What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningHomosalate
Skin Conditioning
Silica
Abrasive
Octocrylene
UV Absorber
Ethylhexyl Salicylate
UV Absorber
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Ethylhexyl Triazone
UV Absorber
Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin Conditioning
Drometrizole Trisiloxane
UV Absorber
Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate
Absorbent
Glycerin
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingDimethicone
Emollient
Perlite
Absorbent
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingAluminum Hydroxide
EmollientP-Anisic Acid
Masking
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Disodium EDTA
Inulin Lauryl Carbamate
Emulsion StabilisingIsopropyl Lauroyl Sarcosinate
Skin ConditioningPEG-8 Laurate
Emulsifying
Scutellaria Baicalensis Extract
AntimicrobialSilica Silylate
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Terephthalylidene Dicamphor Sulfonic Acid
UV Absorber
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Triethanolamine
BufferingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingZinc Gluconate
Skin Conditioning
Water, Homosalate, Silica, Octocrylene, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Drometrizole Trisiloxane, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Dimethicone, Perlite, Propylene Glycol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Aluminum Hydroxide, P-Anisic Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Inulin Lauryl Carbamate, Isopropyl Lauroyl Sarcosinate, PEG-8 Laurate, Scutellaria Baicalensis Extract, Silica Silylate, Stearic Acid, Stearyl Alcohol, Terephthalylidene Dicamphor Sulfonic Acid, Titanium Dioxide, Tocopherol, Triethanolamine, Xanthan Gum, Zinc Gluconate
Water
Skin ConditioningDibutyl Adipate
EmollientDicaprylyl Ether
Emollient
Ethylhexyl Salicylate
UV Absorber
Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV Filter
Propylheptyl Caprylate
EmollientGlycerin
Humectant
Tris-Biphenyl Triazine
UV Absorber
Undecane
EmollientEthylhexyl Triazone
UV Absorber
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol
UV Filter
Tridecane
Perfuming
Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin Conditioning
Disodium Cetearyl Sulfosuccinate
CleansingGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingChlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Disodium EDTA
Citric Acid
Buffering
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Disodium Phosphate
BufferingPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Water, Dibutyl Adipate, Dicaprylyl Ether, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Propylheptyl Caprylate, Glycerin, Tris-Biphenyl Triazine, Undecane, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Cetearyl Alcohol, Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol, Tridecane, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Disodium Cetearyl Sulfosuccinate, Glyceryl Stearate, Phenoxyethanol, Decyl Glucoside, Hydroxyacetophenone, Xanthan Gum, Chlorphenesin, Disodium EDTA, Citric Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Butylene Glycol, Disodium Phosphate, Propylene Glycol
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
You might know this ingredient as Tinosorb S or Bemotrizinol. It is a UV filter that covers both UVA and UVB rays.
This ingredient has two peak UV absorption peaks ( 310 and 340 nm) and is able to absorb both UV-A and UV-B rays. This ingredient works by preventing UV rays from reaching and damaging your skin.
On top of that - it is highly photostable and helps prevent the photodegration of other sunscreen ingredients such as avobenzone.
Tinosorb S is allowed in the EU, Australia, and Asia. It is close to being approved by the FDA and we'll hopefully get this ingredient in the U.S. by late 2026.
Fun fact: Tinosorb S is the most effective UV absorber at maximum concentration (measured by SPF) permitted in the EU.
This ingredient is oil-soluble, so your oil-cleansers will take this right off at night.
Learn more about Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl TriazineDisodium 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 EDTAEthylhexyl 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 SalicylateEthylhexyl Triazone is a modern chemical sunscreen that protects from UV-B radiation.
It is the most effective of existing UV-B filters, as it provides the highest level of photo-stable absorption. It protects from the entire UV-B range (280 to 320nm), with it's highest level of protection at 314nm.
Ethylhexyl Triazone is oil soluble, oderless and colorless, which mean it is able to be incorporated into a variety of different formulations.
It is not currently available within the United States due to slow changing FDA regulations. Outside of the US, it is used in formulations at concentrations up to 5%.
Learn more about Ethylhexyl TriazoneGlycerin (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 GlycerinPropylene Glycol is a synthetic, colorless, odorless liquid that has been a staple in cosmetics for decades. It is a skin conditioning agent, humectant, and solvent.
As a humectant, it draw water to the skin to reduce flaking and restore suppleness. It's also a solvent that helps dissolve other actives and keeps formulas stable across temperature changes.
The CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be nontoxic and clinical studies show no sensitization at cosmetic use concentrations.
True allergic reactions are quite rare: a 15-year retrospective study of 6,751 patients found only 0.31% had a positive reaction (and less than half were considered clinically relevant).
It seemed that when sensitization does occur, it's most commonly linked to topical medication (like corticosteroids) and not cosmetics. Allergic contact dermatitis also appears largely limited to individuals with underlying skin conditions.
Overall, propylene glycol is a well-studied ingredient that most people can tolerate without issue.
Learn more about Propylene GlycolWater. 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
