What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Homosalate 15%
Skin Conditioning
Octocrylene 10%
UV Absorber
Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%
UV Absorber
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%
UV Absorber
Acrylates/Dimethicone Copolymer
Skin Conditioning
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate
Absorbent
Blue 1 Lake
Cosmetic ColorantButyloctyl Salicylate
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Methicone
Skin Conditioning
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Dimethicone
Emollient
Disodium EDTA
Glycerin
Humectant
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Menthyl Lactate
Masking
Parfum
Masking
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Polyurethane-62
Silica
Abrasive
Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingStyrene/Acrylates Copolymer
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Trideceth-6
EmulsifyingWater
Skin ConditioningHomosalate 15%, Octocrylene 10%, Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%, Acrylates/Dimethicone Copolymer, Alcohol Denat., Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Blue 1 Lake, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Caprylyl Methicone, Chlorphenesin, Dimethicone, Disodium EDTA, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Menthyl Lactate, Parfum, Pentylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Polyurethane-62, Silica, Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Crosspolymer, Sodium Hydroxide, Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer, Tocopheryl Acetate, Trideceth-6, Water
4-Methylbenzylidene Camphor
UV Absorber
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Octocrylene
UV Absorber
Ethylhexyl Triazone
UV Absorber
Caprylic Acid
CleansingGlycerin
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water
Skin ConditioningC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialCera Alba
Emollient
Silica
Abrasive
PEG-15 Cocamine
EmulsifyingPEG-40 Stearate
Emulsifying
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Carrageenan
Emulsion StabilisingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Sodium Chloride
Masking4-Methylbenzylidene Camphor, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Octocrylene, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Caprylic Acid, Glycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Water, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Cera Alba, Silica, PEG-15 Cocamine, PEG-40 Stearate, Caprylyl Glycol, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Panthenol, Sodium Carrageenan, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Chloride
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 a chemical sunscreen filter that provides protection in the UV-A range.
Avobenzone is globally approved and is the most commonly used UV-A filter in the world.
Studies have found that avobenzone becomes ineffective when exposed to UV light (it is not photostable; meaning that it breaks down in sunlight). Because of this, formulations that include avobenzone will usually contain stabilizers such as octocrylene.
However, some modern formulations (looking at you, EU!) are able to stabilize avobenzone by coating the molecules.
Avobenzone does not protect against the UV-B range, so it's important to check that the sunscreen you're using contains other UV filters that do!
The highest concentration of avobenzone permitted is 3% in the US, and 5% in the EU.
Learn more about Butyl MethoxydibenzoylmethaneGlycerin (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 GlycerinOctocrylene protects skin from sun damage. It absorbs UV-B with peak absorption of 304 nm. It is a common sunscreen ingredient and often paired with avobenzone, a UVA filter. This is because octocrylene stabilizes other sunscreen ingredients by protecting them from degradation when exposed to sunlight. Octocrylene is a photostable ingredient and loses about 10% of SPF in 95 minutes.
Octocrylene also acts as an emollient, meaning it helps skin retain moisture and softens skin. It is oil-soluble and hydrophobic, enhancing water-resistant properties in a product.
Those who are using ketoprofen, a topical anti-inflammatory drug, may experience an allergic reaction when using octocrylene. It is best to speak with a healthcare professional about using sunscreens with octocrylene.
The EU allows a maximum of these concentrations:
Learn more about OctocrylenePhenoxyethanol 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.
Silica, 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 SilicaTocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateWater. 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
