What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Salicylate
UV Absorber
Cyclohexasiloxane
Emollient
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Glycerin
Humectant
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Octocrylene
UV Absorber
Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid
UV Absorber
Silica
Abrasive
Glycol Stearate
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingAcrylates Crosspolymer
AbsorbentDimethicone
Emollient
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Cystine
MaskingGlycine
Buffering
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Pyridoxine Hcl
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Parfum
Masking
Hydroxystearic Acid
Cleansing
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Methylparaben
Preservative
Cyclomethicone
Emollient
Propylparaben
Preservative
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Dimethiconol
Emollient
Disodium EDTA
BHT
Antioxidant
Stearamide Amp
Aluminum Hydroxide
EmollientSodium Carbonate
BufferingSodium Chloride
MaskingPalmitic Acid
Emollient
Arachidic Acid
Cleansing
Water, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Cyclohexasiloxane, Niacinamide, Glycerin, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Octocrylene, Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid, Silica, Glycol Stearate, Stearic Acid, PEG-100 Stearate, Titanium Dioxide, Carbomer, Potassium Hydroxide, Acrylates Crosspolymer, Dimethicone, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Cystine, Glycine, Sodium PCA, Tocopheryl Acetate, Pyridoxine Hcl, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetyl Alcohol, Parfum, Hydroxystearic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben, Cyclomethicone, Propylparaben, Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethiconol, Disodium EDTA, BHT, Stearamide Amp, Aluminum Hydroxide, Sodium Carbonate, Sodium Chloride, Palmitic Acid, Arachidic Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningAlcohol
Antimicrobial
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV Absorber
Octocrylene
UV Absorber
Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV Filter
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingMethylparaben
Preservative
Pentasodium Pentetate
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
Antioxidant
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
Masking
BHT
Antioxidant
Chlorophyllin-Copper Complex
Antioxidant
CI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantButylene Glycol
Humectant
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Malva Sylvestris Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningRhodomyrtus Tomentosa Fruit Extract
HumectantCynara Scolymus Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningWater, Alcohol, Propylene Glycol, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Octocrylene, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Carbomer, Methylparaben, Pentasodium Pentetate, Sorbitan Isostearate, Polysorbate 60, Sodium Hydroxide, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, BHT, Chlorophyllin-Copper Complex, CI 42090, Butylene Glycol, Centella Asiatica Extract, Malva Sylvestris Flower Extract, Rhodomyrtus Tomentosa Fruit Extract, Cynara Scolymus Leaf Extract
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 an oil-soluble used to absorb the full spectrum of UVA rays (peak 357 nm).
It's one of the most effective UVA filters available but has a major caveat of photostability: avobenzone is susceptible to photodegradation.
This means it can lose efficacy when exposed to sunlight without the help of a stabilizing agent.
Studies show antioxidants (like vitamin E or vitamin C) and some UV filters (like octocrylene and Tinosorb S) can meaningfully improve its stability in a formulation.
The maximum allowable concentration according to regulation is 3% in the US + Canada, and 5% in the EU, Australia, China, Korea, and ASEAN countries.
It has a well-support safety profile: a comprehensive 2025 review found minimal toxicity with no evidence of carcinogenicity.
Overall, avobenzone is a safe and regulated ingredient used in sunscreen for over 40 years.
Learn more about Butyl MethoxydibenzoylmethaneCarbomer is a high-molecular weight polymer of acrylic acid. It is used to form gels and thicken formulas.
Due to its large molecular size, carbomer has minimal skin penetration and is considered an inert ingredient.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Learn more about CarbomerMethylparaben is a synthetic preservative and one of the most widely used in the world. It has a simple, but important job: prevent your products from going bad by stopping bacteria, yeast, and mold from growing.
Typical use levels are low, often 0.1-0.3%.
This is also one of the most heavily studied preservatives out there and major regulatory bodies have repeatedly given it the green light.
In 2023, the EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) confirmed that this ingredient is safe up to 0.4% on its own, of up to 0.8% when mixed with other paraben esters.
Here's the science behind the noise behind parabens/hormones as well:
Methylparaben shows very weak estrogen-like activity in vitro tests (more than 1,000x weaker than your body's own estradiol). In vivo (live-organism) studies don't support a meaningful endocrine-disrupting effect either.
You get a stronger estrogenic effect from eating tofu, actually.
It's also a low sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon; they usually happen on damage or broken skin.
There is a caveat: France has proposed to formally re-examine its endocrine classification in 2025 so the regulatory conversation isn't fully closed as of yet.
But as it stands today, this ingredient is considered safe at permitted levels.
Learn more about MethylparabenOctocrylene is an oil-soluble organic UV filter that mainly absorbs UVB and short wave UVA II light.
Its real superpower is teamwork: octocrylene is remarkably photostable and is most famous for stabilizing avobenzone (the workhorse UVA filter).
This ingredient is commonly used to enhance both UVB and UVA protection due to its unique property in stabilizing avobenzone. It also pulls double duty by boosting water resistance and giving formulas a smooth, spreadable feel.
The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) has deemed octocrylene to be safe as a UV-filter at concentrations up to 10% (capped at 9% in propellant sprays). The US also permits it up to 10%.
Two things worth knowing:
You'll usually see this ingredient used in concentrations between 2-10% (higher amounts when used as a stabilizer for avobenzone).
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.
Sodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideWater. 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
