What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Dimethicone
Emollient
Water
Skin ConditioningZinc Oxide 9.93%
Cosmetic Colorant
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate 7.494%
UV Absorber
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Diisopropyl Sebacate
EmollientTalc
Abrasive
Isododecane
EmollientEthylhexyl Salicylate 3%
UV Absorber
Octocrylene 3%
UV Absorber
PEG/PPG-9/2 Dimethyl Ether
Skin ConditioningDiethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate 2%
UV Filter
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Dextrin Palmitate
Emulsifying
Glycerin
Humectant
Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer
Silica
Abrasive
Xylitol
Humectant
PPG-17
Skin ConditioningTrimethylsiloxysilicate
Emollient
Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid 0.5%
UV Absorber
Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine 0.5%
Skin Conditioning
Isostearic Acid
Cleansing
Bis-Butyldimethicone Polyglyceryl-3
Cleansing
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingAluminum Hydroxide
EmollientStearic Acid
Cleansing
Aminomethyl Propanediol
BufferingHydrogen Dimethicone
Trisodium EDTA
PEG-6
HumectantDistearyldimonium Chloride
Parfum
Masking
BHT
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Limonene
Perfuming
PEG-4
HumectantDimethyl Ether
SolventLinalool
Perfuming
Isopropyl Alcohol
Solvent
Saxifraga Sarmentosa Extract
Skin ConditioningCitronellol
Perfuming
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
CI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantSodium Metabisulfite
Antioxidant
Citral
Perfuming
Syzygium Jambos Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Sophora Angustifolia Root Extract
Skin ConditioningDimethicone, Water, Zinc Oxide 9.93%, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate 7.494%, Alcohol, Cyclopentasiloxane, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Diisopropyl Sebacate, Talc, Isododecane, Ethylhexyl Salicylate 3%, Octocrylene 3%, PEG/PPG-9/2 Dimethyl Ether, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate 2%, Titanium Dioxide, PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Dextrin Palmitate, Glycerin, Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer, Silica, Xylitol, PPG-17, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid 0.5%, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine 0.5%, Isostearic Acid, Bis-Butyldimethicone Polyglyceryl-3, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Aluminum Hydroxide, Stearic Acid, Aminomethyl Propanediol, Hydrogen Dimethicone, Trisodium EDTA, PEG-6, Distearyldimonium Chloride, Parfum, BHT, Tocopherol, Butylene Glycol, Limonene, PEG-4, Dimethyl Ether, Linalool, Isopropyl Alcohol, Saxifraga Sarmentosa Extract, Citronellol, Hexyl Cinnamal, CI 77491, Sodium Metabisulfite, Citral, Syzygium Jambos Leaf Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Sophora Angustifolia Root Extract
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%
UV Absorber
Homosalate 8%
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%
UV Absorber
Octocrylene 4%
UV Absorber
Isododecane
EmollientDimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion Stabilising
Dimethicone/Bis-Isobutyl PPG-20 Crosspolymer
Emollient
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
Isohexadecane
EmollientDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientMeadowfoam Estolide
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Polyester-7
Skin ConditioningNeopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate
EmollientLithothamnion Calcareum Extract
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Jojoba Esters
Emollient
Mannitol
Humectant
Boswellia Serrata Resin Extract
SmoothingLecithin
Emollient
Microcrystalline Cellulose
AbsorbentDiatomaceous Earth
Abrasive
Zinc Sulfate
Antimicrobial
Silica
Abrasive
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%, Homosalate 8%, Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%, Octocrylene 4%, Isododecane, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Dimethicone/Bis-Isobutyl PPG-20 Crosspolymer, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Isohexadecane, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Meadowfoam Estolide, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Polyester-7, Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate, Lithothamnion Calcareum Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Jojoba Esters, Mannitol, Boswellia Serrata Resin Extract, Lecithin, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Diatomaceous Earth, Zinc Sulfate, Silica, Tocopherol
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 SalicylateIsododecane is a fragrance, emollient, and solvent.
As an emollient, it helps your skin stay soft and hydrated. Emollients help trap moisture into your skin.
Isododecane's role as a solvent makes it a great texture enhancer. It spreads smoothly on skin and does not leave a sticky feeling behind. Isododecane also helps prevent color transfer in makeup products.
Isododecane is not absorbed into skin.
The chemical name for this ingredient is 2,2,4,6,6-PENTAMETHYLHEPTANE.
Learn more about IsododecaneOctocrylene 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 SilicaTocopherol 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
