Glucan, Tocopherol, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Lecithin, Glyceryl Rosinate, C20-22 Alcohols, Cellulose Gum, Oryza Sativa Starch, Cellulose, Sodium Sulfate, Lactic Acid, Maltodextrin, Caprylyl Glycol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Sodium Hydroxide, Citric Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Diisopropyl Adipate
EmollientMethylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol
UV Filter
Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin Conditioning
Diethylhexyl Butamido Triazone
UV Absorber
Polyglyceryl-2 Dipolyhydroxystearate
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Benzoic Acid
Masking
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Disodium EDTA
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Hydroxycapric Acid
Skin ConditioningLauryl Glucoside
CleansingOxothiazolidine
Skin ProtectingPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Sodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Lauryl Glucose Carboxylate
CleansingSorbic Acid
Preservative
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Tocopheryl Glucoside
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingWater, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Diisopropyl Adipate, Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Diethylhexyl Butamido Triazone, Polyglyceryl-2 Dipolyhydroxystearate, Glycerin, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Decyl Glucoside, Benzoic Acid, Butylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Caprylyl Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Hydroxycapric Acid, Lauryl Glucoside, Oxothiazolidine, Propylene Glycol, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Lauryl Glucose Carboxylate, Sorbic Acid, Tocopherol, Tocopheryl Glucoside, Xanthan Gum
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 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 TriazineAlso known as Avobenzone, this ingredient is an oil-soluble used to absorb the full spectrum of UVA rays (peak 357 nm).
It's one of the most effective UVA filters available but has a major caveat of photostability: avobenzone is susceptible to photodegradation.
This means it can lose efficacy when exposed to sunlight without the help of a stabilizing agent.
Studies show antioxidants (like vitamin E or vitamin C) and some UV filters (like octocrylene and Tinosorb S) can meaningfully improve its stability in a formulation.
The maximum allowable concentration according to regulation is 3% in the US + Canada, and 5% in the EU, Australia, China, Korea, and ASEAN countries.
It has a well-support safety profile: a comprehensive 2025 review found minimal toxicity with no evidence of carcinogenicity.
Overall, avobenzone is a safe and regulated ingredient used in sunscreen for over 40 years.
Learn more about Butyl MethoxydibenzoylmethaneCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride (aka MCT Oil) is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping to prevent moisture loss.
Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. One perk of this ingredient is that it is very stable, resistant to oxidation, and unlikely to go rancid.
In practice, that translates to a long shelf life and a consistently elegant skin feel.
While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this. Just patch test if you have concerns.
Fractionated coconut oil and MCT Oil are both listed as Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride according to INCI. This is because INCI names are based on the ingredient’s final chemical composition and not its marketing name or source.
This ingredient is treated as the gold standard fungal acne safe oil. Even though it is coconut derived, the problematic lauric acid is stripped out.
This leaves just caprylic (C8) and capric (C10) acid. These chain lengths actually trend antifungal; a 2020 study found caprylic acid was enough to disrupt Malassezia furfur cell membrane, with a caprylic acid derivative damaging membrane structures at concentrations as low as 0.2%.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideCaprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolCoco-Caprylate/Caprate is a lightweight ester created from coconut oil fatty acids, caprylic acid, and capric acid.
It is an emollient that helps soften skin and reduce transepidermal water loss (TEWL). What sets it apart from heavier emollients is its ultralight, non-greasy feel.
Once applied, this ingredient dries down quickly and leaves a dry, silky finish behind. This also helps improve spreadability and texture.
This ingredient has an excellent safety-record and is non-irritating.
Typical concentrations for cosmetics range from 0.5-62%.
Research on Malassezia growth found no growth on fatty acid esters with chain lengths shorter than 12 carbons (it prefers C11-24).
Since Coco-Caprylate/Caprate is built on C8 and C10 fatty acids, it is out of the range that Malassezia metabolizes, and therefore safe for fungal acne.
Learn more about Coco-Caprylate/CaprateGlycerin (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 GlycerinTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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
