This chemical sunscreen covers most of the UV range, lighter on the deep UVA that drives aging.
This chemical sunscreen covers the full UV range and blocks ~98% of UVB at SPF 50.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Terephthalylidene Dicamphor Sulfonic Acid
UV AbsorberWater
Skin ConditioningPhenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid
UV AbsorberPropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantSwertia Japonica Extract
Skin ConditioningSophora Angustifolia Root Extract
Skin ConditioningCnidium Monnieri Fruit Extract
HumectantTromethamine
BufferingDisodium Phenyl Dibenzimidazole Tetrasulfonate
UV Absorber1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeNiacinamide
SmoothingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningDiethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV FilterEthylhexyl Triazone
UV AbsorberTerephthalylidene Dicamphor Sulfonic Acid, Water, Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid, Propylene Glycol, Glycerin, Swertia Japonica Extract, Sophora Angustifolia Root Extract, Cnidium Monnieri Fruit Extract, Tromethamine, Disodium Phenyl Dibenzimidazole Tetrasulfonate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Phenoxyethanol, Niacinamide, Panthenol, Ceramide NP, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Ethylhexyl Triazone
Water
Skin ConditioningDibutyl Adipate
EmollientDiethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV FilterGlycerin
HumectantC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialNiacinamide
SmoothingDiethylhexyl Butamido Triazone
UV AbsorberInulin
Skin ConditioningBis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
UV AbsorberPhenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid
UV AbsorberArginine
MaskingSilica
AbrasiveTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantTriacontanyl Pvp
HumectantVp/Hexadecene Copolymer
Propylheptyl Caprylate
EmollientGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningAcrylates Copolymer
Microcrystalline Cellulose
AbsorbentSodium Hydroxide
BufferingDisodium EDTA
ChelatingGalactoarabinan
Magnolia Officinalis Bark Extract
AntimicrobialCellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCitric Acid
BufferingTocopherol
AntioxidantWater, Dibutyl Adipate, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Glycerin, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Niacinamide, Diethylhexyl Butamido Triazone, Inulin, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid, Arginine, Silica, Tocopheryl Acetate, Triacontanyl Pvp, Vp/Hexadecene Copolymer, Propylheptyl Caprylate, Glyceryl Caprylate, Pentylene Glycol, Acrylates Copolymer, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Sodium Hydroxide, Disodium EDTA, Galactoarabinan, Magnolia Officinalis Bark Extract, Cellulose Gum, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Citric Acid, Tocopherol
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate (DHHB) is a chemical UV-A absorber. It is formulated for high UVA protection (320-400 nm).
DHHB is well-liked for:
DHHB has been approved by the EU, Japan, Taiwan, and South America for use up to 10%. Unfortunately, it has not been approved for use in the US or Canada due to slow regulatory processes.
This ingredient is soluble in oils, fats, and lipids.
Learn more about Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl BenzoateGlycerin (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 GlycerinNiacinamide is a multitasking form of vitamin B3 that strengthens the skin barrier, reduces pores and dark spots, regulates oil, and improves signs of aging.
And the best part? It's gentle and well-tolerated by most skin types, including sensitive and reactive skin.
You might have heard of "niacin flush", or the reddening of skin that causes itchiness. Niacinamide has not been found to cause this.
In very rare cases, some individuals may not be able to tolerate niacinamide at all or experience an allergic reaction to it.
If you are experiencing flaking, irritation, and dryness with this ingredient, be sure to double check all your products as this ingredient can be found in all categories of skincare.
When incorporating niacinamide into your routine, look out for concentration amounts. Typically, 5% niacinamide provides benefits such as fading dark spots. However, if you have sensitive skin, it is better to begin with a smaller concentration.
When you apply niacinamide to your skin, your body converts it into nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD). NAD is an essential coenzyme that is already found in your cells as "fuel" and powers countless biological processes.
In your skin, NAD helps repair cell damage, produce new healthy cells, support collagen production, strengthen the skin barrier, and fight environmental stressors (like UV and pollution).
Our natural NAD levels start to decline with age, leading to slower skin repair, visible aging, and a weaker skin barrier. By providing your skin niacinamide, you're recharging your skin's NAD levels. This leads to stronger, healthier, and younger looking skin.
Another name for vitamin B3 is nicotinamide. This vitamin is water-soluble and our bodies don't store it. We obtain Vitamin B3 from either food or skincare. Meat, fish, wheat, yeast, and leafy greens contain vitamin B3.
The type of niacinamide used in skincare is synthetically created.
Learn more about NiacinamidePhenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid (aka Ensulizole) is a chemical UV filter that's a bit of a unicorn in the sunscreen world: it's water-soluble where most organic filters are oil-based.
Being water-solubility is the headline because it feels lightweight and non-greasy in formulations. This makes it suitable for oily or acne-prone skin in gel/water-based products.
Ensulizole primarily protects against UVB radiation (~290-320 nm) but offers some minimal UVA protection. You'll see it often paired with UVA filters to ensure broad-spectrum coverage.
Interestingly, it can help boost SPF and stabilize finicky filters when combined with other UVB absorbers.
The FDA has approved this ingredient for OTC sunscreens up to 4% and the EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Products concluded that up to 8% is allowed in cosmetics.
In practice, you'll most likely see it formulated around 1-4%.
Safety-wise, it is neither irritating nor sensitizing, shows no photoallergenic potential, and in vivo tests show no mutagenic potential.
You might see discussion about the "double-edged sword" effect of this ingredient. This is because lab tests done on cells in a dish (not on humans) showed Ensulizole can create small amounts of unstable molecules called free radicals that can damage DNA when exposed to UV light. It sounds scary but this is just test-tube research. There hasn't been proof that this can happen when used in a sunscreen on skin.
Learn more about Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic AcidWater. 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