What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Butylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate
EmollientDimethicone
Emollient
Silica
Abrasive
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV Absorber
Polyethylene
Abrasive
Butyloctyl Salicylate
Skin Conditioning
Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer
Diphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientEthylhexyl Salicylate
UV Absorber
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientTriethylhexanoin
MaskingParaffin
Skin ConditioningDiethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV Filter
Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin Conditioning
Octocrylene
UV Absorber
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Microcrystalline Wax
Emulsion StabilisingGlycyrrhiza Uralensis Extract
EmollientCaesalpinia Spinosa Fruit Extract
Skin ProtectingBacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Candida/Garcinia Cambogia Ferment
Kappaphycus Alvarezii Extract
Skin ConditioningOryza Sativa Germ Oil
Emollient
Schisandra Chinensis Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Collagen
Emollient
Lithospermum Erythrorhizon Root Extract
Skin ConditioningCurcuma Longa Root Extract
Masking
Phytosteryl/Isostearyl/Cetyl/Stearyl/Behenyl Dimer Dilinoleate
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientEthylhexyl Hydroxystearate
Emollient
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingPropylene Carbonate
SolventCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Aluminum Hydroxide
EmollientTriethoxycaprylylsilane
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Soluble Proteoglycan
Skin ConditioningSodium Dna
Skin Conditioning
Parfum
Masking
Butylparaben
Masking
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Benzyl Salicylate
Perfuming
Hydroxycitronellal
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
CI 77163
Cosmetic Colorant
Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Dimethicone, Silica, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Polyethylene, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer, Diphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Triethylhexanoin, Paraffin, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Octocrylene, Sorbitan Isostearate, Microcrystalline Wax, Glycyrrhiza Uralensis Extract, Caesalpinia Spinosa Fruit Extract, Bacillus Ferment, Candida/Garcinia Cambogia Ferment, Kappaphycus Alvarezii Extract, Oryza Sativa Germ Oil, Schisandra Chinensis Fruit Extract, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Lithospermum Erythrorhizon Root Extract, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Phytosteryl/Isostearyl/Cetyl/Stearyl/Behenyl Dimer Dilinoleate, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Ethylhexyl Hydroxystearate, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Propylene Carbonate, Caprylyl Glycol, Glyceryl Caprylate, Adenosine, Aluminum Hydroxide, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Tocopherol, Water, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Soluble Proteoglycan, Sodium Dna, Parfum, Butylparaben, Hexyl Cinnamal, Benzyl Salicylate, Hydroxycitronellal, Citronellol, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Linalool, Titanium Dioxide, CI 77163, Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract
Dimethicone
Emollient
Synthetic Wax
Abrasive
Homosalate
Skin Conditioning
Silica
Abrasive
Isoeicosane
EmollientOctocrylene
UV Absorber
Phenylpropyldimethylsiloxysilicate
EmollientEthylhexyl Salicylate
UV Absorber
Isopropyl Palmitate
Emollient
Diisostearyl Malate
EmollientButyloctyl Salicylate
Skin Conditioning
Isononyl Isononanoate
EmollientButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Phenethyl Benzoate
Emollient
Diethylhexyl Carbonate
EmollientSynthetic Fluorphlogopite
Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil
Emollient
Polyethylene
Abrasive
Bis-Behenyl/Isostearyl/Phytosteryl Dimer Dilinoleyl Dimer Dilinoleate
EmollientDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Ethylene/Propylene Copolymer
Abrasive
Camellia Japonica Seed Oil
Emollient
Silica Dimethyl Silylate
EmollientDimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion Stabilising
Euphorbia Cerifera Wax
Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer
Copernicia Cerifera Wax
Lecithin
Emollient
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Ectoin
Skin Conditioning
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil Unsaponifiables
Emollient
Dimethicone, Synthetic Wax, Homosalate, Silica, Isoeicosane, Octocrylene, Phenylpropyldimethylsiloxysilicate, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Isopropyl Palmitate, Diisostearyl Malate, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Isononyl Isononanoate, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Phenethyl Benzoate, Diethylhexyl Carbonate, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Polyethylene, Bis-Behenyl/Isostearyl/Phytosteryl Dimer Dilinoleyl Dimer Dilinoleate, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Ethylene/Propylene Copolymer, Camellia Japonica Seed Oil, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Euphorbia Cerifera Wax, Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer, Copernicia Cerifera Wax, Lecithin, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Allantoin, Ectoin, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil Unsaponifiables
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Butyloctyl Salicylate is a chemical UV filter structurally similar to octisalate. It is a photostabilizer, SPF booster, emollient and solvent. This ingredient helps evenly spread out ingredients.
According to a manufacturer, it is suitable for pairing with micro Titanium Dioxide, Zinc Oxide, and pigments.
Photostabilizers help stabilize UV-filters and prevents them from degrading quickly.
Learn more about Butyloctyl SalicylateDimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeEthylhexyl 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 SalicylateOctocrylene is an oil-soluble organic UV filter that mainly absorbs UVB and short wave UVA II light.
Its real superpower is teamwork: octocrylene is remarkably photostable and is most famous for stabilizing avobenzone (the workhorse UVA filter).
This ingredient is commonly used to enhance both UVB and UVA protection due to its unique property in stabilizing avobenzone. It also pulls double duty by boosting water resistance and giving formulas a smooth, spreadable feel.
The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) has deemed octocrylene to be safe as a UV-filter at concentrations up to 10% (capped at 9% in propellant sprays). The US also permits it up to 10%.
Two things worth knowing:
You'll usually see this ingredient used in concentrations between 2-10% (higher amounts when used as a stabilizer for avobenzone).
Learn more about OctocrylenePolyethylene is a synthetic ingredient that helps the skin retain moisture. It is a polymer.
It is also typically used within product formulations to help bind solid ingredients together and thicken oil-based ingredients. When added to balms and emulsions, it helps increase the melting point temperature.
Silica, also known as silicon dioxide, is a naturally occurring mineral. It is used as a fine, spherical, and porous powder in cosmetics.
Though it has exfoliant properties, the function of silica varies depending on the product.
The unique structure of silica enhances the spreadability and adds smoothness, making it a great texture enhancer.
It is also used as an active carrier, emulsifier, and mattifier due to its ability to absorb excess oil.
In some products, tiny microneedles called spicules are made from silica or hydrolyzed sponge. When you rub them in, they lightly polish away dead skin layers and enhance the penetration of active ingredients.
Learn more about SilicaThis ingredient is used in makeup and skincare to thicken formulas, reduce shine, and give skin a silky-smooth feel.
Itβs a white silicone powder that sits in fine lines and pores to blur their appearance though its effectiveness depends on the particle size.
You'll typically find this ingredient in amounts between 0.1-20%.
Learn more about Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer
