What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Dimethicone 2%
Emollient
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate 7.5%
UV Absorber
Ethylhexyl Salicylate 3%
UV Absorber
Benzophenone-3 3%
UV Absorber
Ozokerite
Emulsion StabilisingSqualane
Emollient
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Petrolatum
Emollient
Myristyl Myristate
Emollient
Myristyl Lactate
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Myristyl Laurate
SurfactantMyristyl Alcohol
Emollient
BHT
Antioxidant
Aroma
Menthol
Masking
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Ozokerite
Emulsion StabilisingTridecyl Neopentanoate
EmollientOctyldodecanol
Emollient
Cera Microcristallina
Emulsion StabilisingPetrolatum
Emollient
Myristyl Myristate
Emollient
Isopropyl Myristate
Emollient
Polybutene
Dimethicone
Emollient
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV Absorber
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV Filter
Benzophenone-3
UV Absorber
Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin Conditioning
Oryzanol
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Aroma
Citric Acid
Buffering
Limonene
Perfuming
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Saccharin
MaskingSorbic Acid
Preservative
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Vanillin
Masking
Ozokerite, Tridecyl Neopentanoate, Octyldodecanol, Cera Microcristallina, Petrolatum, Myristyl Myristate, Isopropyl Myristate, Polybutene, Dimethicone, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Benzophenone-3, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Oryzanol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Aroma, Citric Acid, Limonene, Phenoxyethanol, Saccharin, Sorbic Acid, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Vanillin
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Aroma refers to an ingredient, or mixture of ingredients, that impart or mask a flavor.
The name is slightly confusing. This is because INCI associates aroma with flavor instead of smell.
Here is the official definition from the The International Cosmetic Ingredient Dictionary and Handbook:
“Aroma is a term for ingredient labeling used to identify that a product contains a material or combination of materials normally added to a cosmetic to produce or to mask a particular flavor.”
INCI shows the only purpose of aroma to be "flavouring".
However, due to regulation differences, some companies may use aroma in place of parfum.
In Canada, this ingredient only has to be listed in concentrations above 1%.
Learn more about AromaThis ingredient is also known as oxybenzone, and is one of the older organic UV filters. Its main job is sitting in the oil phase and soaking up UV photons (primarily UVB with some short-wave UVA II range).
At low levels, oxybenzone also pulls double duty as a formula stabilizer that protects fragrance and colorants from fading in the light.
On concentrations:
So why did the EU cut back on how much you can use?
It comes down to absorption. Oxybenzone passes through skin more easily than other filters.
When the FDA tested sunscreens, every filter showed up in people's blood above the level where the agency wants extra safety testing done. But Oxybenzone showed up at by far the highest levels of the bunch.
To be clear, the FDA's point was that we need more research and not that the ingredient is dangerous. They also said to keep using sunscreen.
That high absorption, plus some animal studies pointing to effects on reproduction, is why EU regulators labeled Benzophenone-3 a hormone disruptor in 2025. An official classification is expected to follow in 2026.
It's also the most common photoallergen among sunscreen filters so it's a more frequent cause of contact/photoallergic dermatitis than most alternatives.
Places like Hawaii and Palau have also banned it over coral-reef concerns.
Learn more about Benzophenone-3Dimethicone 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 DimethiconeThis ingredient is also known as Octinoxate and is one of the oldest and most widely used chemical UV filters in skincare.
It has a simple job: soap up UVB radiation (290-320 nm), the wavelengths responsible for sunburn and a big chunk of long-term sun damage.
In formulas, it's always paired with a separate UVA filter because octinoxate solely protects skin from UVB.
Because it's an oil-soluble liquid, it's easy to blend into the oil phase of lotions/creams and gives a cosmetically elegant feel.
The one quirk about formulating this ingredient is photostability; the molecule slowly changes shape into a less effective version when sunlight hits it. So the longer you're in the sun, the weaker its protection gets. The drop can be more than 30% in some formulas.
It also doesn't play nice with Avobenzone (the common UVA filter) since avobenzone destabilizes octinoxate and the two degrade each other. But don't worry: brands have solved this issue by adding photostabilizers like Tinosorb S to prevent degradation and keep SPF stable under heavy UV exposure.
The maximum allowed level is 10% in the EU and Australia, 7.5% in the US and Canada, and 20% in Japan.
The Cosmetic Ingredient Review Panel has concluded this ingredient to be safe in cosmetics up to 10%.
One last thing worth knowing for context:
Octinoxate has been the subject of ongoing review in Europe where the Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety's (SCCS) 2025 final opinion is that this ingredient is an endocrine-active substance.
Lab and animal studies suggest it can act a bit like a hormone in the body (mildly mimicking estrogen and slightly blocking male hormones). It's important to know this hasn't really been shown to happen in everyday human use.
This ingredient is also banned in Hawaii over coral reef concerns.
Learn more about Ethylhexyl MethoxycinnamateMyristyl Myristate is a waxy ester made by combining myristyl alcohol and myristic acid (both from plant oils from coconut or palm).
It's a non-greasy emollient that melts right around skin temperature. It gives products a soft and velvet feel and helps improve how a cream spreads.
Safety-wise, it's deemed safe to use in cosmetics by the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel. Dermal animal testing found it to be non-toxic and non-irritating.
This ingredient has a comedogenic reputation; it's important to know comedogenic ratings come from outdated rabbit ear tests. Rabbit ears are way more sensitive than human skin and prone to clogging. How likely a formula will clog pores depends on the overall formulation rather than a few comedogenic ingredients.
Because this ingredient is an ester of Myristic acid, it may not be fungal acne safe. Myristic acid is a C14 fatty acid that sits in the C11-24 range that feeds the Malassezia yeast.
Learn more about Myristyl MyristateOzokerite is a naturally occuring mineral wax. In cosmetics, ozokerite is used as a texture enhancer.
Ceresin wax is derived from this ingredient.
The melting point of ozokerite is 58-100 C.
Ozokerite is found all over the world including Scotland, the US, and India.
Learn more about OzokeritePetrolatum is more commonly known as petroleum jelly. It is created by mixing waxes and mineral oils.
This ingredient is effective at reducing water loss by 99%. This is because it is an occlusive. Occlusives create a hydrophobic barrier on the skin to prevent evaporation. This property makes it great for hydrating dry skin.
Pro tip: Use occlusives, such as this ingredient, on damp skin for the best results.
The quality or origin of petrolatum is only known when disclosed by the brand. Most cosmetic petrolatum has gone through several purification stages.
Another benefit of occlusives is it protects your skin against infection or allergies.
Petrolatum is fungal acne safe. It is a hydrocarbon with no fatty acid structure, so Malassezia cannot metabolize it. In-vitro studies support negligible growth stimulation as well.
It's also worth noting that petrolatum has a comedogenic rating of 0. In updated rabbit ear testing (and in human testing), petrolatum was found to be not comedogenic. This means it didn’t promote comedone formation in standard models.
Learn more about PetrolatumTocopheryl 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 Acetate
