What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningOctocrylene
UV AbsorberEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV AbsorberEthylhexyl Salicylate
UV AbsorberCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV AbsorberCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientZinc Oxide
Cosmetic ColorantCalamine
AbsorbentCeteareth-25
CleansingTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic ColorantIsopropyl Dibenzoylmethane
UV AbsorberDimethicone
EmollientGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantPotassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingCeteareth-12
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCetyl Palmitate
EmollientParfum
MaskingLactic Acid
BufferingTetrasodium EDTA
CI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Octocrylene, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Cyclopentasiloxane, Zinc Oxide, Calamine, Ceteareth-25, Titanium Dioxide, Isopropyl Dibenzoylmethane, Dimethicone, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Panthenol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Ceteareth-12, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Cetyl Palmitate, Parfum, Lactic Acid, Tetrasodium EDTA, CI 77492, CI 77491
Water
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingHomosalate
Skin ConditioningC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic ColorantDipropylene Glycol
HumectantEthylhexyl Salicylate
UV AbsorberCaprylyl Methicone
Skin ConditioningDiethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV FilterCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingLauryl PEG-10 Tris(Trimethylsiloxy)Silylethyl Dimethicone
EmulsifyingCalamine
AbsorbentSodium Chloride
MaskingCetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-4 Isostearate
EmulsifyingSilica
AbrasiveBis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin ConditioningGossypium Herbaceum
Skin ConditioningCochlearia Armoracia Root Extract
MaskingMadecassoside
AntioxidantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningCyclohexasiloxane
EmollientHexyl Laurate
EmollientPolyglyceryl-4 Diisostearate/Polyhydroxystearate/Sebacate
EmulsifyingAluminum Hydroxide
EmollientStearic Acid
CleansingDisteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingSorbitan Sesquioleate
EmulsifyingSorbitan Oleate
EmulsifyingDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientQuaternium-18 Bentonite
Tocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantPolyhydroxystearic Acid
EmulsifyingIsopropyl Palmitate
EmollientIsostearic Acid
CleansingLecithin
EmollientEthylhexyl Palmitate
EmollientTriethoxycaprylylsilane
Disodium EDTA
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningIron Oxides
Parfum
MaskingWater, Centella Asiatica Extract, Homosalate, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Titanium Dioxide, Dipropylene Glycol, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Caprylyl Methicone, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Cyclopentasiloxane, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Lauryl PEG-10 Tris(Trimethylsiloxy)Silylethyl Dimethicone, Calamine, Sodium Chloride, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate, Silica, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Gossypium Herbaceum, Cochlearia Armoracia Root Extract, Madecassoside, Panthenol, Cyclohexasiloxane, Hexyl Laurate, Polyglyceryl-4 Diisostearate/Polyhydroxystearate/Sebacate, Aluminum Hydroxide, Stearic Acid, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Sorbitan Oleate, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Dimethicone, Quaternium-18 Bentonite, Tocopheryl Acetate, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Isopropyl Palmitate, Isostearic Acid, Lecithin, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Disodium EDTA, 1,2-Hexanediol, Iron Oxides, Parfum
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Calamine is a "pink powder" that is used to calm itchy or irritated skin. In official medical standards, calamine is basically almost all zinc oxide with a tiny bit of iron oxide added for the pink color.
Lab testing requires that it’s at least 98% zinc oxide, which just means it has to be very pure and mostly zinc oxide.
In skincare, calamine can help relieve itches, calm skin, and absorb excess moisture/oil. This is why you'll often see it used for oozing rashes. Calamine is approved as a skin protectant active at 1-25% in US OTC drug products.
A big part of calamine's soothing effect comes from zinc oxide's protective properties. Since calamine can absorb excess moisture/oil, it might be drying for already dry skin types.
A review of topical medicament allergies notes that contact dermatitis from calamine isn't typically reported, but added actives in a formulation are known sensitizers.
Learn more about CalamineCyclopentasiloxane (D5) is a lightweight silicone that mostly acts as an emollient and solvent in cosmetics. Its the reason your products feel silky, fast-spreading, and non-greasy.
Since D5 is volatile, it does its thing and then evaporates off the skin quickly.
The safety profile of this ingredient is reassuring; the US CIR Expert Panel concluded D5 is safe as used in cosmetics and Health Canada concluded that D5 is not harmful to human health or the environment as currently used in cosmetics
There's a study that people mention about D5 in a rat study showing tumors. This study is related to long-term inhalation of high D5 levels.
Regulatory bodies have judged this study to be not applicable in topical skincare since skin absorption of D5 is very low and we're not really inhaling huge amounts of D5.
The only restriction for this ingredient is environmental. The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) restricted D5 in wash-off cosmetics at or above 0.1% due to their persistence in water.
Learn more about CyclopentasiloxaneDimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeEthylhexyl 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 SalicylatePanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolParfum 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 ParfumTitanium dioxide is a mineral UV filter widely used in sunscreens and cosmetics.
It is one of only two UV filters officially classified as “mineral” by regulatory agencies, the other being zinc oxide.
Titanium dioxide provides broad-spectrum protection mostly in the UVB and UVAII range, with some protection in the UVAI range.
While its UVA protection isn’t as strong as zinc oxide’s, the difference is minor.
A common myth is that mineral UV filters reflect UV light. However, modern research shows titanium dioxide absorbs UV radiation like chemical filters (~95% absorption & 5% reflection).
Thanks to its non-irritating nature, titanium dioxide is suitable for sensitive, acne-prone, or redness-prone skin. It is unlikely to cause "eye sting" like other sunscreen ingredients.
A major drawback of this ingredient is its white cast and thick texture. This is why mineral sunscreens often leave a white cast and are less cosmetically elegant than chemical/hybrid sunscreens.
To improve white cast and spreadability, micronized or nano-sized titanium dioxide is often used.
There are ongoing concerns surrounding nano-titanium oxide's impact on marine ecosystems.
There is no conclusive evidence that any form of titanium oxide (or any other sunscreen ingredients) will cause harm to marine ecosystems or coral reefs. The science is still developing but many consumers are keeping a close eye on this issue.
Please note, many destinations have reef-safety sunscreen rules. For instance, the U.S. Virgin Islands advises all visitors to use non-nano mineral sunscreens.
Nano mineral sunscreens once raised safety concerns about absorption into skin.
Extensive research has shown that they do not penetrate healthy or damaged skin; they remain safely on the surface and the top layer of dead skin (stratum corneum).
You'll likely find titanium dioxide bundled with alumina, silica, or dimethicone. These ingredients help make titanium dioxide highly photostable; this prevents it from interacting with other formula components under UV light.
Learn more about Titanium DioxideTocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateWater. 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