This chemical sunscreen covers most of the UV range, lighter on the deep UVA that drives aging.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic ColorantEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV AbsorberCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantEthylhexyl Salicylate
UV AbsorberCyclohexasiloxane
EmollientLauryl Polyglyceryl-3 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingHydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin)
EmollientZinc Oxide
Cosmetic ColorantMica
Cosmetic ColorantSodium Chloride
MaskingZinc Stearate
Cosmetic ColorantDextrin Palmitate
EmulsifyingDisteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingSorbitan Sesquioleate
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientTriethoxycaprylylsilane
Aluminum Hydroxide
EmollientAllantoin
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Centella Asiatica Extract
CleansingDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantMadecassoside
AntioxidantAsiaticoside
AntioxidantMadecassic Acid
Skin ConditioningAsiatic Acid
Skin ConditioningCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Titanium Dioxide, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Cyclopentasiloxane, Butylene Glycol, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Cyclohexasiloxane, Lauryl Polyglyceryl-3 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Niacinamide, Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin), Zinc Oxide, Mica, Sodium Chloride, Zinc Stearate, Dextrin Palmitate, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Caprylyl Glycol, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Aluminum Hydroxide, Allantoin, Panthenol, Glycerin, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Centella Asiatica Extract, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Adenosine, 1,2-Hexanediol, Tocopherol, Madecassoside, Asiaticoside, Madecassic Acid, Asiatic Acid, CI 77492, CI 77491, CI 77499
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%
UV AbsorberHomosalate 9%
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Salicylate 4.5%
UV AbsorberOctocrylene 5%
UV AbsorberWater
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantMethyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Glyceryl Polymethacrylate
Propylene Glycol
HumectantAcrylates Copolymer
Butyloctyl Salicylate
Skin ConditioningCeteareth-20
CleansingEthylhexyl Methoxycrylene
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingSorbitan Stearate
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientCetearyl Olivate
Panthenol
Skin ConditioningSorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTromethamine
BufferingSodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion Stabilising1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningIsohexadecane
EmollientAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
BHT
AntioxidantButylene Glycol
HumectantPolysorbate 80
EmulsifyingTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Sorbitan Oleate
EmulsifyingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingOenanthe Javanica Extract
AntimicrobialButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%, Homosalate 9%, Ethylhexyl Salicylate 4.5%, Octocrylene 5%, Water, Dipropylene Glycol, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Glyceryl Polymethacrylate, Propylene Glycol, Acrylates Copolymer, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Ceteareth-20, Ethylhexyl Methoxycrylene, Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan Stearate, Caprylyl Glycol, Cetearyl Olivate, Panthenol, Sorbitan Olivate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tromethamine, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, 1,2-Hexanediol, Isohexadecane, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, BHT, Butylene Glycol, Polysorbate 80, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Sorbitan Oleate, Xanthan Gum, Oenanthe Javanica Extract
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives
Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolCaprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolEthylhexyl Salicylate (also called Octisalate or Octyl Salicylate) is an oil-soluble organic UV filter that's been used in sunscreen since the 1950's.
It absorbs UVB light in the 280-320 nm range with a peak absorbance around 306 nm.
You'll often see it paired with other UV filters to boost overall SPF because octisalate is a fairly week filter on its own.
The reason you'll see it so often is because it can help solubilize and stabilize the trickier filters like oxybenzone and avobenzone.
Unlike these filters, octisalate has pretty good photostability and doesn't create skin-damaging free radicals when exposed to sunlight.
The fatty-alcohol part of the molecule also gives it a light, emollient feel so it doubles as a nice texture enhancer.
Usage levels vary around the world:
Safety-wise, this ingredient has a pretty reassuring track record. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Products (SCCP) found very low skin penetration in human skin tests and negative results for irritation, phototoxicity, and photoallergy.
The real-world allergy risk is pretty low too; a 2012 European study of 1,031 people recorded only 2 reactions to it (a rate of 0.19%).
You might have seen scary headlines about sunscreen getting into your blood.
In 2019, the FDA found that several chemical filters can absorb through the skin and show up in the bloodstream at small but measurable levels.
Here's the important part: these tiny levels are just a cutoff the FDA uses to decide which ingredients need more testing and doesn't mean anything harmful was found.
The researchers were clear that the results are no reason to stop wearing sunscreen.
Learn more about Ethylhexyl SalicylatePanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolWater. 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