What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningOctocrylene
UV Absorber
Carthamus Tinctorius Oleosomes
Emollient
Ethylhexyl Salicylate
UV Absorber
Glycerin
Humectant
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Ectoin
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingPropylheptyl Caprylate
EmollientCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Undecane
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Triheptanoin
Skin ConditioningTridecane
Perfuming
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingHydrolyzed Jojoba Esters
Skin Conditioning
C9-12 Alkane
SolventDilinoleic Acid/Butanediol Copolymer
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCetyl Palmitate
Emollient
Carnosine
Skin Conditioning
Sorbitan Palmitate
Emulsifying
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Phytate
Cydonia Oblonga Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningSorbitan Oleate
Emulsifying
Castor Oil/Ipdi Copolymer
Cystoseira Tamariscifolia Extract
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingT-Butyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Water, Octocrylene, Carthamus Tinctorius Oleosomes, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Glycerin, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Ectoin, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Propylheptyl Caprylate, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Undecane, Phenoxyethanol, Triheptanoin, Tridecane, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Hydrolyzed Jojoba Esters, C9-12 Alkane, Dilinoleic Acid/Butanediol Copolymer, Cetearyl Alcohol, Sodium Benzoate, Xanthan Gum, Cetyl Palmitate, Carnosine, Sorbitan Palmitate, Gluconolactone, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Potassium Sorbate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Phytate, Cydonia Oblonga Leaf Extract, Sorbitan Oleate, Castor Oil/Ipdi Copolymer, Cystoseira Tamariscifolia Extract, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, T-Butyl Alcohol, Tocopherol
Water
Skin ConditioningC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientDiisopropyl Adipate
EmollientGlycerin
Humectant
Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol
UV Filter
Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin Conditioning
Diethylhexyl Butamido Triazone
UV Absorber
Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate
Absorbent
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Methyl Gluceth-20
Humectant
Polymethyl Methacrylate
Isocetyl Stearoyl Stearate
Emollient
Triethylhexanoin
MaskingHydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate
HumectantGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingBenzoic Acid
Masking
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Disodium EDTA
Parfum
Masking
Glyceryl Behenate
Emollient
Glyceryl Dibehenate
Emollient
Phytosterols
Skin Conditioning
Polyacrylate-13
Polyisobutene
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Tocopheryl Glucoside
EmollientTribehenin
Emollient
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingWater, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Diisopropyl Adipate, Glycerin, Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Diethylhexyl Butamido Triazone, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Methyl Gluceth-20, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Isocetyl Stearoyl Stearate, Triethylhexanoin, Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Benzoic Acid, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Caprylyl Glycol, Decyl Glucoside, Disodium EDTA, Parfum, Glyceryl Behenate, Glyceryl Dibehenate, Phytosterols, Polyacrylate-13, Polyisobutene, Polysorbate 20, Propylene Glycol, Sorbitan Isostearate, Tocopherol, Tocopheryl Glucoside, Tribehenin, Xanthan Gum
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 a chemical sunscreen filter that provides protection in the UV-A range.
Avobenzone is globally approved and is the most commonly used UV-A filter in the world.
Studies have found that avobenzone becomes ineffective when exposed to UV light (it is not photostable; meaning that it breaks down in sunlight). Because of this, formulations that include avobenzone will usually contain stabilizers such as octocrylene.
However, some modern formulations (looking at you, EU!) are able to stabilize avobenzone by coating the molecules.
Avobenzone does not protect against the UV-B range, so it's important to check that the sunscreen you're using contains other UV filters that do!
The highest concentration of avobenzone permitted is 3% in the US, and 5% in the EU.
Learn more about Butyl MethoxydibenzoylmethaneGlycerin (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 GlycerinTocopherol 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 TocopherolWater. 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum
