What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 2.5%
UV Absorber
Homosalate 7%
Skin Conditioning
Water 4.3%
Skin ConditioningButyloctyl Salicylate
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Ethylhexyl Methoxycrylene
Skin Conditioning
Arachidyl Alcohol
Emollient
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Arachidyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Propanediol
Solvent
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingOctyldodecanol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Parfum
Masking
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingLimonene
Perfuming
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Portulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin Conditioning
Echium Plantagineum Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
T-Butyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Linalool
Perfuming
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil Unsaponifiables
Emollient
Cardiospermum Halicacabum Flower/Leaf/Vine Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Hamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Citrus Unshiu Peel Extract
Masking
Opuntia Coccinellifera Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningOrchid Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Japonica Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 2.5%, Homosalate 7%, Water 4.3%, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Butylene Glycol, Ethylhexyl Methoxycrylene, Arachidyl Alcohol, Behenyl Alcohol, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, 1,2-Hexanediol, Cetyl Alcohol, Arachidyl Glucoside, Phenoxyethanol, Propanediol, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Octyldodecanol, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Parfum, Xanthan Gum, Limonene, Centella Asiatica Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Echium Plantagineum Seed Oil, T-Butyl Alcohol, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Linalool, Ethylhexylglycerin, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil Unsaponifiables, Cardiospermum Halicacabum Flower/Leaf/Vine Extract, Tocopherol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Glycerin, Hamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract, Citrus Unshiu Peel Extract, Opuntia Coccinellifera Fruit Extract, Orchid Extract, Camellia Japonica Leaf Extract, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate
Octocrylene 5%
UV Absorber
Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%
UV Absorber
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%
UV Absorber
Acrylates Copolymer
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Water
Skin ConditioningC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialCamellia Sinensis Extract
Antioxidant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Carthamus Tinctorius Oleosomes
Emollient
Cetearyl Olivate
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Citric Acid
Buffering
Citrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Flower
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Punica Granatum Extract
AstringentSodium Hydroxide
BufferingSorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer
Propanediol
Solvent
Octocrylene 5%, Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%, Acrylates Copolymer, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Water, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Camellia Sinensis Extract, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Carthamus Tinctorius Oleosomes, Cetearyl Olivate, Cetyl Alcohol, Citric Acid, Citrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Dimethicone, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate, Helianthus Annuus Flower, Phenoxyethanol, Polysorbate 20, Punica Granatum Extract, Sodium Hydroxide, Sorbitan Olivate, Stearyl Alcohol, Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer, Propanediol
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 MethoxydibenzoylmethaneCetyl Alcohol is a fatty alcohol. Fatty Alcohols are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product.
Its main roles are:
Though it has "alcohol" in the name, it is not related to denatured alcohol or ethyl alcohol.
The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
Learn more about Cetyl AlcoholCitric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinGlyceryl Stearate is made by reacting glycerin with stearic acid (typically sourced from plant oils like palm or coconut). It's an emulsifier, emollient, and mild occlusive.
Emulsifiers help ingredients like oil and water stay mixed so your formula stays nicely blended and uniform in texture.
This ingredient is typically used in concentrations between 1-10%. Studies have found it to be non-sensitizing, non-phototoxic, and non-photoallergenic.
A close cousin of this ingredient is Glyceryl Stearate SE ("self-emulsifying"). This just has a small amount of sodium or potassium stearate added so it can emulsify without a co-emulsifier.
Since this ingredient is an ester of a C18 fatty acid, it may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast can potentially metabolize within the C11-C24 range.
Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.
Learn more about Glyceryl StearatePhenoxyethanol 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.
Propanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolWater. 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
