What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Dimethicone
Emollient
Water
Skin ConditioningZinc Oxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Diisopropyl Sebacate
EmollientIsododecane
EmollientOctocrylene
UV Absorber
Ethylhexyl Salicylate
UV Absorber
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialPEG/PPG-9/2 Dimethyl Ether
Skin ConditioningZea Mays Starch
Absorbent
Talc
Abrasive
Silica
Abrasive
Isopropyl Myristate
Emollient
Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV Filter
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Dextrin Palmitate
Emulsifying
Glycerin
Humectant
Homosalate
Skin Conditioning
Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Chloride
MaskingPEG/PPG-14/7 Dimethyl Ether
Skin ConditioningTrimethylsiloxysilicate
Emollient
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Camellia Sinensis Extract
Antioxidant
Potentilla Erecta Root Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Unshiu Peel Extract
Masking
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Lauryl Betaine
CleansingSoluble Collagen
Humectant
Ethylhexyl Triazone
UV Absorber
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingPEG-10 Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Isostearic Acid
Cleansing
Triethoxycaprylylsilane
Polyglyceryl-6 Polyricinoleate
Emulsifying
Aluminum Hydroxide
EmollientStearic Acid
Cleansing
Trisodium EDTA
PEG-6
HumectantTocopherol
Antioxidant
BHT
Antioxidant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Bis-Butyldimethicone Polyglyceryl-3
Cleansing
Sodium Metabisulfite
Antioxidant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Parfum
Masking
Synthetic Fluorphlogopite
Dimethicone, Water, Zinc Oxide, Alcohol, Diisopropyl Sebacate, Isododecane, Octocrylene, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, PEG/PPG-9/2 Dimethyl Ether, Zea Mays Starch, Talc, Silica, Isopropyl Myristate, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Titanium Dioxide, PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Dextrin Palmitate, Glycerin, Homosalate, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Sodium Chloride, PEG/PPG-14/7 Dimethyl Ether, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Camellia Sinensis Extract, Potentilla Erecta Root Extract, Citrus Unshiu Peel Extract, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Lauryl Betaine, Soluble Collagen, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Disteardimonium Hectorite, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Isostearic Acid, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Polyglyceryl-6 Polyricinoleate, Aluminum Hydroxide, Stearic Acid, Trisodium EDTA, PEG-6, Tocopherol, BHT, Butylene Glycol, Bis-Butyldimethicone Polyglyceryl-3, Sodium Metabisulfite, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, Parfum, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite
Water
Skin ConditioningDibutyl Adipate
EmollientButyloctyl Salicylate
Skin Conditioning
Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV Filter
Polysilicone-15
UV Filter
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialEthylhexyl Triazone
UV Absorber
Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin Conditioning
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
Glycerin
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Polyglyceryl-6 Stearate
Emollient
Cetearyl Olivate
Microcrystalline Cellulose
AbsorbentPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Silica
Abrasive
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Poly C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate
Emulsion StabilisingPolyglyceryl-6 Behenate
Emulsion Stabilising
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Disodium EDTA
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Portulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin Conditioning
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Dioscorea Japonica Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Laminaria Japonica Extract
Skin Protecting
Viola Mandshurica Flower Extract
Antioxidant
Ulmus Davidiana Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Lepidium Meyenii Root Extract
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Lycium Chinense Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Fragaria Chiloensis Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Berberis Vulgaris Root Extract
AntimicrobialMorus Nigra Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningWater, Dibutyl Adipate, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Polysilicone-15, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Polyglyceryl-6 Stearate, Cetearyl Olivate, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Panthenol, Silica, Sorbitan Olivate, Dipropylene Glycol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Poly C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate, Polyglyceryl-6 Behenate, Allantoin, Caprylyl Glycol, Stearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Tromethamine, Adenosine, Cetearyl Alcohol, Disodium EDTA, Butylene Glycol, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Dioscorea Japonica Root Extract, Laminaria Japonica Extract, Viola Mandshurica Flower Extract, Ulmus Davidiana Root Extract, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Lepidium Meyenii Root Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Lycium Chinense Fruit Extract, Fragaria Chiloensis Fruit Extract, Berberis Vulgaris Root Extract, Morus Nigra Fruit 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.
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 TriazineButylene 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 GlycolC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate is a lightweight emollient made by combinig benzoic acid with fatty alcohols that are 12-15 carbons long.
In cosmetics, it plays several roles:
The Cosmetic Review Expert Panel has concluded the alkyl benzoate group to be safe as used in cosmetics; it wasn't found to be a skin irritant and unlikely to be absorbed due to its low water solubility.
This report recorded almost 1000 reported uses with concentrations up to 59% in leave-on products but your cosmetics will typically use 0.5-15% depending on the product.
It's often called a "SPF booster": this is because it keeps UV filters properly dissolved and evenly distributed to support a sunscreen's performance. It doesn't actually raise SPF on its own.
Overall, this ingredient is well tolerated.
This ingredient is fungal acne safe because it is an ester of benzoic acid.
Think of this ingredient as two parts stuck together: an oily part and an acid part. Malassezia only gets a meal when it can snip off a fatty acid to eat. With C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, the acid part is benzoic acid, which isn't a fatty acid and which the yeast can't use as food.
Benzoic acid is actually used as a preservative to stop yeast from growing.
The oily part is a blend of C12-15 fatty alcohols but fatty alcohols in this size range can support only a little Malassezia growth (mostly for one species of Malassezia as well).
In the ingredient, those alcohols stay locked inside the molecule. The yeast can only reach them by snipping the benzoate bond, and that type of bond is harder for it to cut than a normal fatty bond.
So not much gets released. And whatever does get snipped comes packaged with benzoic acid, which discourages yeast growth.
Learn more about C12-15 Alkyl BenzoateDiethylamino 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 BenzoateDipotassium Glycyrrhizate comes from licorice root.
Extracts of licorice have demonstrated to have antibacterial, anti‐inflammatory, antiviral, antioxidant properties.
One component, glabridin, has extra potent antioxidant and soothing properties. It has also been found to block pigmentation from UVB rays in guinea pigs.
Licorice Root also contains a flavonoid. Flavonoids are a natural substance from in plants. Flavonoids also have antioxidant properties.
Another component, glycyrrhizin, has been found to have anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial benefits. This may make licorice root extract effective at treating acne. However, more research is needed to support this.
Liquiritin is one of the flavone compounds found in licorice. It has been found to help lighten skin by preventing tyrosinase from reacting with tyrosine. When the two react, protein is converted to melanin. Melanin is the substance in your body that gives your features pigmentation.
Licorice root is native to Southern Europe and Asia. It has been used in traditional Chinese medicine to help with respiratory issues.
Learn more about Dipotassium GlycyrrhizateEthylhexyl 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 TriazoneGlycerin (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 GlycerinSilica, 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 SilicaWater. 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
