What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Homosalate 10%
Skin Conditioning
Octocrylene 10%
UV Absorber
Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%
UV Absorber
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%
UV Absorber
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialOctyldodecanol
Emollient
Butyloctyl Salicylate
Skin Conditioning
Octyldodecyl Neopentanoate
EmollientIsostearyl Linoleate
EmollientPolyester-8
Skin Conditioning
Dibutyl Lauroyl Glutamide
Skin ConditioningDibutyl Ethylhexanoyl Glutamide
Skin ConditioningSilica Silylate
Emollient
Cocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Zingiber Officinale Root Oil
Masking
Farnesol
Perfuming
Citral
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Isoeugenol
Perfuming
Parfum
Masking
Benzyl Salicylate
Perfuming
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Synthetic Fluorphlogopite
Silica
Abrasive
CI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantHomosalate 10%, Octocrylene 10%, Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Octyldodecanol, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Octyldodecyl Neopentanoate, Isostearyl Linoleate, Polyester-8, Dibutyl Lauroyl Glutamide, Dibutyl Ethylhexanoyl Glutamide, Silica Silylate, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Tocopherol, Glycine Soja Oil, Bisabolol, Zingiber Officinale Root Oil, Farnesol, Citral, Limonene, Geraniol, Citronellol, Linalool, Isoeugenol, Parfum, Benzyl Salicylate, Hexyl Cinnamal, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Silica, CI 77491
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%
UV Absorber
Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%
UV Absorber
Octocrylene 10%
UV Absorber
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialOctyldodecanol
Emollient
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Isododecane
EmollientPolyester-8
Skin Conditioning
Isohexadecane
EmollientDibutyl Ethylhexanoyl Glutamide
Skin ConditioningDibutyl Lauroyl Glutamide
Skin ConditioningLimnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Pentaclethra Macroloba Seed Oil
Emollient
Diethylhexyl Syringylidenemalonate
Skin ProtectingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Calophyllum Inophyllum Seed Oil
Antimicrobial
Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract
Masking
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Synthetic Fluorphlogopite
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantIron Oxides
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Mauritia Flexuosa Fruit Oil
Skin Conditioning
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%, Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%, Octocrylene 10%, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Octyldodecanol, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Isododecane, Polyester-8, Isohexadecane, Dibutyl Ethylhexanoyl Glutamide, Dibutyl Lauroyl Glutamide, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Pentaclethra Macroloba Seed Oil, Diethylhexyl Syringylidenemalonate, Tocopherol, Calophyllum Inophyllum Seed Oil, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Mica, Iron Oxides, Titanium Dioxide, Mauritia Flexuosa Fruit Oil
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 MethoxydibenzoylmethaneC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate is made up of Benzoic Acid and long chain alcohols. It has a low molecular weight.
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate is an emollient and texture enhancer. Due to its solubility, it is often used in sunscreens to help evenly distribute active ingredients.
As an emollient, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate helps soften and hydrate your skin. Emollients create a film on your skin that traps moisture within.
This ingredient has been reported to cause eye irritation.
Learn more about C12-15 Alkyl BenzoateWe don't have a description for Dibutyl Ethylhexanoyl Glutamide yet.
We don't have a description for Dibutyl Lauroyl Glutamide yet.
Ethylhexyl Salicylate is an organic compound used to block UV rays. It primarily absorbs UVB rays but offers a small amount of UVA protection as well.
Commonly found in sunscreens, Ethylhexyl Salicylate is created from salicylic acid and 2-ethylhexanol. You might know salicylic acid as the effective acne fighter ingredient and BHA.
The ethylhexanol in this ingredient is a fatty alcohol and helps hydrate your skin, similar to oils. It is an emollient, which means it traps moisture into the skin.
According to manufacturers, Ethylhexyl Salicylate absorbs UV wavelength of 295-315 nm, with a peak absorption at 307-310 nm. UVA rays are linked to long term skin damage, such as hyperpigmentation. UVB rays emit more energy and are capable of damaging our DNA. UVB rays cause sunburn.
Learn more about Ethylhexyl SalicylateOctocrylene protects skin from sun damage. It absorbs UV-B with peak absorption of 304 nm. It is a common sunscreen ingredient and often paired with avobenzone, a UVA filter. This is because octocrylene stabilizes other sunscreen ingredients by protecting them from degradation when exposed to sunlight. Octocrylene is a photostable ingredient and loses about 10% of SPF in 95 minutes.
Octocrylene also acts as an emollient, meaning it helps skin retain moisture and softens skin. It is oil-soluble and hydrophobic, enhancing water-resistant properties in a product.
Those who are using ketoprofen, a topical anti-inflammatory drug, may experience an allergic reaction when using octocrylene. It is best to speak with a healthcare professional about using sunscreens with octocrylene.
The EU allows a maximum of these concentrations:
Learn more about OctocryleneOctyldodecanol is a fatty alcohol sourced from plant oils like coconut or palm (or made synthetically).
It is:
You'll likely see this in many BHA products because this is the go-to solvent for salicylic acid.
This ingredient is typically used at levels between 2-20%.
Regarding fungal acne:
In 2019, this ingredient was tested against multiple Malassezia species (the yeast that causes fungal acne) and showed no growth.
This ingredient is also known as Polycrylene. It is a UV photostabilizer and often used in sunscreens as an alternative to octocrylene.
Polycrylene is used to stabilize other UV filters, especially avobenzone, which is known to degrade rapidly without stabilizers. It also absorbs UVB light, but is only about 1/3 as effective as octocrylene.
At its maximum recommended strength of 4%, this ingredient is not likely to make a significant contribution to SPF factor. Polycrylene has a large molecular weight so it's unlikely to penetrate skin.
Although rare, this ingredient can cause contact dermatitis.
Due to regulatory loopholes, you'll be able to find this chemical UV filter in "100% mineral" sunscreens.
Learn more about Polyester-8Synthetic Fluorphlogopite is the synthethic version of mica. It consists of fluorine, aluminum and silicate.
Synthetic Fluorphlogopite is used to add volume to products.
It is considered non-irritating on the skin.
Learn more about Synthetic FluorphlogopiteTocopherol 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 Tocopherol
