What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Polyisobutene
Diisostearyl Malate
EmollientEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV Absorber
Homosalate
Skin Conditioning
Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate
Emollient
Ethylhexyl Salicylate
UV Absorber
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Silica Dimethyl Silylate
EmollientDipentaerythrityl Tri-Polyhydroxystearate
Emollient
Aroma
Polyester-7
Skin ConditioningSqualane
Emollient
Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
BHT
Antioxidant
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate
Antioxidant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Polyisobutene, Diisostearyl Malate, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Homosalate, Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Dipentaerythrityl Tri-Polyhydroxystearate, Aroma, Polyester-7, Squalane, Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate, Phenoxyethanol, BHT, Bisabolol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, Ethylhexylglycerin
Ricinus Communis Seed Oil
Masking
Petrolatum
Emollient
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2
Emollient
Synthetic Wax
Abrasive
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV Absorber
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Di-C20-40 Alkyl Dimer Dilinoleate
Skin ConditioningMicrocrystalline Wax
Emulsion StabilisingButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
Emollient
C10-30 Cholesterol/Lanosterol Esters
Emulsifying
Zinc Oxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningLinoleic Acid
Cleansing
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
BHT
Antioxidant
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Oleic Acid
Emollient
Triethoxycaprylylsilane
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Honey Extract
Humectant
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Water
Skin ConditioningStearic Acid
Cleansing
Glycerin
Humectant
Linolenic Acid
Cleansing
Isobornyl Acetate
Masking
Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract
Masking
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Fucus Vesiculosus Extract
Emollient
Triticum Vulgare Bran Extract
Skin ConditioningArachidic Acid
Cleansing
Behenic Acid
Cleansing
Punica Granatum Flower Extract
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate
Emulsifying
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Petrolatum, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, Synthetic Wax, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Di-C20-40 Alkyl Dimer Dilinoleate, Microcrystalline Wax, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, C10-30 Cholesterol/Lanosterol Esters, Zinc Oxide, Phenoxyethanol, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Bisabolol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Linoleic Acid, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Glycine Soja Oil, Allantoin, BHT, Persea Gratissima Oil, Oleic Acid, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Propylene Glycol, Honey Extract, Palmitic Acid, Water, Stearic Acid, Glycerin, Linolenic Acid, Isobornyl Acetate, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Fucus Vesiculosus Extract, Triticum Vulgare Bran Extract, Arachidic Acid, Behenic Acid, Punica Granatum Flower Extract, Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate, Tocopherol, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate
Alternatives
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
BHT is a synthetic antioxidant and preservative.
As an antioxidant, it helps your body fight off free-radicals. Free-radicals are molecules that may damage your skin cells.
As a preservative, it is used to stabilize products and prevent them from degrading. Specifically, BHT prevents degradation from oxidation.
The concerns related to BHT come from oral studies; this ingredient is currently allowed for use by both the FDA and EU.
However, it was recently restricted for use in the UK as of April 2024.
Learn more about BHTBisabolol is a gentle skin conditioner, antioxidant, and soothing ingredient.
It's primary claim to fame is soothing and research shows topically applied bisabolol can quiet the chemical messengers that cause your skin to become inflamed, helping to sooth any irritation.
A clinical study found that applying 0.5% bisabolol daily for 8 weeks produced an average 9% decrease in skin pigmentation. Researchers found it can also suppress the process that leads to excess melanin production in skin.
In vitro studies found that bisabolol combined with propylene glycol significantly increased skin permeability by increasing lipid fluidity in the stratum corneum.
You'll likely see use concentrations quite low, usually 0.1-0.2%.
Overall, this is a well-tolerated ingredient that works well in formulas designed for sensitive, reactive, or post-procedure skin.
Learn more about BisabololAlso 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 MethoxydibenzoylmethaneThis 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 MethoxycinnamateEthylhexylglycerin 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 EthylhexylglycerinPhenoxyethanol 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.
Tocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl Acetate
