What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButane
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Octocrylene
UV Absorber
Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV Filter
Vp/Hexadecene Copolymer
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Isobutane
Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin Conditioning
Propane
Shea Butter Ethyl Esters
Emollient
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialEthylhexyl Triazone
UV Absorber
Pvp
Emulsion StabilisingPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Triethanolamine
BufferingCarnosine
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Glycerin
Humectant
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Water, Butane, Propylene Glycol, Octocrylene, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Vp/Hexadecene Copolymer, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Stearic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Isobutane, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Propane, Shea Butter Ethyl Esters, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Pvp, Polysorbate 20, Triethanolamine, Carnosine, Tocopheryl Acetate, Glycerin, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Dimethicone, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%
UV Absorber
Homosalate 10%
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%
UV Absorber
Octocrylene 7%
UV Absorber
Water
Skin ConditioningStyrene/Acrylates Copolymer
Dimethicone
Emollient
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
Butyloctyl Salicylate
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Poly C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylyl Methicone
Skin Conditioning
Trisiloxane
Skin Conditioning
Acrylates/Dimethicone Copolymer
Skin Conditioning
Diethylhexyl Syringylidenemalonate
Skin ProtectingPEG-100 Stearate
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
PEG-8 Laurate
Emulsifying
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTriethanolamine
BufferingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Inulin Lauryl Carbamate
Emulsion StabilisingDisodium EDTA
P-Anisic Acid
Masking
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCassia Alata Leaf Extract
AstringentMaltodextrin
Absorbent
Sodium Dodecylbenzenesulfonate
CleansingButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%, Homosalate 10%, Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%, Octocrylene 7%, Water, Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer, Dimethicone, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Glycerin, Alcohol Denat., Poly C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate, Caprylyl Methicone, Trisiloxane, Acrylates/Dimethicone Copolymer, Diethylhexyl Syringylidenemalonate, PEG-100 Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Propylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, PEG-8 Laurate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Triethanolamine, Tocopherol, Inulin Lauryl Carbamate, Disodium EDTA, P-Anisic Acid, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Xanthan Gum, Cassia Alata Leaf Extract, Maltodextrin, Sodium Dodecylbenzenesulfonate
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 MethoxydibenzoylmethaneDimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeGlycerin (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 GlycerinOctocrylene protects skin from sun damage. It absorbs UV-B with peak absorption of 304 nm. It is a common sunscreen ingredient and often paired with avobenzone, a UVA filter. This is because octocrylene stabilizes other sunscreen ingredients by protecting them from degradation when exposed to sunlight. Octocrylene is a photostable ingredient and loses about 10% of SPF in 95 minutes.
Octocrylene also acts as an emollient, meaning it helps skin retain moisture and softens skin. It is oil-soluble and hydrophobic, enhancing water-resistant properties in a product.
Those who are using ketoprofen, a topical anti-inflammatory drug, may experience an allergic reaction when using octocrylene. It is best to speak with a healthcare professional about using sunscreens with octocrylene.
The EU allows a maximum of these concentrations:
Learn more about OctocrylenePropylene Glycol is a synthetic, colorless, odorless liquid that has been a staple in cosmetics for decades. It is a skin conditioning agent, humectant, and solvent.
As a humectant, it draw water to the skin to reduce flaking and restore suppleness. It's also a solvent that helps dissolve other actives and keeps formulas stable across temperature changes.
The CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be nontoxic and clinical studies show no sensitization at cosmetic use concentrations.
True allergic reactions are quite rare: a 15-year retrospective study of 6,751 patients found only 0.31% had a positive reaction (and less than half were considered clinically relevant).
It seemed that when sensitization does occur, it's most commonly linked to topical medication (like corticosteroids) and not cosmetics. Allergic contact dermatitis also appears largely limited to individuals with underlying skin conditions.
Overall, propylene glycol is a well-studied ingredient that most people can tolerate without issue.
Learn more about Propylene GlycolTriethanolamine (TEA) is an emulsifier and pH adjuster. It is created using ethylene oxide and ammonia. This gives Triethanolamine a nitrogen core and a similar scent to ammonia.
As an emulsifier, it prevents ingredients from separating and enhances texture by adding volume to a product.
PH adjusters are common in cosmetic products. The pH of a product can affect the effectiveness of other ingredients. A product with a high pH may also irritate the skin.
If you are looking for the tea leaf ingredient, click here.
Learn more about TriethanolamineWater. 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
