What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%
UV AbsorberHomosalate 15%
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Salicylate 5%
UV AbsorberOctocrylene 10%
UV AbsorberWater
Skin ConditioningButyloctyl Salicylate
Skin ConditioningCoconut Alkanes
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate Citrate
EmollientSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingOryza Sativa Starch
AbsorbentPolyglyceryl-4 Isostearate
EmulsifyingCamellia Japonica Seed Oil
EmollientPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeAcetic Acid
BufferingBiosaccharide Gum-1
HumectantHydrolyzed Jojoba Esters
Skin ConditioningLysolecithin
EmulsifyingSclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
EmollientPullulan
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingFragaria Ananassa Seed Oil
AntioxidantNiacinamide
SmoothingTocopherol
AntioxidantSaccharomyces/Xylinum/Black Tea Ferment
Skin ConditioningOryza Sativa Extract
AbsorbentLeuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
AntimicrobialPalmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin ConditioningPassiflora Incarnata Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningVanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Hexapeptide-8
HumectantSh-Polypeptide-50
Skin ConditioningCaprooyl Tetrapeptide-3
Skin ProtectingTrifluoroacetyl Tripeptide-2
Skin ConditioningDaucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil
EmollientSaccharomyces/Malus Pumila Fruit Ferment Filtrate
EmollientRosa Canina Fruit Oil
EmollientLeontopodium Alpinum Flower/Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningPhaseolus Angularis Seed Extract
AntioxidantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingPaeonia Albiflora Root Extract
Skin ConditioningDextran
Ectoin
Skin ConditioningMyristyl Nicotinate
Skin ConditioningParfum
MaskingButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%, Homosalate 15%, Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%, Octocrylene 10%, Water, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Coconut Alkanes, Glycerin, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Glyceryl Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Oryza Sativa Starch, Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate, Camellia Japonica Seed Oil, Potassium Sorbate, Acetic Acid, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Hydrolyzed Jojoba Esters, Lysolecithin, Sclerotium Gum, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Pullulan, Xanthan Gum, Fragaria Ananassa Seed Oil, Niacinamide, Tocopherol, Saccharomyces/Xylinum/Black Tea Ferment, Oryza Sativa Extract, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Passiflora Incarnata Flower Extract, Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Sh-Polypeptide-50, Caprooyl Tetrapeptide-3, Trifluoroacetyl Tripeptide-2, Daucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil, Saccharomyces/Malus Pumila Fruit Ferment Filtrate, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Leontopodium Alpinum Flower/Leaf Extract, Phaseolus Angularis Seed Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Citric Acid, Paeonia Albiflora Root Extract, Dextran, Ectoin, Myristyl Nicotinate, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantEthylhexyl Salicylate
UV AbsorberDimethicone
EmollientAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialOctocrylene
UV AbsorberNylon-12
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV AbsorberOctyldodecanol
EmollientPhenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid
UV AbsorberCetyl Alcohol
EmollientBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientTriethanolamine
BufferingIsopropyl Isostearate
EmollientHydrolyzed Soy Protein
HumectantAcetyl Trifluoromethylphenyl Valylglycine
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin ConditioningCapryloyl Salicylic Acid
ExfoliatingDisodium EDTA
Faex Extract
Skin ConditioningSalicyloyl Phytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningRetinyl Palmitate
Skin ConditioningAcrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingAluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate
AbsorbentAmmonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientCetearyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingDisodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingIsohexadecane
EmollientMyristic Acid
CleansingPalmitic Acid
EmollientPEG-100 Stearate
Pentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningPoly C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate
Emulsion StabilisingPolyethylene
AbrasivePolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingPolysorbate 80
EmulsifyingSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingSorbitan Oleate
EmulsifyingStearic Acid
CleansingSilica
AbrasiveTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic ColorantAlpha-Isomethyl Ionone
PerfumingBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingBenzyl Salicylate
PerfumingCitronellol
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingCI 15510
Cosmetic ColorantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeTocopherol
AntioxidantParfum
MaskingWater, Glycerin, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Dimethicone, Alcohol Denat., Octocrylene, Nylon-12, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Octyldodecanol, Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid, Cetyl Alcohol, Behenyl Alcohol, Triethanolamine, Isopropyl Isostearate, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Acetyl Trifluoromethylphenyl Valylglycine, Adenosine, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Disodium EDTA, Faex Extract, Salicyloyl Phytosphingosine, Retinyl Palmitate, Acrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Glucoside, Disodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Isohexadecane, Myristic Acid, Palmitic Acid, PEG-100 Stearate, Pentylene Glycol, Poly C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate, Polyethylene, Polysorbate 60, Polysorbate 80, Sorbitan Isostearate, Sorbitan Oleate, Stearic Acid, Silica, Titanium Dioxide, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Benzyl Alcohol, Benzyl Salicylate, Citronellol, Geraniol, Hexyl Cinnamal, Limonene, Linalool, CI 15510, Phenoxyethanol, Tocopherol, Parfum
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 MethoxydibenzoylmethaneEthylhexyl 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 SalicylateGlycerin (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 OctocryleneParfum is a catch-all term for an ingredient or more that is used to give a scent to products.
Also called "fragrance", this ingredient can be a blend of hundreds of chemicals or plant oils. This means every product with "fragrance" or "parfum" in the ingredients list is a different mixture.
For instance, Habanolide is a proprietary trade name for a specific aroma chemical. When used as a fragrance ingredient in cosmetics, most aroma chemicals fall under the broad labeling category of “FRAGRANCE” or “PARFUM” according to EU and US regulations.
The term 'parfum' or 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term.
For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance by INCI standards.
One example is Calendula flower extract. Calendula is an essential oil that still imparts a scent or 'fragrance'.
Depending on the blend, the ingredients in the mixture can cause allergies and sensitivities on the skin. Some ingredients that are known EU allergens include linalool and citronellol.
Parfum can also be used to mask or cover an unpleasant scent.
The bottom line is: not all fragrances/parfum/ingredients are created equally. If you are worried about fragrances, we recommend taking a closer look at an ingredient. And of course, we always recommend speaking with a professional.
Learn more about ParfumPhenoxyethanol 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.
Tocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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