What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningHomosalate
Skin ConditioningSilica
AbrasiveOctocrylene
UV AbsorberEthylhexyl Salicylate
UV AbsorberButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV AbsorberEthylhexyl Triazone
UV AbsorberBis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin ConditioningDrometrizole Trisiloxane
UV AbsorberAluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate
AbsorbentGlycerin
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningStyrene/Acrylates Copolymer
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingDimethicone
EmollientPerlite
AbsorbentPropylene Glycol
HumectantAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingAluminum Hydroxide
EmollientP-Anisic Acid
MaskingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientDisodium EDTA
Inulin Lauryl Carbamate
Emulsion StabilisingIsopropyl Lauroyl Sarcosinate
Skin ConditioningPEG-8 Laurate
EmulsifyingScutellaria Baicalensis Extract
AntimicrobialScutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
AstringentSilica Silylate
EmollientStearic Acid
CleansingStearyl Alcohol
EmollientTerephthalylidene Dicamphor Sulfonic Acid
UV AbsorberTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic ColorantTocopherol
AntioxidantTriethanolamine
BufferingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingZinc Gluconate
Skin ConditioningWater, 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, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Silica Silylate, Stearic Acid, Stearyl Alcohol, Terephthalylidene Dicamphor Sulfonic Acid, Titanium Dioxide, Tocopherol, Triethanolamine, Xanthan Gum, Zinc Gluconate
Water
Skin ConditioningDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientMethylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol
UV FilterButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV AbsorberEthylhexyl Triazone
UV AbsorberNylon-12
C20-22 Alkyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingGlycerin
HumectantC20-22 Alcohols
Emulsion StabilisingDecyl Glucoside
CleansingButylene Glycol
HumectantDimethicone
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialParfum
MaskingTriacontanyl Pvp
HumectantBenzoic Acid
MaskingTetrasodium EDTA
O-Cymen-5-Ol
AntimicrobialTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantSodium Hydroxide
BufferingPropylene Glycol
HumectantCitric Acid
BufferingGlycyrrhiza Inflata Root Extract
Skin ConditioningWater, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Nylon-12, C20-22 Alkyl Phosphate, Glycerin, C20-22 Alcohols, Decyl Glucoside, Butylene Glycol, Dimethicone, Xanthan Gum, Chlorphenesin, Parfum, Triacontanyl Pvp, Benzoic Acid, Tetrasodium EDTA, O-Cymen-5-Ol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Hydroxide, Propylene Glycol, Citric Acid, Glycyrrhiza Inflata Root 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.
Also known as Avobenzone, this ingredient is an oil-soluble used to absorb the full spectrum of UVA rays (peak 357 nm).
It's one of the most effective UVA filters available but has a major caveat of photostability: avobenzone is susceptible to photodegradation.
This means it can lose efficacy when exposed to sunlight without the help of a stabilizing agent.
Studies show antioxidants (like vitamin E or vitamin C) and some UV filters (like octocrylene and Tinosorb S) can meaningfully improve its stability in a formulation.
The maximum allowable concentration according to regulation is 3% in the US + Canada, and 5% in the EU, Australia, China, Korea, and ASEAN countries.
It has a well-support safety profile: a comprehensive 2025 review found minimal toxicity with no evidence of carcinogenicity.
Overall, avobenzone is a safe and regulated ingredient used in sunscreen for over 40 years.
Learn more about Butyl MethoxydibenzoylmethaneDimethicone 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 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