What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Isopropyl Palmitate
Emollient
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Cocoglycerides
Emollient
Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexyl Salicylate
UV Absorber
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Butylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate
EmollientC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialHydrogenated Rapeseed Oil
Emollient
Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV Filter
Ethylhexyl Triazone
UV Absorber
Silica Dimethyl Silylate
EmollientBehenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate
Cellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingPhenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid
UV Absorber
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Silica
Abrasive
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingTrisodium EDTA
Dimethicone
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Chloride
MaskingLinalool
Perfuming
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Parfum
Masking
Water, Glycerin, Isopropyl Palmitate, Alcohol Denat., Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Cocoglycerides, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Titanium Dioxide, Butylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Hydrogenated Rapeseed Oil, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Behenyl Alcohol, Stearyl Alcohol, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, Cellulose Gum, Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Xanthan Gum, Hydroxyacetophenone, Silica, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Trisodium EDTA, Dimethicone, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Chloride, Linalool, Benzyl Alcohol, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Citronellol, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV Absorber
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Phospholipids
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Polyacrylamide
C13-14 Isoparaffin
Emollient
Laureth-7
EmulsifyingZinc Oxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingSodium Acrylates Copolymer
Lecithin
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Isopropyl Myristate
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Copper Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Carica Papaya Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialCurcuma Longa Root Extract
Masking
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Squalene
Emollient
Xylitylglucoside
Humectant
Anhydroxylitol
Humectant
Xylitol
Humectant
Water, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Phospholipids, Butylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Polyacrylamide, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Laureth-7, Zinc Oxide, Titanium Dioxide, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Lecithin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glycerin, Sodium PCA, Isopropyl Myristate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Niacinamide, Ceramide NP, Copper Tripeptide-1, Carica Papaya Fruit Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Allantoin, Squalene, Xylitylglucoside, Anhydroxylitol, Xylitol
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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol 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.
Titanium dioxide is a mineral UV filter widely used in sunscreens and cosmetics.
It is one of only two UV filters officially classified as “mineral” by regulatory agencies, the other being zinc oxide.
Titanium dioxide provides broad-spectrum protection mostly in the UVB and UVAII range, with some protection in the UVAI range.
While its UVA protection isn’t as strong as zinc oxide’s, the difference is minor.
A common myth is that mineral UV filters reflect UV light. However, modern research shows titanium dioxide absorbs UV radiation like chemical filters (~95% absorption & 5% reflection).
Thanks to its non-irritating nature, titanium dioxide is suitable for sensitive, acne-prone, or redness-prone skin. It is unlikely to cause "eye sting" like other sunscreen ingredients.
A major drawback of this ingredient is its white cast and thick texture. This is why mineral sunscreens often leave a white cast and are less cosmetically elegant than chemical/hybrid sunscreens.
To improve white cast and spreadability, micronized or nano-sized titanium dioxide is often used.
There are ongoing concerns surrounding nano-titanium oxide's impact on marine ecosystems.
There is no conclusive evidence that any form of titanium oxide (or any other sunscreen ingredients) will cause harm to marine ecosystems or coral reefs. The science is still developing but many consumers are keeping a close eye on this issue.
Please note, many destinations have reef-safety sunscreen rules. For instance, the U.S. Virgin Islands advises all visitors to use non-nano mineral sunscreens.
Nano mineral sunscreens once raised safety concerns about absorption into skin.
Extensive research has shown that they do not penetrate healthy or damaged skin; they remain safely on the surface and the top layer of dead skin (stratum corneum).
You'll likely find titanium dioxide bundled with alumina, silica, or dimethicone. These ingredients help make titanium dioxide highly photostable; this prevents it from interacting with other formula components under UV light.
Learn more about Titanium DioxideWater. 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
