What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV Absorber
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Octocrylene
UV Absorber
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-11
Emulsion StabilisingSilica
Abrasive
Glycerin
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Apium Graveolens Extract
Skin ConditioningBiosaccharide Gum-1
Humectant
Honey Extract
Humectant
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Lecithin
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Triethylene Glycol
Masking
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Avena Sativa Kernel Extract
Abrasive
Lactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Water, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Butylene Glycol, Octocrylene, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-11, Silica, Glycerin, Panthenol, Phenoxyethanol, Apium Graveolens Extract, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Honey Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Bisabolol, Lecithin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Triethylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Lactobacillus Ferment, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV Absorber
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Epilobium Angustifolium Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningAcrylates Crosspolymer
AbsorbentInulin Lauryl Carbamate
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexyl Triazone
UV Absorber
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Bakuchiol
Antimicrobial
Ectoin
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Octocrylene
UV Absorber
Sodium Surfactin
CleansingQuaternium-73
Water, Glycerin, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Epilobium Angustifolium Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Acrylates Crosspolymer, Inulin Lauryl Carbamate, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Chlorphenesin, Bisabolol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Bakuchiol, Ectoin, Phenoxyethanol, Octocrylene, Sodium Surfactin, Quaternium-73
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Bisabolol is a gentle skin conditioner, antioxidant, and soothing ingredient.
It's primary claim to fame is soothing and research shows topically applied bisabolol can quiet the chemical messengers that cause your skin to become inflamed, helping to sooth any irritation.
A clinical study found that applying 0.5% bisabolol daily for 8 weeks produced an average 9% decrease in skin pigmentation. Researchers found it can also suppress the process that leads to excess melanin production in skin.
In vitro studies found that bisabolol combined with propylene glycol significantly increased skin permeability by increasing lipid fluidity in the stratum corneum.
You'll likely see use concentrations quite low, usually 0.1-0.2%.
Overall, this is a well-tolerated ingredient that works well in formulas designed for sensitive, reactive, or post-procedure skin.
Learn more about BisabololAlso known as Avobenzone, this ingredient is a chemical sunscreen filter that provides protection in the UV-A range.
Avobenzone is globally approved and is the most commonly used UV-A filter in the world.
Studies have found that avobenzone becomes ineffective when exposed to UV light (it is not photostable; meaning that it breaks down in sunlight). Because of this, formulations that include avobenzone will usually contain stabilizers such as octocrylene.
However, some modern formulations (looking at you, EU!) are able to stabilize avobenzone by coating the molecules.
Avobenzone does not protect against the UV-B range, so it's important to check that the sunscreen you're using contains other UV filters that do!
The highest concentration of avobenzone permitted is 3% in the US, and 5% in the EU.
Learn more about Butyl MethoxydibenzoylmethaneEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate is an organic compound that provides UVB protection. It often goes by the more common name of octinoxate. It is created from methoxycinnamic acid and 2-ethylhexanol.
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate absorbs UVB rays with wavelengths between 280-320 nm. UV absorbers protect your skin by using chemical reactions to convert UV rays into heat and energy.
UVB (290-320 nm) rays emit more energy than UVA rays. They are capable of damaging DNA, causing sunburns and are thought to be linked to skin cancer.
The state of Hawaii has banned sunscreens containing octinoxate due to its potential impact on coral reefs. More research is needed to bridge gaps in this research. The European Union allows higher levels of octinoxate in sunscreens than the US and Australia.
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate is oil soluble. It is not stable and may lose efficacy when exposed to sunlight.
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 GlycerinOctocrylene protects skin from sun damage. It absorbs UV-B with peak absorption of 304 nm. It is a common sunscreen ingredient and often paired with avobenzone, a UVA filter. This is because octocrylene stabilizes other sunscreen ingredients by protecting them from degradation when exposed to sunlight. Octocrylene is a photostable ingredient and loses about 10% of SPF in 95 minutes.
Octocrylene also acts as an emollient, meaning it helps skin retain moisture and softens skin. It is oil-soluble and hydrophobic, enhancing water-resistant properties in a product.
Those who are using ketoprofen, a topical anti-inflammatory drug, may experience an allergic reaction when using octocrylene. It is best to speak with a healthcare professional about using sunscreens with octocrylene.
The EU allows a maximum of these concentrations:
Learn more about OctocrylenePhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Water. 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
