What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Ethylhexyl Salicylate 4.75%
UV Absorber
Benzophenone-3 4.25%
UV Absorber
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%
UV Absorber
Octocrylene 2.8%
UV Absorber
Acrylates/C12-22 Alkyl Methacrylate Copolymer
Aleurites Moluccanus Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Butyloctyl Salicylate
Skin Conditioning
Benzoic Acid
Masking
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningGlycereth-2 Cocoate
Emulsifying
Glycerin
Humectant
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
Emollient
Magnesium Aluminum Silicate
Absorbent
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingPotassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingTetrasodium EDTA
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Water
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Salicylate 4.75%, Benzophenone-3 4.25%, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%, Octocrylene 2.8%, Acrylates/C12-22 Alkyl Methacrylate Copolymer, Aleurites Moluccanus Seed Oil, Allantoin, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Benzoic Acid, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glycereth-2 Cocoate, Glycerin, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Phenoxyethanol, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Tetrasodium EDTA, Tocopheryl Acetate, Tocopherol, Water
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%
UV Absorber
Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%
UV Absorber
Octocrylene 8%
UV Absorber
Homosalate 7%
Skin Conditioning
Isododecane
EmollientDimethicone
Emollient
Silica Dimethyl Silylate
EmollientCaprylyl Methicone
Skin Conditioning
PEG-10 Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Stabilising
Glycerin
Humectant
PEG-12 Dimethicone/PPG-20 Crosspolymer
Pongamia Pinnata Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningLimnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder
Skin Conditioning
Polyester-7
Skin ConditioningNeopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningIsopropyl Palmitate
Emollient
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%, Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%, Octocrylene 8%, Homosalate 7%, Isododecane, Dimethicone, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Caprylyl Methicone, PEG-10 Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Glycerin, PEG-12 Dimethicone/PPG-20 Crosspolymer, Pongamia Pinnata Seed Extract, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Polyester-7, Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Isopropyl Palmitate
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 DimethiconeEthylhexyl Salicylate is an organic compound used to block UV rays. It primarily absorbs UVB rays but offers a small amount of UVA protection as well.
Commonly found in sunscreens, Ethylhexyl Salicylate is created from salicylic acid and 2-ethylhexanol. You might know salicylic acid as the effective acne fighter ingredient and BHA.
The ethylhexanol in this ingredient is a fatty alcohol and helps hydrate your skin, similar to oils. It is an emollient, which means it traps moisture into the skin.
According to manufacturers, Ethylhexyl Salicylate absorbs UV wavelength of 295-315 nm, with a peak absorption at 307-310 nm. UVA rays are linked to long term skin damage, such as hyperpigmentation. UVB rays emit more energy and are capable of damaging our DNA. UVB rays cause sunburn.
Learn more about Ethylhexyl SalicylateEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 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.
