What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
Synthetic Wax
Abrasive
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV Absorber
Dibutyl Adipate
EmollientDiethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV Filter
Homosalate
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexyl Salicylate
UV Absorber
Ethylene/Propylene Copolymer
Abrasive
Paraffin
Skin ConditioningBis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin Conditioning
Euphorbia Cerifera Cera
Astringent
Microcrystalline Wax
Emulsion StabilisingSilica
Abrasive
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Polyethylene
Abrasive
Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer
Helianthus Annuus Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Parfum
Masking
Benzyl Benzoate
Antimicrobial
Linalool
Perfuming
Butylphenyl Methylpropional
Perfuming
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Amyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone
Perfuming
Coumarin
Perfuming
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Synthetic Wax, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Dibutyl Adipate, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Homosalate, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Ethylene/Propylene Copolymer, Paraffin, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Euphorbia Cerifera Cera, Microcrystalline Wax, Silica, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Polyethylene, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer, Helianthus Annuus Seed Extract, Tocopherol, Caprylyl Glycol, Parfum, Benzyl Benzoate, Linalool, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Hexyl Cinnamal, Citronellol, Geraniol, Amyl Cinnamal, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Coumarin
Dimethicone
Emollient
Synthetic Wax
Abrasive
Homosalate
Skin Conditioning
Silica
Abrasive
Isoeicosane
EmollientOctocrylene
UV Absorber
Phenylpropyldimethylsiloxysilicate
EmollientEthylhexyl Salicylate
UV Absorber
Isopropyl Palmitate
Emollient
Diisostearyl Malate
EmollientButyloctyl Salicylate
Skin Conditioning
Isononyl Isononanoate
EmollientButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Phenethyl Benzoate
Emollient
Diethylhexyl Carbonate
EmollientSynthetic Fluorphlogopite
Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil
Emollient
Polyethylene
Abrasive
Bis-Behenyl/Isostearyl/Phytosteryl Dimer Dilinoleyl Dimer Dilinoleate
EmollientDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Ethylene/Propylene Copolymer
Abrasive
Camellia Japonica Seed Oil
Emollient
Silica Dimethyl Silylate
EmollientDimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion Stabilising
Euphorbia Cerifera Wax
Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer
Copernicia Cerifera Wax
Lecithin
Emollient
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Ectoin
Skin Conditioning
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil Unsaponifiables
Emollient
Dimethicone, Synthetic Wax, Homosalate, Silica, Isoeicosane, Octocrylene, Phenylpropyldimethylsiloxysilicate, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Isopropyl Palmitate, Diisostearyl Malate, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Isononyl Isononanoate, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Phenethyl Benzoate, Diethylhexyl Carbonate, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Polyethylene, Bis-Behenyl/Isostearyl/Phytosteryl Dimer Dilinoleyl Dimer Dilinoleate, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Ethylene/Propylene Copolymer, Camellia Japonica Seed Oil, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Euphorbia Cerifera Wax, Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer, Copernicia Cerifera Wax, Lecithin, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Allantoin, Ectoin, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil Unsaponifiables
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 silicone elastomer that works as a texture enhancer, adds a silky slip, and also helps absorb excess oil.
Because it's a large macromolecule that's insoluble in water and chemically inert, it's not expected to penetrate or be absorbed into skin.
Human patch tests with a facial lotion containing 1% of this ingredient found no sensitization.
Learn more about Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone CrosspolymerEthylene/Propylene Copolymer is an exfoliant.
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 SalicylateHomosalate is an oil-soluble organic UVB filter that has been a sunscreen staple for decades. Its job is to absorb UVB rays (~295-315 nm) and protect your skin against sunburn,
This is one of the more photostable organic UV filters; it holds up pretty well under UV and a 2022 quantum-chemistry study found it stays stable in sunlight.
It's actually so reliable that formulators often pair it with shakier ingredients like oxybenzone and avobenzone. Formulators also use it to help dissolve the other UV filters into the oil phase.
One thing to keep in mind: "stable" isn't the same as "strong". On its own, homosalate is actually a pretty weak UV filter so it's better off as a helpful team player that helps boost overall SPF protection.
The safety picture is a bit nuanced but not scary.
This ingredient has a long track record of being gentle and regulators agree it isn't an irritant; EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety found that homosalate is not considered a skin irritant and doesn't raise eye-irritation flags either.
There's talk about homosalate because your skin absorbs a little bit of it into your bloodstream. A 2020 FDA-backed study found homosalate showed up in people's blood levels at the level where the FDA decides to double check.
The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) also found small amounts in blood and breast milk. They estimated that about 5% of what you apply gets absorbed through the skin.
Due to the debate about whether it might mess with hormones, the SCCS recommended a maximum limit of 0.5% in most products of 7.3% in face creams/pump sprays.
One important thing to keep in mind: in the US, Homosalate is currently labeled "non-GRASE" by the FDA. This sounds alarming but really just means the FDA wants more data to confirm it's safe. It's not confidently saying this ingredient is harmful.
As of now, homosalate is still completely legal and widely used while that research gets done.
The current maximum limits are:
Learn more about HomosalatePolyethylene is a synthetic ingredient that helps the skin retain moisture. It is a polymer.
It is also typically used within product formulations to help bind solid ingredients together and thicken oil-based ingredients. When added to balms and emulsions, it helps increase the melting point temperature.
Silica, 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 SilicaSynthetic Wax is a manufactured hydrocarbon wax. In formulas, it works as an occlusive emollient that helps reduce water loss and improves the spreadability of products.
Research comparing synthetic wax to traditional mineral-derived products found that formulas containing it perform as well for skin hydration.
It is considered non-comedogenic and vegan-friendly.
This ingredient has a well-established safety record by the CIR Expert Panel for Cosmetic Ingredient Safety.
Synthetic Waxes are straight/branched-chain hydrocarbons with no ester bond or fatty acids. That means there is nothing for the Malassezia yeast to feed on.
Learn more about Synthetic WaxThis ingredient is used in makeup and skincare to thicken formulas, reduce shine, and give skin a silky-smooth feel.
Itβs a white silicone powder that sits in fine lines and pores to blur their appearance though its effectiveness depends on the particle size.
You'll typically find this ingredient in amounts between 0.1-20%.
Learn more about Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer
