What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%
UV Absorber
Homosalate 10%
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%
UV Absorber
Octocrylene 10%
UV Absorber
Water
Skin ConditioningCoco-Caprylate
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Ethylhexyl Olivate
Skin Conditioning
Vp/Eicosene Copolymer
Cannabis Sativa Seed Oil
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Cocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Ananas Sativus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCucumis Melo Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Squalane
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Diethylhexyl Syringylidenemalonate
Skin ProtectingCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Polyester-7
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Olivate
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate
EmollientSorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Parfum
Masking
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningLimonene
Perfuming
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Aminomethyl Propanol
BufferingBenzyl Benzoate
Antimicrobial
Linalool
Perfuming
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%, Homosalate 10%, Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%, Octocrylene 10%, Water, Coco-Caprylate, Propanediol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Ethylhexyl Olivate, Vp/Eicosene Copolymer, Cannabis Sativa Seed Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Persea Gratissima Oil, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Ananas Sativus Fruit Extract, Cucumis Melo Fruit Extract, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Squalane, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Ascorbic Acid, Citric Acid, Diethylhexyl Syringylidenemalonate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Phenoxyethanol, Polyester-7, Cetearyl Olivate, Stearic Acid, Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate, Sorbitan Olivate, Parfum, Chlorphenesin, Carbomer, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Limonene, Tocopheryl Acetate, Aminomethyl Propanol, Benzyl Benzoate, Linalool, Bisabolol, Tocopherol, Panthenol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%
UV Absorber
Homosalate 15%
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%
UV Absorber
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingAcrylates/C12-22 Alkyl Methacrylate Copolymer
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Daucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil
Emollient
Disodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingLecithin
Emollient
Persea Gratissima Cera
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingSorbitan Oleate
Emulsifying
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Water
Skin ConditioningButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%, Homosalate 15%, Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Acrylates/C12-22 Alkyl Methacrylate Copolymer, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Carbomer, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Daucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Lecithin, Persea Gratissima Cera, Phenoxyethanol, Propylene Glycol, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Sodium Hydroxide, Sorbitan Oleate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Water
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice comes from leaves of the aloe plant. Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice is best known for helping to soothe sunburns. It is also anti-inflammatory, moisturizing, antiseptic, and can help heal wounds.
Aloe is packed with good stuff including Vitamins A, C, and E. These vitamins are antioxidants, which help fight free-radicals and the damage they may cause. Free-radicals are molecules that may damage your skin cells, such as pollution.
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice also contains sugars. These sugars come in the form of monosaccharides and polysaccharides, folic acid, and choline. These sugars are able to help bind moisture to skin.
It also contains minerals such as calcium, 12 anthraquinones, fatty acids, amino acids, and Vitamin B12.
Learn more about Aloe Barbadensis Leaf JuiceAlso 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 MethoxydibenzoylmethaneThis ingredient is also known as shea butter. It is a plant-derived extract from the nuts of the Africa shea tree and one of the most well-studied emollients.
Because it has a high concentration of fatty acids (primarily oleic, stearic, and linoleic) it is able to form a protective barrier on the skin's surface. This helps seal in moisture and prevents transepidermal water loss (TEWL).
In vitro research found an increase in skin hydration by 58% and a decrease in TEWL by 37.8% after 24 hours of applying this ingredient (pretty impressive for a single ingredient!).
Besides hydration, shea butter also contains triterpenes that have anti-inflammatory potential. In particule, lupeol cinnamate has shown the highest anti-inflammatory activity in vivo.
Shea butter also contains vitamins A and E which may contribute to antioxidant activity.
While Shea Butter has an SPF rating of about 3-4, it is not a sunscreen replacement.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe because its fatty acids fall within the C11-C24 range that the Malassezia yeast can metabolize.
Learn more about Butyrospermum Parkii ButterCarbomer is a high-molecular weight polymer of acrylic acid. It is used to form gels and thicken formulas.
Due to its large molecular size, carbomer has minimal skin penetration and is considered an inert ingredient.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Learn more about CarbomerEthylhexyl 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 SalicylateEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil is a plant oil derived from the seeds of a sunflower.
It is rich in fatty acids, primarily linoleic acid and oleic acid. This gives it emollient and skin conditioning properties.
The reason this ingredient is so effective is because it forms a thin film on the skin that reduces transepidermal water loss (TEWL) while supplying linoleic acid to the stratum corneum to improve barrier strength.
The high linoleic acid content is particularly noteworthy for acne-prone skin.
Research suggests that acne-prone skin tends to be deficient in linoleic acid in sebum. Topical application may help replenish this to support a healthier follicular environment and less comedone-promoting sebum.
One randomized study found sunflower seed oil preserved skin barrier integrity in adult volunteers with and without atopic dermatitis (outperforming olive oil).
This ingredient is well-studied, gentle, and an effective emollient suitable for most skin types.
On fungal acne: This ingredient may not be Fungal acne (Malassezia folliculitis) safe. This is because it contains fatty acids with carbon chain lengths in the C11-C24 range.
Learn more about Helianthus Annuus Seed OilHomosalate 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 HomosalatePhenoxyethanol 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.
Tocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateWater. 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
