What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningBis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin Conditioning
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Acrylates/C12-22 Alkyl Methacrylate Copolymer
Octocrylene
UV Absorber
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Ethylhexyl Salicylate
UV Absorber
Zinc Oxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Glycerin
Humectant
Phospholipids
Skin Conditioning
Glycereth-26
Humectant
Aluminum Hydroxide
EmollientHydroxyethyl Urea
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Polymethyl Methacrylate
Gossypium Herbaceum Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningPunica Granatum Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningFructooligosaccharides
Humectant
Royal Jelly
Acetyl Glucosamine
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Potassium Olivoyl PCA
CleansingGalactoarabinan
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Lecithin
Emollient
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Astaxanthin
Skin Conditioning
Xanthophylls
Skin ConditioningResveratrol
Antioxidant
Chamaecyparis Obtusa Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningArginine
Masking
Coco-Glucoside
Cleansing
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Tromethamine
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Lactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Disodium Lauryl Sulfosuccinate
CleansingPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Acrylates/C12-22 Alkyl Methacrylate Copolymer, Octocrylene, Titanium Dioxide, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Zinc Oxide, Glycerin, Phospholipids, Glycereth-26, Aluminum Hydroxide, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Niacinamide, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Gossypium Herbaceum Seed Extract, Punica Granatum Seed Extract, Fructooligosaccharides, Royal Jelly, Acetyl Glucosamine, Butylene Glycol, Potassium Olivoyl PCA, Galactoarabinan, 1,2-Hexanediol, Lecithin, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Astaxanthin, Xanthophylls, Resveratrol, Chamaecyparis Obtusa Leaf Extract, Arginine, Coco-Glucoside, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ceramide NP, Tromethamine, Phenoxyethanol, Lactobacillus Ferment, Disodium Lauryl Sulfosuccinate, Pentylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Dibutyl Adipate
EmollientDiethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV Filter
Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin Conditioning
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Acrylates Copolymer
Butyloctyl Salicylate
Skin Conditioning
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialEthylhexyl Triazone
UV Absorber
Phenethyl Benzoate
Emollient
Arbutin
Antioxidant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Silica
Abrasive
Methylpropanediol
SolventIsoamyl P-Methoxycinnamate
UV Absorber
Polysilicone-15
UV Filter
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
Panax Ginseng Root Extract
Emollient
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Dibutyl Ethylhexanoyl Glutamide
Skin ConditioningDibutyl Lauroyl Glutamide
Skin ConditioningC30-45 Alkyldimethylsilyl Polypropylsilsesquioxane
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Sodium Acrylates Crosspolymer-2
AbsorbentSodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingEthyl Hexanediol
SolventHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Panax Ginseng Berry Extract
Skin Conditioning
Panax Ginseng Extract
Antioxidant
Panax Ginseng Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Water, Butylene Glycol, Dibutyl Adipate, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Alcohol, Acrylates Copolymer, Butyloctyl Salicylate, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Phenethyl Benzoate, Arbutin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Silica, Methylpropanediol, Isoamyl P-Methoxycinnamate, Polysilicone-15, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Pentylene Glycol, Dibutyl Ethylhexanoyl Glutamide, Dibutyl Lauroyl Glutamide, C30-45 Alkyldimethylsilyl Polypropylsilsesquioxane, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Sodium Acrylates Crosspolymer-2, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Ethyl Hexanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Panax Ginseng Berry Extract, Panax Ginseng Extract, Panax Ginseng Leaf/Stem Extract, Adenosine, Xanthan Gum, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glycerin, Tocopherol
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 TriazineButylene 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 GlycolEthylhexylglycerin 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 EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 GlycerinPentylene Glycol (1,2-pentanediol) is a multitasking little diol with three main roles in a formula:
Research on alkanediols (the family pentylene glycol belongs to) show they work by disrupting microbial cell membranes. This disruption helps the primary preservative system in a product work more effectively at lower doses.
On the safety side, the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has concluded this ingredient to be safe as used in current cosmetic practices + concentrations.
Typical use levels in a formula run about 1-5%.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolWater. 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
