What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Butane
Propane
Isobutane
Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexyl Triazone
UV Absorber
Ethylhexyl Salicylate
UV Absorber
Cyclohexasiloxane
Emollient
Isododecane
EmollientWater
Skin ConditioningTrimethylsiloxysilicate
Emollient
Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV Filter
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide Ns
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide As
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Silica Dimethyl Silylate
EmollientSilica
Abrasive
Methicone
Emollient
Menthyl Lactate
Masking
Caprylyl Methicone
Skin Conditioning
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingPropylene Carbonate
SolventAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Citric Acid
Buffering
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Piper Methysticum Root Extract
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
Astringent
Portulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningButane, Propane, Isobutane, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Cyclohexasiloxane, Isododecane, Water, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Ceramide EOP, Ceramide Ns, Ceramide As, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Ascorbic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Silica, Methicone, Menthyl Lactate, Caprylyl Methicone, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Propylene Carbonate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Citric Acid, Bisabolol, Tocopherol, Piper Methysticum Root Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin
Water
Skin ConditioningHomosalate
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexyl Dimethyl Paba
UV Absorber
Ethylhexyl Salicylate
UV Absorber
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Terephthalylidene Dicamphor Sulfonic Acid
UV Absorber
Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid
UV Absorber
Glycerin
Humectant
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glycol Cetearate
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Zinc Oxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Ceteareth-20
CleansingCeteareth-12
EmulsifyingCetyl Palmitate
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Caesalpinia Spinosa Gum
AbsorbentCaesalpinia Spinosa Gum
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTriethanolamine
BufferingParfum
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Water, Homosalate, Ethylhexyl Dimethyl Paba, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Terephthalylidene Dicamphor Sulfonic Acid, Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycol Cetearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Zinc Oxide, Ceteareth-20, Ceteareth-12, Cetyl Palmitate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Caesalpinia Spinosa Gum, Caesalpinia Spinosa Gum, Phenoxyethanol, Allantoin, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Triethanolamine, Parfum, Potassium Sorbate
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 SalicylateSodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateWater. 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
