What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 2.5%
UV Absorber
Homosalate 10%
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%
UV Absorber
Octocrylene 10%
UV Absorber
Diphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Paraffinum Liquidum
Emollient
Hydroxystearic Acid
Cleansing
Triethylhexanoin
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
Antioxidant
PEG/PPG-14/7 Dimethyl Ether
Skin ConditioningLecithin
Emollient
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
PPG-17
Skin ConditioningCastor Oil/Ipdi Copolymer
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
BHT
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
PEG-6
HumectantPentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Silica
Abrasive
Parfum
Masking
Butyl 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
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 2.9%
UV Absorber
Ethylhexyl Salicylate 4.9%
UV Absorber
Octocrylene 9.5%
UV Absorber
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Butyloctyl Salicylate
Skin Conditioning
Butyrospermum Parkii Oil
Emollient
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
Masking
Chlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningCocos Nucifera Fruit Extract
Emollient
Cucumis Sativus Seed Oil
Emollient
Diisooctyl Succinate
Emollient
Ethyl Ferulate
Antioxidant
Ethylhexyl Methoxycrylene
Skin Conditioning
Parfum
Masking
Musa Sapientum Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPassiflora Edulis Seed Oil
Emollient
Polyester-8
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Va/Butyl Maleate/Isobornyl Acrylate Copolymer
Water
Skin ConditioningButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 2.9%, Ethylhexyl Salicylate 4.9%, Octocrylene 9.5%, Alcohol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Bisabolol, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Butyrospermum Parkii Oil, Caffeine, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Cocos Nucifera Fruit Extract, Cucumis Sativus Seed Oil, Diisooctyl Succinate, Ethyl Ferulate, Ethylhexyl Methoxycrylene, Parfum, Musa Sapientum Fruit Extract, Passiflora Edulis Seed Oil, Polyester-8, Tocopherol, Va/Butyl Maleate/Isobornyl Acrylate Copolymer, Water
Reviews
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 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 MethoxydibenzoylmethaneEthylhexyl 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 SalicylateOctocrylene 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 OctocryleneParfum is a catch-all term for an ingredient or more that is used to give a scent to products.
Also called "fragrance", this ingredient can be a blend of hundreds of chemicals or plant oils. This means every product with "fragrance" or "parfum" in the ingredients list is a different mixture.
For instance, Habanolide is a proprietary trade name for a specific aroma chemical. When used as a fragrance ingredient in cosmetics, most aroma chemicals fall under the broad labeling category of “FRAGRANCE” or “PARFUM” according to EU and US regulations.
The term 'parfum' or 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term.
For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance by INCI standards.
One example is Calendula flower extract. Calendula is an essential oil that still imparts a scent or 'fragrance'.
Depending on the blend, the ingredients in the mixture can cause allergies and sensitivities on the skin. Some ingredients that are known EU allergens include linalool and citronellol.
Parfum can also be used to mask or cover an unpleasant scent.
The bottom line is: not all fragrances/parfum/ingredients are created equally. If you are worried about fragrances, we recommend taking a closer look at an ingredient. And of course, we always recommend speaking with a professional.
Learn more about ParfumTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about Tocopherol
