What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientDiethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV Filter
Ethylhexyl Triazone
UV Absorber
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Tris-Biphenyl Triazine
UV Absorber
Tapioca Starch
Propanediol
Solvent
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Ubiquinone
Antioxidant
Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Jojoba Esters
Emollient
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingOctyldodecanol
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Trihydroxystearin
Skin Conditioning
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientBenzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Disodium Phosphate
BufferingSorbic Acid
Preservative
Sodium Dehydroacetate
Preservative
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingIron Oxides
Parfum
Masking
Water, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Glyceryl Stearate, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Tris-Biphenyl Triazine, Tapioca Starch, Propanediol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Tocopherol, Ubiquinone, Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract, Jojoba Esters, Xanthan Gum, Octyldodecanol, Butylene Glycol, Trihydroxystearin, Decyl Glucoside, Glyceryl Caprylate, Benzyl Alcohol, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Salicylic Acid, Disodium Phosphate, Sorbic Acid, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Potassium Hydroxide, Iron Oxides, Parfum
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 4%
UV Absorber
Octocrylene 4%
UV Absorber
Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid 4%
UV Absorber
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate 3%
UV Absorber
Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine 2%
Skin Conditioning
Water
Skin ConditioningDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientSilica
Abrasive
Glycerin
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Methylpropanediol
SolventMethyl Glucose Sesquistearate
Emollient
PEG-20 Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate
Emulsifying
Caprylyl Methicone
Skin Conditioning
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialSodium Hydroxide
BufferingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Pvp
Emulsion StabilisingCitrus Paradisi Peel Oil
Masking
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPhenylpropanol
Masking
BHT
Antioxidant
Disodium EDTA
Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
Masking
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 4%, Octocrylene 4%, Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid 4%, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate 3%, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine 2%, Water, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Silica, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Cetearyl Alcohol, Methylpropanediol, Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate, PEG-20 Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate, Caprylyl Methicone, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Sodium Hydroxide, Caprylyl Glycol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Polysorbate 60, Carbomer, Panthenol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Pvp, Citrus Paradisi Peel Oil, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Phenylpropanol, BHT, Disodium EDTA, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopherol, Lactic Acid
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 TriazineCetearyl alcohol is a waxy mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is an emollient and emulsifier.
Despite having "alcohol" in its name, it has nothing to do with drying solvent alcohols; the FDA also allows "alcohol-free" products to contain fatty alcohols like this ingredient.
It plays several roles in a formula:
Typical use levels for this ingredient sit around 1-10% and the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has affirmed safety at concentrations up to 25% in leave-on products.
Multiple assessments have found it to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing to most people.
However, there have been some cases of allergic contact dermatitis in patients with chronically compromised skin barriers.
Cetearyl alcohol has a comedogenic rating of 2 and irritancy rating of 1. Both of these numbers come from the 1989 study that used rabbit ears; a "2" means mildly comedogenic and a "1" means low irritancy.
Here's the catch: rabbit skin is more sensitive than human skin and throws a lot of false positives. A 1996 reappraisal found that ingredients rated 1-2 in the rabbit ear tests are generally safe for humans.
Remember comedogenic ratings are unable to assess the entire formula of a product or how it will react on your skin. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure about certain ingredients.
This ingredient is not fungal acne safe. Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol with chain lengths that fall within the range that Malassezia can metabolize.
A 2019 study has also observed Malassezia growth in the presence of this ingredient, confirming it to be not-fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholDicaprylyl Carbonate comes from carbonic acid and caprylyl alcohol, a fatty alcohol. It is an emollient and gives skin a velvet feel. The sources of Dicaprylyl Carbonate may be synthetic or from animals.
As an emollient, Dicaprylyl Carbonate creates a film on the skin. This film traps moisture in, keeping your skin soft and hydrated.
Glycerin (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 GlycerinTocopherol 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 TocopherolWater. 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
