What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningBis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin Conditioning
Dimethicone
Emollient
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV Absorber
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Squalane
Emollient
Methylpropanediol
SolventCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantIsohexadecane
EmollientDiethoxyethyl Succinate
SolventC14-22 Alcohols
Emulsion Stabilising
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Litchi Chinensis Pericarp Extract
Skin ConditioningPEG-100
HumectantPEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingC12-20 Alkyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Urea
Buffering
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Pancratium Maritimum Extract
BleachingGlabridin
Bleaching1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
PEG/PPG-17/6 Copolymer
SolventPhormidium Persicinum Extract
Antioxidant
Maris Aqua
HumectantAluminum Hydroxide
EmollientPolymethylsilsesquioxane
Parfum
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
BHT
Antioxidant
Water, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Dimethicone, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Niacinamide, Panthenol, Squalane, Methylpropanediol, CI 77891, Isohexadecane, Diethoxyethyl Succinate, C14-22 Alcohols, Glyceryl Stearate, Behenyl Alcohol, Litchi Chinensis Pericarp Extract, PEG-100, PEG-100 Stearate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Hydroxyacetophenone, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Urea, Tocopherol, Ascorbic Acid, Pancratium Maritimum Extract, Glabridin, 1,2-Hexanediol, PEG/PPG-17/6 Copolymer, Phormidium Persicinum Extract, Maris Aqua, Aluminum Hydroxide, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Parfum, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, BHT
Water
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV Absorber
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Glycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Polymethyl Methacrylate
Octocrylene
UV Absorber
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Ectoin
Skin Conditioning
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Acrylates Crosspolymer
AbsorbentAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Potassium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl 2-Glyceryl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Water, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Glycerin, Propanediol, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Octocrylene, Butylene Glycol, Ectoin, Ascorbic Acid, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Hyaluronic Acid, Acrylates Crosspolymer, Allantoin, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Tocopheryl Acetate, Chlorphenesin, Potassium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Caprylyl 2-Glyceryl Ascorbate, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Hyaluronate
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ascorbic Acid is is pure Vitamin C and is the biologically active form used directly by skin.
Not only is vitamin C great for your overall health and immune system, but it also has plenty of benefits for your skin. It is best supported by academic literature for:
Topical vitamin C has been shown to help neutralize oxidative stress from UV and pollution, helping to improve photoaging and hyperpigmentation when used consistently.
One clinical study found that using 5% topical vitamin C for six months improved signs of photodamaged skin, both on the surface and in the deeper structural layers of the skin.
While vitamin C doesn’t replace sunscreen, studies show it can boost photoprotection when combined with Vitamin E and ferulic acid. These two ingredients help improve stability and protective effects.
The big downside of this ingredient is formulation difficulty. Vitamin C is prone to oxidation and doesn't penetrate the skin unless formulated correctly. Research found that vitamin C absorbs into the skin best at a low pH (< 3.5) with about 20% being the upper limit for effective absorption.
Skin levels can saturate after repeated application; this means your skin won’t keep absorbing more once it’s full of vitamin C. This is why more isn’t always better with vitamin C and why very high concentrations don’t necessarily give extra benefits.
Ascorbic acid generally works well with many skincare ingredients but can be irritating when combined with other active ingredients. Strong oxidizing acne treatments like benzoyl peroxide can reduce the effectiveness of vitamin C if they are used at the same time; they are often recommended for use at different times of day.
Read more about other types of Vitamin C:
Foods rich with vitamin C include oranges, strawberries, broccoli, bell peppers, and more. When consuming Vitamin C, your skin receives a portion of the nutrients.
Learn more about Ascorbic AcidAlso 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 MethoxydibenzoylmethaneButylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolThis 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 GlycerinWater. 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
