What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%
UV Absorber
Homosalate 10%
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%
UV Absorber
Octocrylene 10%
UV Absorber
Water
Skin ConditioningButyloctyl Salicylate
Skin Conditioning
Hydrated Silica
Abrasive
Vp/Hexadecene Copolymer
Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer
Dimethicone
Emollient
Polyester-8
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
BHT
Antioxidant
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Ethylhexyl Stearate
Emollient
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Caprylyl Methicone
Skin Conditioning
Trimethylsiloxysilicate
Emollient
Dimethyl Capramide
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTrideceth-6
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPolyaminopropyl Biguanide
Preservative
Methylisothiazolinone
Preservative
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%, Homosalate 10%, Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%, Octocrylene 10%, Water, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Hydrated Silica, Vp/Hexadecene Copolymer, Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer, Dimethicone, Polyester-8, Tocopheryl Acetate, BHT, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Ethylhexyl Stearate, Behenyl Alcohol, Caprylyl Methicone, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Dimethyl Capramide, Sodium Polyacrylate, Xanthan Gum, Trideceth-6, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Polyaminopropyl Biguanide, Methylisothiazolinone
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%
UV Absorber
Homosalate 8%
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate 7.5%
UV Absorber
Ethylhexyl Salicylate 4.5%
UV Absorber
Octocrylene 5%
UV Absorber
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Polyethylene
Abrasive
Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
Masking
Citrus Limon Peel Oil
Masking
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Oil
Masking
Cinnamomum Camphora Bark Oil
Masking
Mentha Viridis Leaf Oil
Astringent
Magnolia Acuminata Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningIris Pallida Root Extract
Masking
Rosa Damascena Extract
MaskingCitral
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
PEG-6
HumectantVaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract
Skin Protecting
Vaccinium Macrocarpon Fruit Extract
AstringentSolanum Tuberosum Pulp Extract
SmoothingLycium Chinense Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Eriobotrya Japonica Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningPassiflora Incarnata Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningLeontopodium Alpinum Extract
Skin ConditioningBetula Alba Bark Extract
Masking
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Boswellia Serrata Extract
Skin Conditioning
Sigesbeckia Orientalis Extract
Skin ConditioningThermus Thermophillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningHordeum Vulgare Extract
EmollientTriticum Vulgare Germ Extract
Skin ConditioningSaccharomyces Lysate Extract
Humectant
Lythrum Salicaria Extract
AstringentYeast Extract
Skin ConditioningAlgae Extract
EmollientOryzanol
Skin ConditioningSqualane
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTrehalose
Humectant
Steareth-21
CleansingErgothioneine
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Vp/Eicosene Copolymer
Nylon-12
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Sodium Dehydroacetate
Preservative
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Urea
Buffering
Ascorbyl Tocopheryl Maleate
Antioxidant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Polyquaternium-51
Skin Conditioning
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingLecithin
Emollient
Sodium Phytate
BHT
Antioxidant
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%, Homosalate 8%, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate 7.5%, Ethylhexyl Salicylate 4.5%, Octocrylene 5%, Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Polyethylene, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Citrus Limon Peel Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Oil, Cinnamomum Camphora Bark Oil, Mentha Viridis Leaf Oil, Magnolia Acuminata Flower Extract, Iris Pallida Root Extract, Rosa Damascena Extract, Citral, Linalool, Limonene, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, PEG-6, Vaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract, Vaccinium Macrocarpon Fruit Extract, Solanum Tuberosum Pulp Extract, Lycium Chinense Fruit Extract, Eriobotrya Japonica Leaf Extract, Passiflora Incarnata Flower Extract, Leontopodium Alpinum Extract, Betula Alba Bark Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Boswellia Serrata Extract, Sigesbeckia Orientalis Extract, Thermus Thermophillus Ferment, Hordeum Vulgare Extract, Triticum Vulgare Germ Extract, Saccharomyces Lysate Extract, Lythrum Salicaria Extract, Yeast Extract, Algae Extract, Oryzanol, Squalane, Ethylhexylglycerin, Trehalose, Steareth-21, Ergothioneine, Sodium Hyaluronate, Vp/Eicosene Copolymer, Nylon-12, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium PCA, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Urea, Ascorbyl Tocopheryl Maleate, Citric Acid, Polyquaternium-51, Hexylene Glycol, Lecithin, Sodium Phytate, BHT, Mica, Phenoxyethanol
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
BHT is a synthetic antioxidant and preservative.
As an antioxidant, it helps your body fight off free-radicals. Free-radicals are molecules that may damage your skin cells.
As a preservative, it is used to stabilize products and prevent them from degrading. Specifically, BHT prevents degradation from oxidation.
The concerns related to BHT come from oral studies; this ingredient is currently allowed for use by both the FDA and EU.
However, it was recently restricted for use in the UK as of April 2024.
Learn more about BHTAlso 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 MethoxydibenzoylmethaneEthylhexyl 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 SalicylateEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlyceryl Stearate is made by reacting glycerin with stearic acid (typically sourced from plant oils like palm or coconut). It's an emulsifier, emollient, and mild occlusive.
Emulsifiers help ingredients like oil and water stay mixed so your formula stays nicely blended and uniform in texture.
This ingredient is typically used in concentrations between 1-10%. Studies have found it to be non-sensitizing, non-phototoxic, and non-photoallergenic.
A close cousin of this ingredient is Glyceryl Stearate SE ("self-emulsifying"). This just has a small amount of sodium or potassium stearate added so it can emulsify without a co-emulsifier.
Since this ingredient is an ester of a C18 fatty acid, it may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast can potentially metabolize within the C11-C24 range.
Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.
Learn more about Glyceryl StearateHomosalate 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 HomosalateOctocrylene 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 OctocrylenePeg-100 Stearate is an emollient and emulsifier. As an emollient, it helps keep skin soft by trapping moisture in. On the other hand, emulsifiers help prevent oil and water from separating in a product.
PEGS are a hydrophilic polyether compound . There are 100 ethylene oxide monomers in Peg-100 Stearate. Peg-100 Stearate is polyethylene glycol ester of stearic acid.
Tocopheryl 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 AcetateWater. 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
