What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV Absorber
Ethylhexyl Salicylate
UV Absorber
Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid
UV Absorber
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Triethanolamine
BufferingOctocrylene
UV Absorber
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV Filter
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Synthetic Fluorphlogopite
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantMica
Cosmetic Colorant
PEG-100 Stearate
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Beeswax
Emulsion Stabilising
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
Tin Oxide
Abrasive
CI 75470
Cosmetic ColorantThymus Vulgaris Flower/Leaf Extract
MaskingOriganum Majorana Leaf Extract
AntiseborrhoeicMentha Piperita Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningRosa Canina Fruit Extract
Astringent
Parfum
Masking
Water, Butylene Glycol, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid, Stearyl Alcohol, Triethanolamine, Octocrylene, Niacinamide, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, CI 77891, Mica, PEG-100 Stearate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Glyceryl Stearate, Beeswax, Caprylyl Glycol, Carbomer, Adenosine, Disodium EDTA, Tin Oxide, CI 75470, Thymus Vulgaris Flower/Leaf Extract, Origanum Majorana Leaf Extract, Mentha Piperita Leaf Extract, Rosa Canina Fruit Extract, Parfum
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
CleansingDisodium 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
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 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 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 GlycolCaprylyl Glycol is a humectant and emollient, meaning it attracts and preserves moisture.
It is a common ingredient in many products, especially those designed to hydrate skin. The primary benefits are retaining moisture, skin softening, and promoting a healthy skin barrier.
Though Caprylyl Glycol is an alcohol derived from fatty acids, it is not the kind that can dry out skin.
This ingredient is also used as a preservative to extend the life of products. It has slight antimicrobial properties.
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolEthylhexyl Salicylate is an organic compound used to block UV rays. It primarily absorbs UVB rays but offers a small amount of UVA protection as well.
Commonly found in sunscreens, Ethylhexyl Salicylate is created from salicylic acid and 2-ethylhexanol. You might know salicylic acid as the effective acne fighter ingredient and BHA.
The ethylhexanol in this ingredient is a fatty alcohol and helps hydrate your skin, similar to oils. It is an emollient, which means it traps moisture into the skin.
According to manufacturers, Ethylhexyl Salicylate absorbs UV wavelength of 295-315 nm, with a peak absorption at 307-310 nm. UVA rays are linked to long term skin damage, such as hyperpigmentation. UVB rays emit more energy and are capable of damaging our DNA. UVB rays cause sunburn.
Learn more about Ethylhexyl SalicylateGlyceryl Stearate is a mix of glycerin and stearic acid.
It is used to stabilize the mixing of water and oil ingredients. By preventing these ingredients from separating, it can help elongate shelf life. It can also help thicken the product's texture.
As an emollient, it helps soften skin and supports barrier-replenishing ingredients.
In cosmetics, Glyceryl Stearate is often made from vegetable oils or synthetically produced.
This ingredient may not be fungal-acne safe
Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.
Learn more about Glyceryl StearateOctocrylene 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 OctocryleneThis ingredient is more commonly known as Ensulizole, a chemical sunscreen ingredient.
Ensulizole mainly protects UV-B (290-340 nm) but offers a little UV-A (320-400 nm) protection. It is often paired with less photo-stable sunscreen ingredients due to its photo-stability.
Due to it being water-soluble, Ensulizole helps give sunscreens a light and non-oily texture.
Ensulizole is approved worldwide:
Learn more about Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic AcidWater. 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. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water
