What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Dimethicone
EmollientCeresin
Emulsion StabilisingOctocrylene
UV AbsorberSilica
AbrasiveTriethylhexanoin
MaskingEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV AbsorberDiethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV FilterOzokerite
Emulsion StabilisingPhenyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate
EmollientEthylhexyl Salicylate
UV AbsorberVinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer
Euphorbia Cerifera Cera
AstringentBis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin ConditioningMethyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Microcrystalline Wax
Emulsion StabilisingSorbitan Caprylate
EmulsifyingDipropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantWater
Skin ConditioningSorbitan Sesquioleate
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-10 Oleate
Skin ConditioningGlycyrrhiza Uralensis Extract
EmollientAdenosine
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantLactobacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningOriganum Vulgare Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCinnamomum Cassia Bark Extract
MaskingSalix Alba Bark Extract
AstringentChamaecyparis Obtusa Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningScutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
AstringentPortulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
EmollientBrassica Oleracea Italica Extract
AstringentCitrus Nobilis Fruit Extract
MaskingCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialPropanediol
SolventEctoin
Skin ConditioningArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
EmollientGossypium Herbaceum Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningArctium Lappa Seed Oil
EmollientLavandula Angustifolia Oil
MaskingCitrus Limon Peel Oil
MaskingCitrus Nobilis Peel Oil
MaskingDimethicone, Ceresin, Octocrylene, Silica, Triethylhexanoin, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Ozokerite, Phenyl Trimethicone, Butylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer, Euphorbia Cerifera Cera, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Microcrystalline Wax, Sorbitan Caprylate, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycerin, Water, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Caprylyl Glycol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate, Glycyrrhiza Uralensis Extract, Adenosine, Butylene Glycol, Lactobacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract, Origanum Vulgare Leaf Extract, Cinnamomum Cassia Bark Extract, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Chamaecyparis Obtusa Leaf Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Brassica Oleracea Italica Extract, Citrus Nobilis Fruit Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Propanediol, Ectoin, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Gossypium Herbaceum Seed Oil, Arctium Lappa Seed Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Citrus Limon Peel Oil, Citrus Nobilis Peel Oil
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 2.5%
UV AbsorberHomosalate 10%
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Salicylate 5%
UV AbsorberOctocrylene 10%
UV AbsorberDiphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningParaffinum Liquidum
EmollientHydroxystearic Acid
CleansingTriethylhexanoin
MaskingPEG/PPG-9/2 Dimethyl Ether
Skin ConditioningMethyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Dibutyl Lauroyl Glutamide
Skin ConditioningC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialPolyamide-8
EmollientSilica Dimethyl Silylate
EmollientTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantPEG/PPG-14/7 Dimethyl Ether
Skin ConditioningLecithin
EmollientGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingPPG-17
Skin ConditioningCastor Oil/Ipdi Copolymer
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingBHT
AntioxidantTocopherol
AntioxidantPEG-6
HumectantPentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
AntioxidantSilica
AbrasiveParfum
MaskingButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 2.5%, Homosalate 10%, Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%, Octocrylene 10%, Diphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone, Paraffinum Liquidum, Hydroxystearic Acid, Triethylhexanoin, PEG/PPG-9/2 Dimethyl Ether, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Dibutyl Lauroyl Glutamide, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Polyamide-8, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Tocopheryl Acetate, PEG/PPG-14/7 Dimethyl Ether, Lecithin, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, PPG-17, Castor Oil/Ipdi Copolymer, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, BHT, Tocopherol, PEG-6, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Silica, Parfum
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ethylhexyl 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 SalicylateThis ingredient comes as a powder made up of small, porous, microbeads. It is used to add a silky feel to products and also helps absorb oil.
Octocrylene 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 OctocryleneSilica, 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 SilicaTriethylhexanoin is created from glycerin and 2-ethylhexanoic acid. It is a solvent and emollient.
As a solvent, Triethylhexanoin helps dissolve ingredients to stable bases or help evenly distribute ingredients throughout the product.
It is also an emollient and helps condition the skin.
Learn more about Triethylhexanoin