What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%
UV Absorber
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate 7.5%
UV Absorber
Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%
UV Absorber
Water
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Glucosamine
Skin Conditioning
Butyloctyl Salicylate
Skin Conditioning
Dimethicone
Emollient
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialGlycerin
Humectant
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Cyclohexasiloxane
Emollient
Octyldodecyl Neopentanoate
EmollientCetyl Alcohol
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract
Antimicrobial
Tetrahydrodiferuloylmethane
Antioxidant
4-Butylresorcinol
Antioxidant
Ceteth-20
CleansingPEG-75 Stearate
Surfactant
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Disodium EDTA
Steareth-20
CleansingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAmmonium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Bisulfite
Antioxidant
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate 7.5%, Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%, Water, Acetyl Glucosamine, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Dimethicone, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Glycerin, Cyclopentasiloxane, Glyceryl Stearate, Butylene Glycol, Cyclohexasiloxane, Octyldodecyl Neopentanoate, Cetyl Alcohol, PEG-100 Stearate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract, Tetrahydrodiferuloylmethane, 4-Butylresorcinol, Ceteth-20, PEG-75 Stearate, Propylene Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Steareth-20, Xanthan Gum, Ammonium Hydroxide, Sodium Bisulfite, Carbomer, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV Absorber
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Epilobium Angustifolium Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningAcrylates Crosspolymer
AbsorbentInulin Lauryl Carbamate
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexyl Triazone
UV Absorber
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Bakuchiol
Antimicrobial
Ectoin
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Octocrylene
UV Absorber
Sodium Surfactin
CleansingQuaternium-73
Water, Glycerin, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Epilobium Angustifolium Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Acrylates Crosspolymer, Inulin Lauryl Carbamate, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Chlorphenesin, Bisabolol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Bakuchiol, Ectoin, Phenoxyethanol, Octocrylene, Sodium Surfactin, Quaternium-73
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 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 MethoxydibenzoylmethaneChlorphenesin is a synthetic preservative. It helps protect a product against bacteria in order to extend shelf life. In most cases, Chlorphenesin is paired with other preservatives such as phenoxyethanol and caprylyl glycol.
Chlorphenesin is a biocide. This means it is able to help fight the microorganisms on our skin. It is also able to fight odor-releasing bacteria.
Chlorphenesin is soluble in both water and glycerin.
Studies show Chlorphenesin is easily absorbed by our skin. You should speak with a skincare professional if you have concerns about using Chlorphenesin.
Learn more about ChlorphenesinThis 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 Water
