What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialGlycerin
Humectant
Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexyl Salicylate
UV Absorber
Ethylhexyl Triazone
UV Absorber
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Dimethicone
Emollient
Isopropyl Myristate
Emollient
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingSilica
Abrasive
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Synthetic Wax
Abrasive
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Aluminum Hydroxide
EmollientAmmonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Disodium EDTA
Drometrizole Trisiloxane
UV Absorber
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingIsopropyl Lauroyl Sarcosinate
Skin ConditioningMyristic Acid
Cleansing
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Chloride
MaskingStearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Terephthalylidene Dicamphor Sulfonic Acid
UV Absorber
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Triethanolamine
BufferingWater, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Glycerin, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Titanium Dioxide, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Alcohol Denat., Dimethicone, Isopropyl Myristate, Niacinamide, Panthenol, Pentylene Glycol, Stearic Acid, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Silica, Propylene Glycol, Synthetic Wax, Butylene Glycol, Aluminum Hydroxide, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Caprylyl Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Drometrizole Trisiloxane, Glyceryl Stearate, Glycine Soja Oil, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Isopropyl Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Myristic Acid, Palmitic Acid, PEG-100 Stearate, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Chloride, Stearyl Alcohol, Terephthalylidene Dicamphor Sulfonic Acid, Tocopherol, Triethanolamine
4-Methylbenzylidene Camphor
UV Absorber
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Ethylhexyl Triazone
UV Absorber
Octocrylene
UV Absorber
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Glycerin
Humectant
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingColloidal Oatmeal
Absorbent
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
PEG-15 Cocamine
EmulsifyingPEG-40 Stearate
Emulsifying
Water
Skin ConditioningSilica
Abrasive
Triethanolamine
BufferingCera Alba
Emollient
4-Methylbenzylidene Camphor, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Octocrylene, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Caprylyl Glycol, Carbomer, Tocopheryl Acetate, Glycerin, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Colloidal Oatmeal, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, PEG-15 Cocamine, PEG-40 Stearate, Water, Silica, Triethanolamine, Cera Alba
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 MethoxydibenzoylmethaneC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate is a lightweight emollient made by combinig benzoic acid with fatty alcohols that are 12-15 carbons long.
In cosmetics, it plays several roles:
The Cosmetic Review Expert Panel has concluded the alkyl benzoate group to be safe as used in cosmetics; it wasn't found to be a skin irritant and unlikely to be absorbed due to its low water solubility.
This report recorded almost 1000 reported uses with concentrations up to 59% in leave-on products but your cosmetics will typically use 0.5-15% depending on the product.
It's often called a "SPF booster": this is because it keeps UV filters properly dissolved and evenly distributed to support a sunscreen's performance. It doesn't actually raise SPF on its own.
Overall, this ingredient is well tolerated.
This ingredient is fungal acne safe because it is an ester of benzoic acid.
Think of this ingredient as two parts stuck together: an oily part and an acid part. Malassezia only gets a meal when it can snip off a fatty acid to eat. With C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, the acid part is benzoic acid, which isn't a fatty acid and which the yeast can't use as food.
Benzoic acid is actually used as a preservative to stop yeast from growing.
The oily part is a blend of C12-15 fatty alcohols but fatty alcohols in this size range can support only a little Malassezia growth (mostly for one species of Malassezia as well).
In the ingredient, those alcohols stay locked inside the molecule. The yeast can only reach them by snipping the benzoate bond, and that type of bond is harder for it to cut than a normal fatty bond.
So not much gets released. And whatever does get snipped comes packaged with benzoic acid, which discourages yeast growth.
Learn more about C12-15 Alkyl BenzoateCaprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolEthylhexyl 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 GlycerinSilica, 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 SilicaTriethanolamine (TEA) is an emulsifier and pH adjuster. It is created using ethylene oxide and ammonia. This gives Triethanolamine a nitrogen core and a similar scent to ammonia.
As an emulsifier, it prevents ingredients from separating and enhances texture by adding volume to a product.
PH adjusters are common in cosmetic products. The pH of a product can affect the effectiveness of other ingredients. A product with a high pH may also irritate the skin.
If you are looking for the tea leaf ingredient, click here.
Learn more about TriethanolamineWater. 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 Water
