What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax
Skin Conditioning
Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV Filter
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin Conditioning
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Diethylhexyl Butamido Triazone
UV Absorber
CI 77220
Cosmetic ColorantMagnesium Carbonate
AbsorbentOryza Sativa Bran Wax
Skin Conditioning
Pongamia Glabra Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Dunaliella Salina Extract
Skin ConditioningHaematococcus Pluvialis Extract
Antioxidant
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Hydrogenated Olive Oil Unsaponifiables
Emollient
Hydrogenated Ethylhexyl Olivate
EmollientTocopherol
Antioxidant
Coco-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
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Isoamyl Laurate
Emollient
Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV Filter
Triheptanoin
Skin ConditioningDibutyl Lauroyl Glutamide
Skin ConditioningDibutyl Ethylhexanoyl Glutamide
Skin ConditioningBis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexyl Triazone
UV Absorber
Diethylhexyl Butamido Triazone
UV Absorber
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Haematococcus Pluvialis Extract
Antioxidant
Squalane
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Octyldodecanol, Isoamyl Laurate, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Triheptanoin, Dibutyl Lauroyl Glutamide, Dibutyl Ethylhexanoyl Glutamide, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Diethylhexyl Butamido Triazone, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Haematococcus Pluvialis Extract, Squalane, Tocopherol
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 TriazoneThis extract comes from a tiny freshwater green microalga that can be found all over the world. It's special because it can produce massive amounts of Astaxanthin, a bright reddish-orange carotenoid pigment that is considered one of nature's most powerful antioxidants.
The algae starts pumping out Astaxanthin as a defense mechanism whenever it gets stressed out by things like intense sunlight or lack of nutrients.
This extract comes as a red-tinted, oily liquid and is packed with carotenoids, proteins, lipids, and minerals.
Astaxanthin is an antioxidant that helps neutralize free radicals and reactive oxygen species (ROS) that cause oxidative damage to your skin. It is also lipophilic, meaning it loves fats. This lets it concentrate in the outer layers of your skin where UV damage tends to hit first.
Research suggests it outperforms other well-known antioxidants like Vitamin C, Vitamin E, and Beta-Carotene in terms of scavenging ability. It can also help inhibit matrix metalloproteinases (the enzymes that break down collagen) and can stimulate growth factor secretion to support collagen production in dermal fibroblasts.
Clinical studies have shown that combining oral supplementation (6 mg/day) with topical application of astaxanthin from H. pluvialis led to improvements in wrinkles, age spots, elasticity, skin texture, and moisture content.
This ingredient is generally considered safe and well-tolerated in both topical and oral applications. In cosmetics, you'll see typical concentrations range from 0.1-2%. Allergic reactions are rare and be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
It's worth noting that about 95% of Astaxanthin on the market is made synthetically from petrochemicals.
Learn more about Haematococcus Pluvialis ExtractOctyldodecanol 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
