This chemical sunscreen covers most of the UV range, lighter on the deep UVA that drives aging.
This chemical sunscreen covers the full UV range and blocks ~98% of UVB at SPF 40.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%
UV Absorber
Homosalate 9%
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexyl Salicylate 4.5%
UV Absorber
Octocrylene 5%
UV Absorber
Water
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantMethyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Glyceryl Polymethacrylate
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Acrylates Copolymer
Butyloctyl Salicylate
Skin Conditioning
Ceteareth-20
CleansingEthylhexyl Methoxycrylene
Skin Conditioning
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Stearate
Emulsifying
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Cetearyl Olivate
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTromethamine
BufferingSodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion Stabilising1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Isohexadecane
EmollientAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
BHT
Antioxidant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Polysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Sorbitan Oleate
Emulsifying
Xanthan 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
Octocrylene 8%
UV Absorber
Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol 6%
UV Filter
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 4.5%
UV Absorber
Water
Skin ConditioningDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientAlcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Hydroxypropyl Dimethicone Behenate
Skin Conditioning
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
C20-22 Alkyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingC20-22 Alcohols
Emulsion Stabilising
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingMethylparaben
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
Disodium EDTA
Propylparaben
Preservative
Ethylparaben
Preservative
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingMannitol
Humectant
Xylitol
Humectant
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Ectoin
Skin Conditioning
Fructooligosaccharides
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Rhamnose
HumectantLaminaria Ochroleuca Extract
Skin Conditioning
Octocrylene 8%, Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol 6%, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 4.5%, Water, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Alcohol Denat., Hydroxypropyl Dimethicone Behenate, Decyl Glucoside, C20-22 Alkyl Phosphate, C20-22 Alcohols, Tocopheryl Acetate, Phenoxyethanol, Xanthan Gum, Methylparaben, Parfum, Disodium EDTA, Propylparaben, Ethylparaben, Sodium Hydroxide, Mannitol, Xylitol, Propylene Glycol, Citric Acid, Ectoin, Fructooligosaccharides, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Rhamnose, Laminaria Ochroleuca 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.
Also 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 MethoxydibenzoylmethaneOctocrylene 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 OctocrylenePropylene Glycol is a synthetic, colorless, odorless liquid that has been a staple in cosmetics for decades. It is a skin conditioning agent, humectant, and solvent.
As a humectant, it draw water to the skin to reduce flaking and restore suppleness. It's also a solvent that helps dissolve other actives and keeps formulas stable across temperature changes.
The CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be nontoxic and clinical studies show no sensitization at cosmetic use concentrations.
True allergic reactions are quite rare: a 15-year retrospective study of 6,751 patients found only 0.31% had a positive reaction (and less than half were considered clinically relevant).
It seemed that when sensitization does occur, it's most commonly linked to topical medication (like corticosteroids) and not cosmetics. Allergic contact dermatitis also appears largely limited to individuals with underlying skin conditions.
Overall, propylene glycol is a well-studied ingredient that most people can tolerate without issue.
Learn more about Propylene GlycolWater. 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum
