What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%
UV Absorber
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%
UV Absorber
Homosalate 7%
Skin Conditioning
Octocrylene 9%
UV Absorber
Acrylates Crosspolymer
AbsorbentCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Triheptanoin
Skin ConditioningC9-12 Alkane
SolventButyloctyl Salicylate
Skin Conditioning
Dilinoleic Acid/Butanediol Copolymer
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Vp/Eicosene Copolymer
Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Oryza Sativa Germ Extract
EmollientOryza Sativa Extract
Absorbent
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Pongamia Glabra Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Physalis Angulata Extract
Skin ProtectingDunaliella Salina Extract
Skin ConditioningHaematococcus Pluvialis Extract
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Castor Oil/Ipdi Copolymer
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Diethylhexyl Syringylidenemalonate
Skin ProtectingEthylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate
Emulsifying
Trihydroxystearin
Skin Conditioning
Glucomannan
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Salicylate 5%, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%, Homosalate 7%, Octocrylene 9%, Acrylates Crosspolymer, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Triheptanoin, C9-12 Alkane, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Dilinoleic Acid/Butanediol Copolymer, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Vp/Eicosene Copolymer, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Glycine Soja Oil, Oryza Sativa Germ Extract, Oryza Sativa Extract, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Pongamia Glabra Seed Oil, Bisabolol, Physalis Angulata Extract, Dunaliella Salina Extract, Haematococcus Pluvialis Extract, Tocopherol, Castor Oil/Ipdi Copolymer, Caprylyl Glycol, Diethylhexyl Syringylidenemalonate, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate, Trihydroxystearin, Glucomannan
Octocrylene 10%
UV Absorber
Homosalate 7.3%
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%
UV Absorber
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%
UV Absorber
Diphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Paraffinum Liquidum
Emollient
Hydroxystearic Acid
Cleansing
Triethylhexanoin
MaskingDibutyl Lauroyl Glutamide
Skin ConditioningSilica
Abrasive
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Polyamide-8
EmollientSilica Silylate
Emollient
Oryzanol
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningBisabolol
Antioxidant
Triethoxycaprylylsilane
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Citrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Octocrylene 10%, Homosalate 7.3%, Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%, Diphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone, Paraffinum Liquidum, Hydroxystearic Acid, Triethylhexanoin, Dibutyl Lauroyl Glutamide, Silica, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Polyamide-8, Silica Silylate, Oryzanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Bisabolol, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Tocopherol, Water, Butylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Citrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract
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 MethoxydibenzoylmethaneC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate is made up of Benzoic Acid and long chain alcohols. It has a low molecular weight.
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate is an emollient and texture enhancer. Due to its solubility, it is often used in sunscreens to help evenly distribute active ingredients.
As an emollient, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate helps soften and hydrate your skin. Emollients create a film on your skin that traps moisture within.
This ingredient has been reported to cause eye irritation.
Learn more about C12-15 Alkyl BenzoateEthylhexyl 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 SalicylateHomosalate is a chemical sunscreen filter that provides protection in the UV-B range (280nm - 320 nm), with a peak protection at 306 nm. It is internationally approved for use in sunscreens.
Homosalate is not photo-stable, meaning it's strength as a UV filter degrades over time with exposure to the sun. Because of this, it's often used in combination with other chemical sunscreen filters as avobenzone (which protects from the UV-A range). Homosalate also helps act as a solvent for harder-to-dissolve UV filters.
(Part of the reason that sunscreens need to be frequently re-applied is due to the photo instability of many chemical sunscreen filters)
Currently, homosalate is approved in concentrations up to 10% in the EU and 15% in the US. The FDA is currently doing further research on the effects of homosalate, and it is possible that these approved concentrations will change in the future.
Learn more about HomosalateOctocrylene 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 OctocryleneTocopherol 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 Tocopherol
