What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Homosalate 8%
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%
UV Absorber
Octocrylene 5%
UV Absorber
Zinc Oxide 7%
Cosmetic Colorant
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Butyloctyl Salicylate
Skin Conditioning
Steareth-20
CleansingC12-22 Alkyl Acrylate/Hydroxyethylacrylate Copolymer
StabilisingEthylhexyl Methoxycrylene
Skin Conditioning
Oryza Sativa Cera
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Steareth-2
EmulsifyingBisabolol
Antioxidant
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Polyhydroxystearic Acid
Emulsifying
Diethylhexyl Syringylidenemalonate
Skin ProtectingChlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCitric Acid
Buffering
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTriethoxycaprylylsilane
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-8
Skin Conditioning
Dextran
Homosalate 8%, Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%, Octocrylene 5%, Zinc Oxide 7%, Water, Glycerin, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Propanediol, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Steareth-20, C12-22 Alkyl Acrylate/Hydroxyethylacrylate Copolymer, Ethylhexyl Methoxycrylene, Oryza Sativa Cera, Butylene Glycol, Steareth-2, Bisabolol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Diethylhexyl Syringylidenemalonate, Chlorphenesin, Caprylyl Glycol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Citric Acid, Xanthan Gum, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Sorbitan Isostearate, Polysorbate 60, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-8, Dextran
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%
UV Absorber
Homosalate 6%
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%
UV Absorber
Octocrylene 1.5%
UV Absorber
Water
Skin ConditioningCarthamus Tinctorius Oleosomes
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialPolyester-7
Skin ConditioningAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate
EmollientEctoin
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Inulin Lauryl Carbamate
Emulsion StabilisingAphanizomenon Flos-Aquae Extract
HumectantDiethylhexyl Syringylidenemalonate
Skin ProtectingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Triolein
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Dioleate
Emollient
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%, Homosalate 6%, Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%, Octocrylene 1.5%, Water, Carthamus Tinctorius Oleosomes, Glycerin, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Polyester-7, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate, Ectoin, Hydroxyacetophenone, Chlorphenesin, Inulin Lauryl Carbamate, Aphanizomenon Flos-Aquae Extract, Diethylhexyl Syringylidenemalonate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Triolein, Ceramide NP, Glyceryl Dioleate
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 a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping the skin prevent moisture loss.
It helps thicken a product's formula and makes it easier to spread by dissolving clumping compounds.
Caprylic Triglyceride is made by combining glycerin with coconut oil, forming a clear liquid. Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. It is very stable, resistant to oxidation, and unlikely to go rancid. In practice, that translates to a long shelf life and a consistently elegant skin feel.
While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this. Be sure to patch test if you have concerns.
Fractionated coconut oil and MCT Oil are both listed as Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride according to INCI. This is because INCI names are based on the ingredient’s final chemical composition and not its marketing name or source.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideChlorphenesin is a synthetic preservative. It helps protect a product against bacteria in order to extend shelf life. In most cases, Chlorphenesin is paired with other preservatives such as phenoxyethanol and caprylyl glycol.
Chlorphenesin is a biocide. This means it is able to help fight the microorganisms on our skin. It is also able to fight odor-releasing bacteria.
Chlorphenesin is soluble in both water and glycerin.
Studies show Chlorphenesin is easily absorbed by our skin. You should speak with a skincare professional if you have concerns about using Chlorphenesin.
Learn more about ChlorphenesinDiethylhexyl Syringylidenemalonate (DESM) is a photostabilizer, antioxidant, and SPF booster.
One of DESM's main roles is stabilizing UV filters, especially avobenzone. Avobenzone is notoriously unstable when exposed to sunlight. By enhancing the stability of these filters, DESM helps maintain the sunscreen's effectivess through wear. It also helps improve protection against long-wave UVA rays by increasing the wavelength of the formula.
Besides enhancing UVA protection, DESM can boost the SPF of high-SPF formulations by up to 5 units.
DESM also preserves the color integrity of cosmetic products and helps reduce the chance of yellowing of fading due to light exposure.
This ingredient is typically found in concentrations between 0.3% - 0.5%. There are currently no maximum usage limits by regulatory bodies.
Though this ingredient is a chemical UV filter, it can often be found in "100% mineral" sunscreens. This is due to regulatory loopholes.
Learn more about Diethylhexyl SyringylidenemalonateEthylhexyl Salicylate is an organic compound used to block UV rays. It primarily absorbs UVB rays but offers a small amount of UVA protection as well.
Commonly found in sunscreens, Ethylhexyl Salicylate is created from salicylic acid and 2-ethylhexanol. You might know salicylic acid as the effective acne fighter ingredient and BHA.
The ethylhexanol in this ingredient is a fatty alcohol and helps hydrate your skin, similar to oils. It is an emollient, which means it traps moisture into the skin.
According to manufacturers, Ethylhexyl Salicylate absorbs UV wavelength of 295-315 nm, with a peak absorption at 307-310 nm. UVA rays are linked to long term skin damage, such as hyperpigmentation. UVB rays emit more energy and are capable of damaging our DNA. UVB rays cause sunburn.
Learn more about Ethylhexyl SalicylateGlycerin (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 GlycerinHomosalate is a chemical sunscreen filter that provides protection in the UV-B range (280nm - 320 nm), with a peak protection at 306 nm. It is internationally approved for use in sunscreens.
Homosalate is not photo-stable, meaning it's strength as a UV filter degrades over time with exposure to the sun. Because of this, it's often used in combination with other chemical sunscreen filters as avobenzone (which protects from the UV-A range). Homosalate also helps act as a solvent for harder-to-dissolve UV filters.
(Part of the reason that sunscreens need to be frequently re-applied is due to the photo instability of many chemical sunscreen filters)
Currently, homosalate is approved in concentrations up to 10% in the EU and 15% in the US. The FDA is currently doing further research on the effects of homosalate, and it is possible that these approved concentrations will change in the future.
Learn more about HomosalateHydroxyacetophenone is antioxidant with skin conditioning and soothing properties. It also boosts the efficiency of preservatives.
Though naturally occuring in Norwegian spruce needles, this ingredient is usually synthetically created.
This ingredient is not irritating or sensitizing. Recent research also suggests it may have skin-brightening effects through tyrosinase inhibition.
Learn more about HydroxyacetophenoneOctocrylene protects skin from sun damage. It absorbs UV-B with peak absorption of 304 nm. It is a common sunscreen ingredient and often paired with avobenzone, a UVA filter. This is because octocrylene stabilizes other sunscreen ingredients by protecting them from degradation when exposed to sunlight. Octocrylene is a photostable ingredient and loses about 10% of SPF in 95 minutes.
Octocrylene also acts as an emollient, meaning it helps skin retain moisture and softens skin. It is oil-soluble and hydrophobic, enhancing water-resistant properties in a product.
Those who are using ketoprofen, a topical anti-inflammatory drug, may experience an allergic reaction when using octocrylene. It is best to speak with a healthcare professional about using sunscreens with octocrylene.
The EU allows a maximum of these concentrations:
Learn more about OctocryleneWater. 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
