What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 2.5%
UV Absorber
Homosalate 8%
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%
UV Absorber
Octocrylene 8%
UV Absorber
Acrylates/Dimethicone Copolymer
Skin Conditioning
Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate
Absorbent
BHT
Antioxidant
Bisabolol
Masking
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Cetyl Dimethicone
Emollient
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Dimethicone
Emollient
Disodium EDTA
Ethylhexyl Stearate
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningMannan
Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Polyester-7
Skin ConditioningSilica
Abrasive
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Steareth-100
Gel FormingSteareth-2
EmulsifyingStyrene/Acrylates Copolymer
Trideceth-6
EmulsifyingWater
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 2.5%, Homosalate 8%, Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%, Octocrylene 8%, Acrylates/Dimethicone Copolymer, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, BHT, Bisabolol, Butylene Glycol, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Caprylyl Glycol, Centella Asiatica Extract, Cetyl Dimethicone, Chlorphenesin, Dimethicone, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexyl Stearate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Mannan, Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate, Phenoxyethanol, Polyester-7, Silica, Sodium Polyacrylate, Steareth-100, Steareth-2, Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer, Trideceth-6, Water, Xanthan Gum
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%
UV Absorber
Homosalate 12%
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%
UV Absorber
Octocrylene 2.35%
UV Absorber
Benzophenone-3 6%
UV Absorber
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
Emollient
Diethylhexyl 2,6-Naphthalate
EmollientGlycerin
Humectant
Trisiloxane
Skin Conditioning
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Caprylyl Methicone
Skin Conditioning
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningMethylparaben
Preservative
Cetearyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPropylparaben
Preservative
Disodium EDTA
BHT
Antioxidant
Methylisothiazolinone
Preservative
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%, Homosalate 12%, Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%, Octocrylene 2.35%, Benzophenone-3 6%, Water, Dimethicone, Diethylhexyl 2,6-Naphthalate, Glycerin, Trisiloxane, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Caprylyl Methicone, Behenyl Alcohol, Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer, Benzyl Alcohol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Methylparaben, Cetearyl Glucoside, Xanthan Gum, Propylparaben, Disodium EDTA, BHT, Methylisothiazolinone
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
BHT is a synthetic antioxidant and preservative.
As an antioxidant, it helps your body fight off free-radicals. Free-radicals are molecules that may damage your skin cells.
As a preservative, it is used to stabilize products and prevent them from degrading. Specifically, BHT prevents degradation from oxidation.
The concerns related to BHT come from oral studies; this ingredient is currently allowed for use by both the FDA and EU.
However, it was recently restricted for use in the UK as of April 2024.
Learn more about BHTAlso 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 MethoxydibenzoylmethaneDimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz.
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 DimethiconeDisodium EDTA plays a role in making products more stable by aiding other preservatives.
It is a chelating agent, meaning it neutralizes metal ions that may be found in a product.
Disodium EDTA is a salt of edetic acid and is found to be safe in cosmetic ingredients.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAEthylhexyl Salicylate is an organic compound used to block UV rays. It primarily absorbs UVB rays but offers a small amount of UVA protection as well.
Commonly found in sunscreens, Ethylhexyl Salicylate is created from salicylic acid and 2-ethylhexanol. You might know salicylic acid as the effective acne fighter ingredient and BHA.
The ethylhexanol in this ingredient is a fatty alcohol and helps hydrate your skin, similar to oils. It is an emollient, which means it traps moisture into the skin.
According to manufacturers, Ethylhexyl Salicylate absorbs UV wavelength of 295-315 nm, with a peak absorption at 307-310 nm. UVA rays are linked to long term skin damage, such as hyperpigmentation. UVB rays emit more energy and are capable of damaging our DNA. UVB rays cause sunburn.
Learn more about Ethylhexyl SalicylateEthylhexylglycerin (we can't pronounce this either) is commonly used as a preservative and skin softener. It is derived from glyceryl.
You might see Ethylhexylglycerin often paired with other preservatives such as phenoxyethanol. Ethylhexylglycerin has been found to increase the effectiveness of these other preservatives.
Homosalate is a chemical sunscreen filter that provides protection in the UV-B range (280nm - 320 nm), with a peak protection at 306 nm. It is internationally approved for use in sunscreens.
Homosalate is not photo-stable, meaning it's strength as a UV filter degrades over time with exposure to the sun. Because of this, it's often used in combination with other chemical sunscreen filters as avobenzone (which protects from the UV-A range). Homosalate also helps act as a solvent for harder-to-dissolve UV filters.
(Part of the reason that sunscreens need to be frequently re-applied is due to the photo instability of many chemical sunscreen filters)
Currently, homosalate is approved in concentrations up to 10% in the EU and 15% in the US. The FDA is currently doing further research on the effects of homosalate, and it is possible that these approved concentrations will change in the future.
Learn more about HomosalateOctocrylene 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 OctocryleneWe don't have a description for Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer yet.
Water. 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. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum
