What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV AbsorberAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialDiethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV FilterDimethicone
EmollientArachidyl Alcohol
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeTriethanolamine
BufferingBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
EmollientPanthenol
Skin ConditioningAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingArachidyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingPropylene Glycol
HumectantPropanediol
SolventParfum
MaskingAllantoin
Skin ConditioningBHT
AntioxidantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein/Pvp Crosspolymer
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeArtemisia Capillaris Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Benzoate
MaskingWater, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Alcohol Denat., Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Dimethicone, Arachidyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Triethanolamine, Behenyl Alcohol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Panthenol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Arachidyl Glucoside, Propylene Glycol, Propanediol, Parfum, Allantoin, BHT, Xanthan Gum, Disodium EDTA, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein/Pvp Crosspolymer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Potassium Sorbate, Artemisia Capillaris Flower Extract, Sodium Benzoate
Water
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV AbsorberDiethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV FilterNeopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantEthylhexyl Triazone
UV AbsorberTris-Biphenyl Triazine
UV AbsorberButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV AbsorberNiacinamide
SmoothingBis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin ConditioningButyloctyl Salicylate
Skin ConditioningInositol
HumectantOctocrylene
UV AbsorberGlycine Soja Oil
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePolyester-7
Skin ConditioningAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingDecyl Glucoside
CleansingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingDisodium EDTA
Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate
EmulsifyingSodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentHydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientLactobacillus/Collagen Ferment Filtrate
HumectantLecithin
EmollientOryza Sativa Germ Extract
EmollientSodium Hydroxide
BufferingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantTriethylene Glycol
MaskingDisodium Phosphate
BufferingTrideceth-6
EmulsifyingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingArtemisia Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningWater, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate, Butylene Glycol, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Tris-Biphenyl Triazine, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Niacinamide, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Inositol, Octocrylene, Glycine Soja Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Polyester-7, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Decyl Glucoside, Carbomer, Disodium EDTA, Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate, Sodium Polyacrylate, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Lactobacillus/Collagen Ferment Filtrate, Lecithin, Oryza Sativa Germ Extract, Sodium Hydroxide, Tocopheryl Acetate, Triethylene Glycol, Disodium Phosphate, Trideceth-6, Xanthan Gum, Artemisia Vulgaris 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.
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer is a synthetic polymer. It is used to thicken, emulsify, and improve the texture of products.
As an emulsifier, it helps stabilize oil-in-water emulsions to give products an elegant feel when applied.
It can also form a thin protective film on skin. One study found that a formula using this polymer helped slow down how quickly other ingredients (like DEET) were absorbed through skin.
A 2024 study of over 1,300 patients confirmed that sensitization to this ingredient is rare. It is also non-mutagenic and has a clean track record.
Learn more about Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate CrosspolymerDiethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate (DHHB) is a chemical UV-A absorber. It is formulated for high UVA protection (320-400 nm).
DHHB is well-liked for:
DHHB has been approved by the EU, Japan, Taiwan, and South America for use up to 10%. Unfortunately, it has not been approved for use in the US or Canada due to slow regulatory processes.
This ingredient is soluble in oils, fats, and lipids.
Learn more about Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl BenzoateDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAThis ingredient is also known as Octinoxate and is one of the oldest and most widely used chemical UV filters in skincare.
It has a simple job: soap up UVB radiation (290-320 nm), the wavelengths responsible for sunburn and a big chunk of long-term sun damage.
In formulas, it's always paired with a separate UVA filter because octinoxate solely protects skin from UVB.
Because it's an oil-soluble liquid, it's easy to blend into the oil phase of lotions/creams and gives a cosmetically elegant feel.
The one quirk about formulating this ingredient is photostability; the molecule slowly changes shape into a less effective version when sunlight hits it. So the longer you're in the sun, the weaker its protection gets. The drop can be more than 30% in some formulas.
It also doesn't play nice with Avobenzone (the common UVA filter) since avobenzone destabilizes octinoxate and the two degrade each other. But don't worry: brands have solved this issue by adding photostabilizers like Tinosorb S to prevent degradation and keep SPF stable under heavy UV exposure.
The maximum allowed level is 10% in the EU and Australia, 7.5% in the US and Canada, and 20% in Japan.
The Cosmetic Ingredient Review Panel has concluded this ingredient to be safe in cosmetics up to 10%.
One last thing worth knowing for context:
Octinoxate has been the subject of ongoing review in Europe where the Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety's (SCCS) 2025 final opinion is that this ingredient is an endocrine-active substance.
Lab and animal studies suggest it can act a bit like a hormone in the body (mildly mimicking estrogen and slightly blocking male hormones). It's important to know this hasn't really been shown to happen in everyday human use.
This ingredient is also banned in Hawaii over coral reef concerns.
Learn more about Ethylhexyl MethoxycinnamatePhenoxyethanol 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.
Water. 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum