What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Dimethyl Paba
UV Absorber
Ethylhexyl Salicylate
UV Absorber
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Terephthalylidene Dicamphor Sulfonic Acid
UV Absorber
Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid
UV Absorber
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Glyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
Zinc Oxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Ceteareth-20
CleansingCeteareth-12
EmulsifyingCetyl Palmitate
Emollient
Betaine
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Vp/Eicosene Copolymer
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Triethanolamine
BufferingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingBisabolol
Antioxidant
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Citric Acid
Buffering
Water, Ethylhexyl Dimethyl Paba, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Terephthalylidene Dicamphor Sulfonic Acid, Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Cetearyl Alcohol, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Zinc Oxide, Ceteareth-20, Ceteareth-12, Cetyl Palmitate, Betaine, Panthenol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Vp/Eicosene Copolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Triethanolamine, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Bisabolol, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Citric Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
Butyloctyl Salicylate
Skin Conditioning
Diisobutyl Adipate
EmollientDiisopropyl Sebacate
EmollientEthylhexyl Triazone
UV Absorber
Drometrizole Trisiloxane
UV Absorber
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Terephthalylidene Dicamphor Sulfonic Acid
UV Absorber
Polyglyceryl-3 Distearate
Emulsifying
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV Filter
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Tromethamine
BufferingCaprylyl Methicone
Skin Conditioning
Citrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingMethylpropanediol
SolventPolyester-5
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Jojoba Esters
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate Citrate
Emollient
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPolyether-1
Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax
Skin Conditioning
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Polyglycerin-3
Humectant
Acacia Decurrens Flower Wax
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Water, Propanediol, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Diisobutyl Adipate, Diisopropyl Sebacate, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Drometrizole Trisiloxane, Niacinamide, Terephthalylidene Dicamphor Sulfonic Acid, Polyglyceryl-3 Distearate, Butylene Glycol, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Ceramide AP, 1,2-Hexanediol, Pentylene Glycol, Tromethamine, Caprylyl Methicone, Citrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract, Cetearyl Alcohol, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Glyceryl Stearate, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Methylpropanediol, Polyester-5, Palmitic Acid, Stearic Acid, Jojoba Esters, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Ethylhexylglycerin, Polyether-1, Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax, Adenosine, Polyglycerin-3, Acacia Decurrens Flower Wax, Tocopherol
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
This ingredient is better known as bemotrizinol or Tinosorb S and is one of the best broad-spectrum UV filters in modern sunscreen.
It works by absorbing UV light across a whole range (280-400 nm) with peaks around 310 nm (UVB) and 340-345 nm (UVA). This means it covers UVB plus the deeper UVA wavelengths that drive photoaging and pigmentation.
Another pro?
It's exceptionally photostable, barely degrades in sunlight, and acts as a "bodyguard" for less stable filters.
That's why you'll see it paired with avobenzone or octinoxate; this team up ensures they keep working through sun exposure.
Safety reviews have been reassuring across the board. This ingredient shows low absorption through the skin, rarely irritates, and lab studies found it doesn't act like a hormone in the body (a concern that's been raised about some older sunscreen filters).
On maximum concentrations:
In 2026, the US F.D.A finally added it as an OTC sunscreen ingredient at concentrations up to 6% for adults / children 6 months and older
Learn more about Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl TriazineCetearyl alcohol is a waxy mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is an emollient and emulsifier.
Despite having "alcohol" in its name, it has nothing to do with drying solvent alcohols; the FDA also allows "alcohol-free" products to contain fatty alcohols like this ingredient.
It plays several roles in a formula:
Typical use levels for this ingredient sit around 1-10% and the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has affirmed safety at concentrations up to 25% in leave-on products.
Multiple assessments have found it to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing to most people.
However, there have been some cases of allergic contact dermatitis in patients with chronically compromised skin barriers.
Cetearyl alcohol has a comedogenic rating of 2 and irritancy rating of 1. Both of these numbers come from the 1989 study that used rabbit ears; a "2" means mildly comedogenic and a "1" means low irritancy.
Here's the catch: rabbit skin is more sensitive than human skin and throws a lot of false positives. A 1996 reappraisal found that ingredients rated 1-2 in the rabbit ear tests are generally safe for humans.
Remember comedogenic ratings are unable to assess the entire formula of a product or how it will react on your skin. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure about certain ingredients.
This ingredient is not fungal acne safe. Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol with chain lengths that fall within the range that Malassezia can metabolize.
A 2019 study has also observed Malassezia growth in the presence of this ingredient, confirming it to be not-fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid is hyaluronic acid (HA) that is broken down into lower molecular weight fragments.
It's a humectant that pulls and holds water in the skin to help with hydration, plumpness, and reduce transepidermal water loss.
Because hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid is smaller in size, it can slip past your outermost layer of skin more easily than full-sized HA.
Most formulations will combine all sizes to get the best of both worlds.
Typical usage levels range from 0.01-1%. Any percentage higher than 2% might become goopy and tacky.
Learn more about Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic AcidTerephthalylidene Dicamphor Sulfonic Acid (aka ecamsule or Mexoryl SX) is a water-soluble organic UV filter developed and patented by L'Oreal back in 1982.
It's one of the better UVA protectors out there and shields skin across a broad UVA range (~290-390 nm) with peak absorption right around 345 nm.
This peak absorption happens to be the exact type of UVA light that sinks deepest into skin and does the most to cause aging and dark spots.
Ecamsule works by soaking up UV rays and turning them into a tiny bit of harmless heat. The molecule basically flips, releases that energy as heat, then snaps back to its original shape and does it all over again. This is also why it's so stable in sunlight and doesn't break down or wear out the way some filters do.
The clinical backing for this ingredient is solid as well:
A large 2008 review by Fourtanier & colleagues (2008) pulled together human trials showing ecamsule-containing sunscreens prevented UV-induced pigmentation, DNA damage, and signs of aging.
That built on earlier work by Seite et al. (1998) that found it protected skin from repeated low-level UVA exposure. And a controlled study by DeLeo et al. (2009) showed that even an SPF 40 cream with ecamsule helped prevent sun-triggered rash even under the real sun.
On concentrations:
Because this ingredient is an acid, it has to be neutralized so it doesn't tank the product's pH.
Safety-wise, it's pretty well tolerated. There are some rare cases of mild irritation mostly in people with sensitivities towards camphor derivatives.
A 2019 FDA study found that volunteers who slathered on sunscreen heavily for several days had tiny amounts of ecamsule show up in their blood. This was slightly above the level at which the FDA asks for extra safety testing; this just means the FDA wants more safety studies done and not evidence that anything harmful actually happens. No problems were found and dermatologists still recommend using sunscreen.
Learn more about Terephthalylidene Dicamphor Sulfonic AcidWater. 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
