What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
C13-15 Alkane
SolventOryza Sativa Bran Wax
Skin Conditioning
Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax
Skin Conditioning
Octocrylene
UV Absorber
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialDibutyl Adipate
EmollientZea Mays Starch
Absorbent
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Isododecane
EmollientDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientSilica
Abrasive
Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV Filter
Ethylhexyl Triazone
UV Absorber
C10-18 Triglycerides
Emollient
Pentaerythrityl Tetrabehenate
EmollientDisteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingPropylene Carbonate
SolventTriethoxycaprylylsilane
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77007
Cosmetic ColorantCurcuma Longa Root
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf
Perfuming
Chamomilla Recutita Flower
Skin Conditioning
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf
Skin ConditioningEthyl Olivate
Emollient
Ethyl Laurate
Emollient
Ethyl Linoleate
Emollient
Jojoba Esters
Emollient
Xanthophylls
Skin ConditioningQuercetin
Antioxidant
Carnosine
Skin Conditioning
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Water
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
Smoothing
Tranexamic Acid
Astringent
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Trideceth-9
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
C13-15 Alkane, Oryza Sativa Bran Wax, Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax, Octocrylene, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Dibutyl Adipate, Zea Mays Starch, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Isododecane, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Silica, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Ethylhexyl Triazone, C10-18 Triglycerides, Pentaerythrityl Tetrabehenate, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Propylene Carbonate, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, CI 77891, CI 77492, CI 77491, CI 77499, CI 77007, Curcuma Longa Root, Camellia Sinensis Leaf, Chamomilla Recutita Flower, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf, Ethyl Olivate, Ethyl Laurate, Ethyl Linoleate, Jojoba Esters, Xanthophylls, Quercetin, Carnosine, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Water, Niacinamide, Tranexamic Acid, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Trideceth-9, Phenoxyethanol
C13-15 Alkane
SolventCaprylyl Methicone
Skin Conditioning
Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax
Skin Conditioning
Calcium Starch Octenylsuccinate
AbsorbentOctocrylene
UV Absorber
Dibutyl Adipate
EmollientCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialOryza Sativa Bran Wax
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexyl Salicylate
UV Absorber
Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin Conditioning
Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV Filter
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Silica
Abrasive
Ethylhexyl Triazone
UV Absorber
Pentaerythrityl Tetrabehenate
EmollientCarnosine
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
C13-15 Alkane, Caprylyl Methicone, Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax, Calcium Starch Octenylsuccinate, Octocrylene, Dibutyl Adipate, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Oryza Sativa Bran Wax, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Silica, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Pentaerythrityl Tetrabehenate, Carnosine, Tocopherol, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
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 MethoxydibenzoylmethaneC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate is made up of Benzoic Acid and long chain alcohols. It has a low molecular weight.
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate is an emollient and texture enhancer. Due to its solubility, it is often used in sunscreens to help evenly distribute active ingredients.
As an emollient, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate helps soften and hydrate your skin. Emollients create a film on your skin that traps moisture within.
This ingredient has been reported to cause eye irritation.
Learn more about C12-15 Alkyl BenzoateC13-15 Alkane is a group of alkanes with 13 to 15 carbon atoms in the alkyl chain.
It is a solvent and texture enhancer. Solvents are used to keep ingredients together in a product. They can help dissolve ingredients to stable bases or help evenly distribute ingredients throughout the product.
Carnosine is a dipeptide made from two amino acids.
This ingredient helps:
Glycation is the process of sugars binding to and damaging proteins. Too much sugar in our skin can lead to damaged collagen, contributing to factors of aging.
Carnosine is water-soluble and is not able to travel deeper layers of skin. This leads to some doubt about whether it can boost collagen in skin, since collagen is located in the deeper layers of skin.
Fun fact: Carnosine can be naturally found in our muscles and brain.
Learn more about CarnosineCoco-Caprylate/Caprate is a lightweight ester created from coconut oil fatty acids, caprylic acid, and capric acid.
It is an emollient that helps soften skin and reduce transepidermal water loss (TEWL). What sets it apart from heavier emollients is its ultralight, non-greasy feel.
Once applied, this ingredient dries down quickly and leaves a dry, silky finish behind. This also helps improve spreadability and texture.
This ingredient has an excellent safety-record and is non-irritating.
Typical concentrations for cosmetics range from 0.5-62%.
Research on Malassezia growth found no growth on fatty acid esters with chain lengths shorter than 12 carbons (it prefers C11-24).
Since Coco-Caprylate/Caprate is built on C8 and C10 fatty acids, it is out of the range that Malassezia metabolizes, and therefore safe for fungal acne.
Learn more about Coco-Caprylate/CaprateDibutyl Adipate is an emollient and solvent. It is created from butyl alcohol and adipic acid.
As a solvent, Dibutyl Adipate helps mix and disperse ingredients evenly.
Dibutyl Adipate is soluble in water and organic solvents. It does not absorb UV rays.
Learn more about Dibutyl AdipateDiethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate (DHHB) is a chemical UV-A absorber. It is formulated for high UVA protection (320-400 nm).
DHHB is well-liked for:
DHHB has been approved by the EU, Japan, Taiwan, and South America for use up to 10%. Unfortunately, it has not been approved for use in the US or Canada due to slow regulatory processes.
This ingredient is soluble in oils, fats, and lipids.
Learn more about Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl BenzoateEthylhexyl Triazone is a modern chemical sunscreen that protects from UV-B radiation.
It is the most effective of existing UV-B filters, as it provides the highest level of photo-stable absorption. It protects from the entire UV-B range (280 to 320nm), with it's highest level of protection at 314nm.
Ethylhexyl Triazone is oil soluble, oderless and colorless, which mean it is able to be incorporated into a variety of different formulations.
It is not currently available within the United States due to slow changing FDA regulations. Outside of the US, it is used in formulations at concentrations up to 5%.
Learn more about Ethylhexyl TriazoneHelianthus Annuus Seed Wax is created from the common sunflower.
Sunflower seed wax is made up of long chain non-glyceride esters, a small amount of fatty alcohols, and fatty acids.
This ingredient is often used to enhance the texture of products. The fatty acid properties also help hydrate the skin.
Learn more about Helianthus Annuus Seed WaxOctocrylene 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 OctocryleneOryza Sativa Bran Wax is wax from the outer layer of a rice kernel. It has moisturizing properties due to its polysaccharides and omega-3 fatty acids content.
This ingredient is a byproduct of milling rice, or the operation to produce a whole grain rice product.
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate (long name, huh?) is a synthetic antioxidant.
It is used to help stabilize other antioxidants or prevent the color from changing in a product.
As an antioxidant, it helps fight free-radical molecules. Free-radical molecules are capable of damaging our cells and other genetic material. Thus, antioxidants may reduce the signs of aging.
This ingredient is oil-soluble.
Learn more about Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl HydroxyhydrocinnamateWe don't have a description for Pentaerythrityl Tetrabehenate yet.
Silica, also known as silicon dioxide, is a naturally occurring mineral. It is used as a fine, spherical, and porous powder in cosmetics.
Though it has exfoliant properties, the function of silica varies depending on the product.
The unique structure of silica enhances the spreadability and adds smoothness, making it a great texture enhancer.
It is also used as an active carrier, emulsifier, and mattifier due to its ability to absorb excess oil.
In some products, tiny microneedles called spicules are made from silica or hydrolyzed sponge. When you rub them in, they lightly polish away dead skin layers and enhance the penetration of active ingredients.
Learn more about Silica
