What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV Absorber
Propanediol
Solvent
Caprylyl Methicone
Skin Conditioning
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientOctocrylene
UV Absorber
Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate
Absorbent
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Nylon 6/12
AbsorbentAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Caesalpinia Spinosa Fruit Pod Extract
Helianthus Annuus Sprout Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Phospholipids
Skin Conditioning
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Glycerin
Humectant
Isododecane
EmollientPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingAcrylates/Polytrimethylsiloxymethacrylate Copolymer
Skin ConditioningPentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Tetrasodium EDTA
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Farnesol
Perfuming
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Parfum
Masking
CI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantCI 16255
Cosmetic ColorantCI 28440
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Propanediol, Caprylyl Methicone, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Butylene Glycol, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Octocrylene, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Nylon 6/12, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Caesalpinia Spinosa Fruit Pod Extract, Helianthus Annuus Sprout Extract, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Phospholipids, Bisabolol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Glycerin, Isododecane, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Acrylates/Polytrimethylsiloxymethacrylate Copolymer, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Tetrasodium EDTA, Maltodextrin, Farnesol, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin, Parfum, CI 19140, CI 16255, CI 28440
Water
Skin ConditioningAlcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Homosalate
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Octocrylene
UV Absorber
Dibutyl Adipate
EmollientEthylhexyl Salicylate
UV Absorber
Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Silica
Abrasive
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Acrylates Copolymer
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
Tromethamine
BufferingBeheneth-25
CleansingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Phytate
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Malus Domestica Fruit Cell Culture Extract
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingHydrolyzed Collagen
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Artemisia Princeps Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningXanthium Strumarium Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPrunella Vulgaris Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ProtectingLecithin
Emollient
Cetraria Islandica Extract
CleansingOleanolic Acid
Skin ConditioningWater, Alcohol Denat., Homosalate, Butylene Glycol, Octocrylene, Dibutyl Adipate, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Silica, Pentylene Glycol, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Acrylates Copolymer, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Tromethamine, Beheneth-25, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Phytate, Tocopherol, Niacinamide, Panthenol, Malus Domestica Fruit Cell Culture Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Phenoxyethanol, Xanthan Gum, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Glycerin, Artemisia Princeps Leaf Extract, Xanthium Strumarium Fruit Extract, Prunella Vulgaris Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Lecithin, Cetraria Islandica Extract, Oleanolic Acid
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer is a synthetically created polymer. It's used as a film-forming agent and used to thicken the consistency of products.
Think of it as a supportive ingredient that helps your gel-creams feel silky, "cloud cream-like", and spread evenly without being greasy.
The Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel evaluated it (along with 22 other acryloyldimethyltaurate polymers) and concluded it's:
Due to its large molecular size, it sits on the surface of skin rather than penetrating it.
Learn more about Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp CopolymerAlso 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 MethoxydibenzoylmethaneButylene 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 GlycolGlycerin (or glycerol) is a compound naturally found in your skin. It's a powerhouse humectant that pulls water into the stratum corneum.
Topically, glycerin does several things at once:
Your skin makes glycerin on its own (mostly from sebaceous oil breakdown) and shuttles it to your outermost layer of skin, or your epidermis, via aquaporin-3.
Aquaporin-3 is a transporter that is essential for normal skin hydration, elasticity, and repair. Interestingly, mice lacking in AQP3 have dry and less elastic skin that can be fully corrected with glycerin.
This ingredient is non-irritating, plays well with almost every ingredient, and works across all skin types. Typical use is anywhere between 3-10% but can go up to 79% in some leave-on products.
Just know very high concentrations (>40%) can feel tacky in low humidity.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinOctocrylene 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.
Water. 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
