What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Ethylhexyl Salicylate
UV Absorber
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialDiethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV Filter
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Dibutyl Adipate
EmollientCoco-Caprylate
Emollient
Tapioca Starch
Diethylhexyl Butamido Triazone
UV Absorber
Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid
UV Absorber
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Triacontanyl Pvp
HumectantCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Silica
Abrasive
Vp/Hexadecene Copolymer
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingDecylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDimethicone
Emollient
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
Disodium EDTA
Citric Acid
Buffering
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Water, Glycerin, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Titanium Dioxide, Dibutyl Adipate, Coco-Caprylate, Tapioca Starch, Diethylhexyl Butamido Triazone, Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid, Tocopheryl Acetate, Triacontanyl Pvp, Caprylyl Glycol, Silica, Vp/Hexadecene Copolymer, Sodium Hydroxide, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Decylene Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Dimethicone, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Disodium EDTA, Citric Acid, Tocopherol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Water
Skin ConditioningCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientGlycerin
Humectant
Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV Filter
Lauryl Glucoside
CleansingPolyglyceryl-2 Dipolyhydroxystearate
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexyl Triazone
UV Absorber
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid
UV Absorber
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin Conditioning
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingPersea Gratissima Fruit Extract
EmollientJojoba Esters
Emollient
Propylene Carbonate
SolventWater, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Glycerin, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Lauryl Glucoside, Polyglyceryl-2 Dipolyhydroxystearate, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Persea Gratissima Oil, Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid, Titanium Dioxide, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Pentylene Glycol, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Persea Gratissima Fruit Extract, Jojoba Esters, Propylene Carbonate
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate (DHHB) is a chemical UV-A absorber. It is formulated for high UVA protection (320-400 nm).
DHHB is well-liked for:
DHHB has been approved by the EU, Japan, Taiwan, and South America for use up to 10%. Unfortunately, it has not been approved for use in the US or Canada due to slow regulatory processes.
This ingredient is soluble in oils, fats, and lipids.
Learn more about Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl BenzoateGlycerin (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 GlycerinThis ingredient is more commonly known as Ensulizole, a chemical sunscreen ingredient.
Ensulizole mainly protects UV-B (290-340 nm) but offers a little UV-A (320-400 nm) protection. It is often paired with less photo-stable sunscreen ingredients due to its photo-stability.
Due to it being water-soluble, Ensulizole helps give sunscreens a light and non-oily texture.
Ensulizole is approved worldwide:
Learn more about Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic AcidTitanium dioxide is a mineral UV filter widely used in sunscreens and cosmetics.
It is one of only two UV filters officially classified as âmineralâ by regulatory agencies, the other being zinc oxide.
Titanium dioxide provides broad-spectrum protection mostly in the UVB and UVAII range, with some protection in the UVAI range.
While its UVA protection isnât as strong as zinc oxideâs, the difference is minor.
A common myth is that mineral UV filters reflect UV light. However, modern research shows titanium dioxide absorbs UV radiation like chemical filters (~95% absorption & 5% reflection).
Thanks to its non-irritating nature, titanium dioxide is suitable for sensitive, acne-prone, or redness-prone skin. It is unlikely to cause "eye sting" like other sunscreen ingredients.
A major drawback of this ingredient is its white cast and thick texture. This is why mineral sunscreens often leave a white cast and are less cosmetically elegant than chemical/hybrid sunscreens.
To improve white cast and spreadability, micronized or nano-sized titanium dioxide is often used.
There are ongoing concerns surrounding nano-titanium oxide's impact on marine ecosystems.
There is no conclusive evidence that any form of titanium oxide (or any other sunscreen ingredients) will cause harm to marine ecosystems or coral reefs. The science is still developing but many consumers are keeping a close eye on this issue.
Please note, many destinations have reef-safety sunscreen rules. For instance, the U.S. Virgin Islands advises all visitors to use non-nano mineral sunscreens.
Nano mineral sunscreens once raised safety concerns about absorption into skin.
Extensive research has shown that they do not penetrate healthy or damaged skin; they remain safely on the surface and the top layer of dead skin (stratum corneum).
You'll likely find titanium dioxide bundled with alumina, silica, or dimethicone. These ingredients help make titanium dioxide highly photostable; this prevents it from interacting with other formula components under UV light.
Learn more about Titanium DioxideWater. 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
