What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%
UV Absorber
Homosalate 10.7%
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexyl Salicylate 3.2%
UV Absorber
Octocrylene 6%
UV Absorber
Benzophenone-3 3.9%
UV Absorber
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
Emollient
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer
Acrylates/Dimethicone Copolymer
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Sodium Dodecylbenzenesulfonate
CleansingSodium Benzoate
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
PEG-8 Laurate
Emulsifying
Silica
Abrasive
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Mentha Piperita Extract
CleansingPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Leontopodium Alpinum Flower/Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSorbitol
Humectant
Moringa Oleifera Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
Rosa Gallica Flower Extract
AstringentDisodium Phosphate
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Glycerin
Humectant
Parfum
Masking
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%, Homosalate 10.7%, Ethylhexyl Salicylate 3.2%, Octocrylene 6%, Benzophenone-3 3.9%, Water, Dimethicone, Alcohol Denat., Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer, Acrylates/Dimethicone Copolymer, Tocopherol, Sodium Polyacrylate, Sodium Dodecylbenzenesulfonate, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol, PEG-8 Laurate, Silica, Pentylene Glycol, Mentha Piperita Extract, Propylene Glycol, Leontopodium Alpinum Flower/Leaf Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Sorbitol, Moringa Oleifera Seed Extract, Disodium EDTA, Rosa Gallica Flower Extract, Disodium Phosphate, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Glycerin, Parfum
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate 7.5%
UV Absorber
Ethylhexyl Salicylate 2%
UV Absorber
Octocrylene 2%
UV Absorber
Titanium Dioxide 3%
Cosmetic Colorant
Zinc Oxide 3%
Cosmetic Colorant
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate
EmollientC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialDimethicone
Emollient
Laureth-4
Emulsifying
Polyethylene
Abrasive
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Citrus Limon Peel Oil
Masking
Citrus Grandis Peel Oil
Masking
Mentha Viridis Leaf Oil
Astringent
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Masking
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Citral
Perfuming
Garcinia Mangostana Peel Extract
Skin ConditioningPanax Ginseng Root Extract
Emollient
Citrus Aurantium Amara Flower Wax
Castanea Sativa Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningPsidium Guajava Fruit Extract
AstringentCitrus Aurantium Amara Flower Water
MaskingLaminaria Saccharina Extract
Skin ProtectingTriticum Vulgare Germ Extract
Skin ConditioningAdenosine Phosphate
Skin ConditioningPantethine
EmollientCreatine
Skin ConditioningHordeum Vulgare Extract
EmollientFolic Acid
Skin ConditioningTourmaline
Cordyceps Sinensis Extract
Antioxidant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Carnitine Hcl
Skin ConditioningCaffeine
Skin Conditioning
Rhodochrosite
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Isopropyl Myristate
Emollient
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTrehalose
Humectant
Polyglyceryl-3 Beeswax
Emulsifying
Vp/Hexadecene Copolymer
Squalane
Emollient
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Faex Extract
Skin ConditioningIsostearic Acid
Cleansing
Polymethyl Methacrylate
Dimethicone Silylate
Polyhydroxystearic Acid
Emulsifying
Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Nylon-12
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingPolysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Silica
Abrasive
BHT
Antioxidant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
CI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate 7.5%, Ethylhexyl Salicylate 2%, Octocrylene 2%, Titanium Dioxide 3%, Zinc Oxide 3%, Water, Butylene Glycol, Cetyl Alcohol, Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Dimethicone, Laureth-4, Polyethylene, PEG-100 Stearate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Citrus Limon Peel Oil, Citrus Grandis Peel Oil, Mentha Viridis Leaf Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Limonene, Linalool, Citral, Garcinia Mangostana Peel Extract, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Citrus Aurantium Amara Flower Wax, Castanea Sativa Seed Extract, Psidium Guajava Fruit Extract, Citrus Aurantium Amara Flower Water, Laminaria Saccharina Extract, Triticum Vulgare Germ Extract, Adenosine Phosphate, Pantethine, Creatine, Hordeum Vulgare Extract, Folic Acid, Tourmaline, Cordyceps Sinensis Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Acetyl Carnitine Hcl, Caffeine, Rhodochrosite, Sodium Hyaluronate, Isopropyl Myristate, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Trehalose, Polyglyceryl-3 Beeswax, Vp/Hexadecene Copolymer, Squalane, Caprylyl Glycol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Faex Extract, Isostearic Acid, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Dimethicone Silylate, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Nylon-12, Xanthan Gum, Hexylene Glycol, Polysorbate 60, Silica, BHT, Phenoxyethanol, CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499, CI 77891
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caprylyl 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 GlycolDimethicone 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 OctocrylenePhenoxyethanol is one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.
Learn more about PhenoxyethanolSilica, 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 SilicaWater. 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
