This chemical sunscreen covers the full UV range and blocks ~98% of UVB at SPF 50.
This chemical sunscreen covers the full UV range and blocks ~98% of UVB at SPF 50.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDiethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV Filter
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV Absorber
Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate
EmollientBis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin Conditioning
Butyloctyl Salicylate
Skin Conditioning
Tris-Biphenyl Triazine
UV Absorber
Ethylhexyl Triazone
UV Absorber
Polyester-7
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Hydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Trideceth-6
EmulsifyingLactobacillus/Collagen Ferment Filtrate
Humectant
Collagen
Moisturising
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Biosaccharide Gum-4
Skin Conditioning
Disodium Phosphate
BufferingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Artemisia Vulgaris Extract
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingWater, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Tris-Biphenyl Triazine, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Polyester-7, Butylene Glycol, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Sodium Polyacrylate, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Phenoxyethanol, Decyl Glucoside, 1,2-Hexanediol, Trideceth-6, Lactobacillus/Collagen Ferment Filtrate, Collagen, Tocopheryl Acetate, Biosaccharide Gum-4, Disodium Phosphate, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Hyaluronate, Artemisia Vulgaris Extract, Sodium Hydroxide
Water
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV Absorber
Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV Filter
Undecane
EmollientDimethicone
Emollient
Silica
Abrasive
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Tridecane
Perfuming
Triethanolamine
Buffering1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Ectoin
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid
UV Absorber
Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin Conditioning
Alpha-Arbutin
Antioxidant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Cyclohexasiloxane
Emollient
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Zingiber Officinale Root Extract
Masking
Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingPEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Oleth-20
CleansingMagnesium Aluminum Silicate
Absorbent
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSucrose Stearate
EmollientHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Parfum
Masking
Disodium EDTA
Water, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Undecane, Dimethicone, Silica, Cyclopentasiloxane, Tridecane, Triethanolamine, 1,2-Hexanediol, Ectoin, Niacinamide, Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Alpha-Arbutin, Allantoin, Ceramide NP, Tocopherol, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Cyclohexasiloxane, Bisabolol, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, PEG-100 Stearate, Sorbitan Isostearate, Oleth-20, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Glyceryl Stearate, Carbomer, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Sucrose Stearate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Parfum, Disodium EDTA
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives
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 BenzoateDimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeThis 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 MethoxycinnamateWater. 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
