What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Water
Skin ConditioningZinc Oxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV Absorber
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientDipropylene Glycol
HumectantSilica
Abrasive
Dimethicone
Emollient
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Magnesium/Aluminum/Zinc/Hydroxide/Carbonate
Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate
Emulsifying
Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV Filter
Hydrogen Dimethicone
Myristic Acid
Cleansing
Aluminum Hydroxide
EmollientTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Methylparaben
Preservative
Ethylparaben
Preservative
Potassium Alum
AstringentParfum
Masking
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
BHT
Antioxidant
Glycyrrhetinic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
Astringent
Cyclopentasiloxane, Water, Zinc Oxide, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Dipropylene Glycol, Silica, Dimethicone, Titanium Dioxide, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Magnesium/Aluminum/Zinc/Hydroxide/Carbonate, Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Hydrogen Dimethicone, Myristic Acid, Aluminum Hydroxide, Tocopheryl Acetate, Methylparaben, Ethylparaben, Potassium Alum, Parfum, Butylene Glycol, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, BHT, Glycyrrhetinic Acid, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV Absorber
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Ethylhexyl Salicylate
UV Absorber
4-Methylbenzylidene Camphor
UV Absorber
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Titanium Dioxide, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, 4-Methylbenzylidene Camphor, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract (tea extract) is one of the most well-researched plant extracts in skincare with an impressive resume.
Black tea, green tea, and oolong tea are all harvested from the Camellia Sinensis plant.
Studies show green tea extract and its catechins (like epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG)) help your skin cells product energy more efficiently and reducing the number of free-radicals that can damage your skin from the inside.
In lab-grown skin models, this translated to younger, healthier, and stronger skin.
There's also good sun protection data; researchers saw less DNA damage and redness on human skin when green tea was applied before UVB exposure. And the more they applied, the better the protection.
Needless to say, this ingredient shouldn't replace your sunscreen. But it is a great supportive ingredient that you can already find in many sunscreens and antioxidant serums.
A 2009 study found a 2% green tea lotion was effective for mild-to-moderate acne thanks to its anti-inflammatory and mild antimicrobial activity.
The quality of the extract matters a lot here:
Good extracts contain 50-90% catechins while lower quality ones are mostly there for marketing. We recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the quality or source of their ingredients.
Human Repeated Insult Patch Testing showed no irritation or sensitization at use concentrations (0.86% in leave-on products and up to 30% as leaf water).
Learn more about Camellia Sinensis Leaf ExtractEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate is an organic compound that provides UVB protection. It often goes by the more common name of octinoxate. It is created from methoxycinnamic acid and 2-ethylhexanol.
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate absorbs UVB rays with wavelengths between 280-320 nm. UV absorbers protect your skin by using chemical reactions to convert UV rays into heat and energy.
UVB (290-320 nm) rays emit more energy than UVA rays. They are capable of damaging DNA, causing sunburns and are thought to be linked to skin cancer.
The state of Hawaii has banned sunscreens containing octinoxate due to its potential impact on coral reefs. More research is needed to bridge gaps in this research. The European Union allows higher levels of octinoxate in sunscreens than the US and Australia.
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate is oil soluble. It is not stable and may lose efficacy when exposed to sunlight.
Learn more about Ethylhexyl MethoxycinnamateScutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract comes from the Baikal skullcap or Chinese skullcap plant. This plant is native to Northeast Asia and can be found in China, Mongolia, Korea, and Siberia.
In cosmetics, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract provides antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits. This is due to the flavonoid composition of Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract.
In Chinese traditional folk medicine, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract is used to help treat lung issues and hypertension.
Learn more about Scutellaria Baicalensis Root ExtractTitanium 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 DioxideTocopheryl 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 Acetate
