What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialEthylhexyl Stearate
Emollient
Octocrylene
UV Absorber
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Glycerin
Humectant
Ethylhexyl Salicylate
UV Absorber
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid
UV Absorber
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Tris-Biphenyl Triazine
UV Absorber
Ethylhexyl Triazone
UV Absorber
Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin Conditioning
Aminomethyl Propanol
BufferingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Alumina
Abrasive
Piroctone Olamine
Preservative
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Disodium Phosphate
BufferingSimethicone
Emollient
Diethylhexyl Sodium Sulfosuccinate
CleansingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Silver Chloride
Preservative
Water, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Ethylhexyl Stearate, Octocrylene, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Glycerin, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Titanium Dioxide, Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid, Glyceryl Stearate, Tris-Biphenyl Triazine, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Aminomethyl Propanol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Alumina, Piroctone Olamine, Decyl Glucoside, Disodium Phosphate, Simethicone, Diethylhexyl Sodium Sulfosuccinate, Xanthan Gum, Butylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Propylene Glycol, Silver Chloride
Octocrylene 3%
UV Absorber
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%
UV Absorber
4-Methylbenzylidene Camphor 2%
UV Absorber
Ethylhexyl Triazone 2%
UV Absorber
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Magnesium Aluminum Silicate
Absorbent
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Tetrasodium EDTA
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Isopropyl Palmitate
Emollient
Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate
Emulsifying
Water
Skin ConditioningSilica
Abrasive
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Triethanolamine
BufferingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingOctocrylene 3%, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%, 4-Methylbenzylidene Camphor 2%, Ethylhexyl Triazone 2%, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Tocopheryl Acetate, Tetrasodium EDTA, Hydroxyacetophenone, Isopropyl Palmitate, Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate, Phenoxyethanol, Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate, Water, Silica, Stearic Acid, Triethanolamine, Xanthan Gum
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Also 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 MethoxydibenzoylmethaneCetearyl 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 AlcoholEthylhexyl Triazone (aka Octyl Triazone) is an oil-soluble organic UVB filter. It has peak absorption around 314 nm, right in the middle of the UVB range.
This ingredient is described as one of the most effective UVB filters available and small concentrations are enough to deliver a high SPF thanks to its strong UV absorbing power.
Formulators love it for its stability; its ability to filter UV stays practically unchanged even under intense radiation and it can also help boost the photostability of less stable filters like avobenzone.
It's also a great pick for water resistant products because it's insoluble in water and has a good affinity for keratin.
Because it's a big, heavy molecule, the European Scientific Committee has found to to have very low dermal penetration and negative results for allergenicity.
In vitro testing also showed a low absorption rate and clean results on irritation.
Typical use levels are 1-5% with 5% being the maximum in the EU, Japan, and other markets that allow it. However, this ingredient is not approved yet in the US or Canada.
Learn more about Ethylhexyl TriazoneOctocrylene is an oil-soluble organic UV filter that mainly absorbs UVB and short wave UVA II light.
Its real superpower is teamwork: octocrylene is remarkably photostable and is most famous for stabilizing avobenzone (the workhorse UVA filter).
This ingredient is commonly used to enhance both UVB and UVA protection due to its unique property in stabilizing avobenzone. It also pulls double duty by boosting water resistance and giving formulas a smooth, spreadable feel.
The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) has deemed octocrylene to be safe as a UV-filter at concentrations up to 10% (capped at 9% in propellant sprays). The US also permits it up to 10%.
Two things worth knowing:
You'll usually see this ingredient used in concentrations between 2-10% (higher amounts when used as a stabilizer for avobenzone).
Learn more about OctocrylenePhenoxyethanol is one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.
Learn more about PhenoxyethanolWater. 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum
