What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Homosalate 5%
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%
UV Absorber
Zinc Oxide 9.3%
Cosmetic Colorant
Water
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Polyhydroxystearic Acid
Emulsifying
Dimethicone
Emollient
Coconut Alkanes
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Lecithin
Emollient
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Isohexadecane
EmollientIsododecane
EmollientMagnesium Sulfate
Polyglyceryl-3 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Triethoxysilylethyl Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Hexyl Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Polysilicone-11
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Dimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantSodium Citrate
BufferingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Cetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSqualane
Emollient
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingPhosphatidylcholine
EmulsifyingMannitol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Methylpropanediol
SolventCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Ectoin
Skin Conditioning
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Haematococcus Pluvialis Extract
Antioxidant
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Phenylpropanol
Masking
Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Silica
Abrasive
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Zingerone
Antioxidant
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Sorbitan Oleate
Emulsifying
CI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantHomosalate 5%, Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%, Zinc Oxide 9.3%, Water, Cyclopentasiloxane, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Dimethicone, Coconut Alkanes, Stearic Acid, Lecithin, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Isohexadecane, Isododecane, Magnesium Sulfate, Polyglyceryl-3 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Triethoxysilylethyl Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Hexyl Dimethicone, Polysilicone-11, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Dimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer, Dipropylene Glycol, Sodium Citrate, Tocopherol, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Phenoxyethanol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Squalane, Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan Isostearate, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hexylene Glycol, Phosphatidylcholine, Mannitol, Glycerin, Methylpropanediol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Ectoin, Palmitic Acid, Haematococcus Pluvialis Extract, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Panthenol, Phenylpropanol, Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract, Silica, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Acetyl Zingerone, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Octyldodecanol, Sorbitan Oleate, CI 77491, CI 77492
Water
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate
EmollientCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Ethylhexyl Salicylate
UV Absorber
Ethylhexyl Triazone
UV Absorber
Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin Conditioning
Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV Filter
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol
UV Filter
C15-19 Alkane
SolventPotassium Azeloyl Diglycinate
Skin Conditioning
Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide
Cleansing
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-6 Stearate
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
4-T-Butylcyclohexanol
Masking
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Hesperidin Methyl Chalcone
Antioxidant
Sphingomonas Ferment Extract
Skin Conditioning
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantTetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Citric Acid
Buffering
Polyglyceryl-6 Behenate
Emulsion Stabilising
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Acrylates/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Copolymer
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTin Oxide
Abrasive
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Water, Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Niacinamide, Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol, C15-19 Alkane, Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Pentylene Glycol, Polyglyceryl-6 Stearate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Tocopheryl Acetate, 4-T-Butylcyclohexanol, Polysorbate 60, Decyl Glucoside, Hydroxyacetophenone, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Hesperidin Methyl Chalcone, Sphingomonas Ferment Extract, CI 77891, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Citric Acid, Polyglyceryl-6 Behenate, Mica, Propylene Glycol, Acrylates/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Copolymer, Xanthan Gum, Tin Oxide, 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.
Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolCoco-Caprylate/Caprate is a lightweight ester created from coconut oil fatty acids, caprylic acid, and capric acid.
It is an emollient that helps soften skin and reduce transepidermal water loss (TEWL). What sets it apart from heavier emollients is its ultralight, non-greasy feel.
Once applied, this ingredient dries down quickly and leaves a dry, silky finish behind. This also helps improve spreadability and texture.
This ingredient has an excellent safety-record and is non-irritating.
Typical concentrations for cosmetics range from 0.5-62%.
Research on Malassezia growth found no growth on fatty acid esters with chain lengths shorter than 12 carbons (it prefers C11-24).
Since Coco-Caprylate/Caprate is built on C8 and C10 fatty acids, it is out of the range that Malassezia metabolizes, and therefore safe for fungal acne.
Learn more about Coco-Caprylate/CaprateEthylhexyl Salicylate (also called Octisalate or Octyl Salicylate) is an oil-soluble organic UV filter that's been used in sunscreen since the 1950's.
It absorbs UVB light in the 280-320 nm range with a peak absorbance around 306 nm.
You'll often see it paired with other UV filters to boost overall SPF because octisalate is a fairly week filter on its own.
The reason you'll see it so often is because it can help solubilize and stabilize the trickier filters like oxybenzone and avobenzone.
Unlike these filters, octisalate has pretty good photostability and doesn't create skin-damaging free radicals when exposed to sunlight.
The fatty-alcohol part of the molecule also gives it a light, emollient feel so it doubles as a nice texture enhancer.
Usage levels vary around the world:
Safety-wise, this ingredient has a pretty reassuring track record. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Products (SCCP) found very low skin penetration in human skin tests and negative results for irritation, phototoxicity, and photoallergy.
The real-world allergy risk is pretty low too; a 2012 European study of 1,031 people recorded only 2 reactions to it (a rate of 0.19%).
You might have seen scary headlines about sunscreen getting into your blood.
In 2019, the FDA found that several chemical filters can absorb through the skin and show up in the bloodstream at small but measurable levels.
Here's the important part: these tiny levels are just a cutoff the FDA uses to decide which ingredients need more testing and doesn't mean anything harmful was found.
The researchers were clear that the results are no reason to stop wearing sunscreen.
Learn more about Ethylhexyl SalicylatePolysorbate 60 is used to help stabilize products. It is a surfactant and emulsifier. These properties help keep ingredients together in a product. Surfactants help reduce surface tension between ingredients with different states, such as liquids and solids. Emulsifiers help prevent oils and waters from separating.
Polysorbate 60 is sorbitol-based and created from the ethoxylation of sorbitan. Ethoxylation is a chemical reaction used to add ethylene oxide. Sorbitan is a the dehydrated version of sorbitol, a sugar found in fruits.
In this case, the 60 comes from reacting 60 units of ethylene oxide with sorbitan.
Polysorbates are commonly used in medicine and foods.
Learn more about Polysorbate 60Tocopherol 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 TocopherolWater. 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
