What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 1.5%
UV Absorber
Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%
UV Absorber
Octocrylene 3%
UV Absorber
Benzophenone-3 4%
UV Absorber
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycolic Acid
Buffering
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialDicaprylyl Maleate
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Parfum
Masking
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingMethylparaben
Preservative
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Propylparaben
Preservative
Tetrasodium EDTA
Ascorbic Acid/Orange/Citrus Limon/Citrus Aurantifolia Polypeptides
Skin Conditioning
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 1.5%, Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%, Octocrylene 3%, Benzophenone-3 4%, Water, Glycolic Acid, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Dicaprylyl Maleate, Cetyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Stearic Acid, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Sodium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol, Sclerotium Gum, Tocopheryl Acetate, Caprylyl Glycol, Parfum, Xanthan Gum, Methylparaben, Panthenol, Bisabolol, Propylparaben, Tetrasodium EDTA, Ascorbic Acid/Orange/Citrus Limon/Citrus Aurantifolia Polypeptides
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 2%
UV Absorber
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate 7.5%
UV Absorber
Benzophenone-3 5%
UV Absorber
Water
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientGossypium Herbaceum Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexyl Methoxycrylene
Skin Conditioning
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Soluble Collagen
Humectant
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingLeuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 2%, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate 7.5%, Benzophenone-3 5%, Water, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Gossypium Herbaceum Seed Oil, Ethylhexyl Methoxycrylene, Stearic Acid, Cetyl Alcohol, Soluble Collagen, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Sodium Hydroxide, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Hexylene Glycol
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
This ingredient is also known as oxybenzone, and is one of the older organic UV filters. Its main job is sitting in the oil phase and soaking up UV photons (primarily UVB with some short-wave UVA II range).
At low levels, oxybenzone also pulls double duty as a formula stabilizer that protects fragrance and colorants from fading in the light.
On concentrations:
So why did the EU cut back on how much you can use?
It comes down to absorption. Oxybenzone passes through skin more easily than other filters.
When the FDA tested sunscreens, every filter showed up in people's blood above the level where the agency wants extra safety testing done. But Oxybenzone showed up at by far the highest levels of the bunch.
To be clear, the FDA's point was that we need more research and not that the ingredient is dangerous. They also said to keep using sunscreen.
That high absorption, plus some animal studies pointing to effects on reproduction, is why EU regulators labeled Benzophenone-3 a hormone disruptor in 2025. An official classification is expected to follow in 2026.
It's also the most common photoallergen among sunscreen filters so it's a more frequent cause of contact/photoallergic dermatitis than most alternatives.
Places like Hawaii and Palau have also banned it over coral-reef concerns.
Learn more about Benzophenone-3Also 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 MethoxydibenzoylmethaneCaprylyl 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 GlycolCetyl Alcohol is a fatty alcohol. Fatty Alcohols are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product.
Its main roles are:
Though it has "alcohol" in the name, it is not related to denatured alcohol or ethyl alcohol.
The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe. It is a primary fatty alcohol with a chain length above 12 carbons. A study from 2019 show Malassezia can feed on fatty alcohols in this range, so it may trigger fungal acne in those prone to it.
Learn more about Cetyl AlcoholGlyceryl Stearate is made by reacting glycerin with stearic acid (typically sourced from plant oils like palm or coconut). It's an emulsifier, emollient, and mild occlusive.
Emulsifiers help ingredients like oil and water stay mixed so your formula stays nicely blended and uniform in texture.
This ingredient is typically used in concentrations between 1-10%. Studies have found it to be non-sensitizing, non-phototoxic, and non-photoallergenic.
A close cousin of this ingredient is Glyceryl Stearate SE ("self-emulsifying"). This just has a small amount of sodium or potassium stearate added so it can emulsify without a co-emulsifier.
Since this ingredient is an ester of a C18 fatty acid, it may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast can potentially metabolize within the C11-C24 range.
Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.
Learn more about Glyceryl StearatePeg-100 Stearate is an emollient and emulsifier. As an emollient, it helps keep skin soft by trapping moisture in. On the other hand, emulsifiers help prevent oil and water from separating in a product.
PEGS are a hydrophilic polyether compound . There are 100 ethylene oxide monomers in Peg-100 Stearate. Peg-100 Stearate is polyethylene glycol ester of stearic acid.
Phenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Sodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideStearic Acid is a fatty acid that is already found in your skin. It's one of the free fatty acids that works alongside ceramides and cholesterols to maintain your barrier.
In cosmetics, it is a multitasker:
Safety-wise, the CIR Expert Panel has concluded it to be safe in cosmetics when formulated to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing.
Free stearic acid is a C18 fatty acid that the Malassezia yeast can substrate, so this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Stearic 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
