What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
EmollientHelianthus Annuus Seed Wax
Skin ConditioningDiethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV FilterOctyldodecanol
EmollientBis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin ConditioningButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningDiethylhexyl Butamido Triazone
UV AbsorberCI 77220
Cosmetic ColorantMagnesium Carbonate
AbsorbentOryza Sativa Bran Wax
Skin ConditioningPongamia Glabra Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningDunaliella Salina Extract
Skin ConditioningHaematococcus Pluvialis Extract
AntioxidantHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientHydrogenated Olive Oil Unsaponifiables
EmollientHydrogenated Ethylhexyl Olivate
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantCoco-Caprylate/Caprate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Octyldodecanol, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Diethylhexyl Butamido Triazone, CI 77220, Magnesium Carbonate, Oryza Sativa Bran Wax, Pongamia Glabra Seed Oil, Dunaliella Salina Extract, Haematococcus Pluvialis Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Hydrogenated Olive Oil Unsaponifiables, Hydrogenated Ethylhexyl Olivate, Tocopherol
Propylheptyl Caprylate
EmollientOctyldodecanol
EmollientDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientDiethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV FilterTriethyl Citrate
MaskingTributyl Citrate
SolventEthylhexyl Triazone
UV AbsorberBis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin ConditioningDibutyl Lauroyl Glutamide
Skin ConditioningDiethylhexyl Butamido Triazone
UV AbsorberDibutyl Ethylhexanoyl Glutamide
Skin ConditioningLepidium Sativum Sprout Extract
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingPropylheptyl Caprylate, Octyldodecanol, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Triethyl Citrate, Tributyl Citrate, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Dibutyl Lauroyl Glutamide, Diethylhexyl Butamido Triazone, Dibutyl Ethylhexanoyl Glutamide, Lepidium Sativum Sprout Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Tocopherol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Reviews
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 TriazineDiethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate (DHHB) is a chemical UV-A absorber. It is formulated for high UVA protection (320-400 nm).
DHHB is well-liked for:
DHHB has been approved by the EU, Japan, Taiwan, and South America for use up to 10%. Unfortunately, it has not been approved for use in the US or Canada due to slow regulatory processes.
This ingredient is soluble in oils, fats, and lipids.
Learn more about Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl BenzoateDiethylhexyl Butamido Triazone (aka Iscotrizinol) is an oil-soluble organic UV filter that mainly absorbs UVB and a bit of UVA II light.
This ingredient is great at preventing sunburn but doesn't cover the deep UVA I range. This is why it's often paired with a UVA filter like Avobenzone or Bemotrizinol.
Two of its biggest selling points are efficiency and stability:
Most of the other chemical filters are considered "photostable" if they can last for two hours.
Because this ingredient is oil-loving, it can sit neatly into the oil phase of emulsions and shines in water-repellent/water-resistant formulations.
The EU and Canada allow it to be used up to 10% and Japan allows it up to 5%.
Unfortunately, it's not yet an FDA approved sunscreen agent so you won't be able to find it in sunscreens in the US.
Safety-wise, it has a pretty solid record: the EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) has reviewed it and found low skin absorption, no capacity to produce skin irritation or photo-irritation.
In vitro testing has found less than 0.1% of the applied dose is absorbed by the skin over 24 hours (mostly due to its large molecule size).
Fun fact: This ingredient even has anti-inflammatory properties similar to those of ketoprofe, an anti-inflammatory medication.
Learn more about Diethylhexyl Butamido TriazoneHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil is a plant oil derived from the seeds of a sunflower.
It is rich in fatty acids, primarily linoleic acid and oleic acid. This gives it emollient and skin conditioning properties.
The reason this ingredient is so effective is because it forms a thin film on the skin that reduces transepidermal water loss (TEWL) while supplying linoleic acid to the stratum corneum to improve barrier strength.
The high linoleic acid content is particularly noteworthy for acne-prone skin.
Research suggests that acne-prone skin tends to be deficient in linoleic acid in sebum. Topical application may help replenish this to support a healthier follicular environment and less comedone-promoting sebum.
One randomized study found sunflower seed oil preserved skin barrier integrity in adult volunteers with and without atopic dermatitis (outperforming olive oil).
This ingredient is well-studied, gentle, and an effective emollient suitable for most skin types.
On fungal acne: This ingredient may not be Fungal acne (Malassezia folliculitis) safe. This is because it contains fatty acids with carbon chain lengths in the C11-C24 range.
Learn more about Helianthus Annuus Seed OilOctyldodecanol is a fatty alcohol sourced from plant oils like coconut or palm (or made synthetically).
It is:
You'll likely see this in many BHA products because this is the go-to solvent for salicylic acid.
This ingredient is typically used at levels between 2-20%.
Regarding fungal acne:
In 2019, this ingredient was tested against multiple Malassezia species (the yeast that causes fungal acne) and showed no growth.
Tocopherol 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 Tocopherol