This chemical sunscreen covers most of the UV range, lighter on the deep UVA that drives aging.
This chemical sunscreen covers the full UV range and blocks ~98% of UVB at SPF 50.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningHomosalate
Skin Conditioning
Butyloctyl Salicylate
Skin Conditioning
Octocrylene
UV Absorber
Ethylhexyl Salicylate
UV Absorber
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Niacinamide
Smoothing
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Acrylates Crosspolymer-2
AbsorbentPolymethylsilsesquioxane
Dibutyl Lauroyl Glutamide
Skin ConditioningDibutyl Ethylhexanoyl Glutamide
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Chlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningGlucose
Humectant
C30-45 Alkyldimethylsilyl Polypropylsilsesquioxane
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Fructooligosaccharides
Humectant
Fructose
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Curcuma Longa Root Extract
Antioxidant
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Glycerin
Humectant
Biosaccharide Gum-1
Humectant
Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Glucosamine
Skin Conditioning
Silica
Abrasive
Eclipta Prostrata Extract
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Corallina Officinalis Extract
Skin Conditioning
Melia Azadirachta Bark Extract
AntimicrobialEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningMoringa Oleifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCynanchum Atratum Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Althaea Rosea Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide Ns
Skin Conditioning
Cholesterol
Emollient
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide As
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Water, Homosalate, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Octocrylene, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Alcohol, Niacinamide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Pentylene Glycol, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Sodium Acrylates Crosspolymer-2, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Dibutyl Lauroyl Glutamide, Dibutyl Ethylhexanoyl Glutamide, Hydroxyacetophenone, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Glucose, C30-45 Alkyldimethylsilyl Polypropylsilsesquioxane, Butylene Glycol, Fructooligosaccharides, Fructose, Panthenol, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Glycerin, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Acetyl Glucosamine, Silica, Eclipta Prostrata Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Melia Azadirachta Bark Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Cynanchum Atratum Extract, Tocopherol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Stearic Acid, Althaea Rosea Flower Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Caprylyl Glycol, Ceramide NP, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Ceramide Ns, Cholesterol, Phytosphingosine, Ceramide AP, Ceramide As, Ceramide EOP
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate 10%
UV Absorber
Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine 3%
UV Absorber
Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol 2.5%
UV Filter
Water
Skin ConditioningIsostearyl Neopentanoate
Emollient
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Cyclohexasiloxane
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingNylon 6/12
AbsorbentCeteareth-20
CleansingSqualane
Emollient
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
PEG-40 Stearate
Emulsifying
Silica
Abrasive
Saccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Disodium EDTA
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Parfum
Masking
Triethanolamine
BufferingTerminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Chloride
MaskingCarnosine
Skin Conditioning
CI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate 10%, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine 3%, Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol 2.5%, Water, Isostearyl Neopentanoate, Cyclopentasiloxane, Alcohol, Cyclohexasiloxane, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Dimethicone, Cetearyl Alcohol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Nylon 6/12, Ceteareth-20, Squalane, Caprylyl Glycol, PEG-40 Stearate, Silica, Saccharide Isomerate, Decyl Glucoside, Tocopheryl Acetate, Disodium EDTA, Polysorbate 60, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Pentylene Glycol, Parfum, Triethanolamine, Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract, Propylene Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Citric Acid, Sodium Chloride, Carnosine, CI 77492, CI 77491, CI 77499
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 also called ethanol or ethyl alcohol. It is denatured, meaning made undrinkable for cosmetic use.
In formulas, it:
Is it bad for your skin?
The answer comes down to concentration. Patch and wash studies have found highly concentrated alcohol-based hand rubs (60-100%) cause less barrier disruption than washing with a basic detergent like SLS. The only measurable effect in these studies was a temporary dip in skin hydration.
Concentrations below 12-15% in leave-on cosmetics is generally well-tolerated. Concentrations above start to see increased transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and reduced hydration.
In concentrations about 58%, it creates temporary channels in your skin's lipid layers to become more permeable and allow other ingredients to slip through easily.
This ingredient can be up to 80% of the formula in alcohol-based perfumes.
Overall, this ingredient is probably harmless if found lower down an ingredients list but worth side-eyeing if it's high up (especially if your barrier is already struggling).
Alcohol can worsen dry skin, eczema, and oily skin, especially at higher concentrations. This is because it can increase transepidermal water loss and decrease hydration to disrupt the skin barrier.
According to the National Rosacea Society based in the US, you should be mindful of products with these alcohols in the top half of ingredients.
True allergic contact dermatitis to ethanol is uncommon, but be sure to patch test if you have dry or sensitive skin.
Learn more about AlcoholButylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolCaprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolCetearyl alcohol is a waxy mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is an emollient and emulsifier.
Despite having "alcohol" in its name, it has nothing to do with drying solvent alcohols; the FDA also allows "alcohol-free" products to contain fatty alcohols like this ingredient.
It plays several roles in a formula:
Typical use levels for this ingredient sit around 1-10% and the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has affirmed safety at concentrations up to 25% in leave-on products.
Multiple assessments have found it to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing to most people.
However, there have been some cases of allergic contact dermatitis in patients with chronically compromised skin barriers.
Cetearyl alcohol has a comedogenic rating of 2 and irritancy rating of 1. Both of these numbers come from the 1989 study that used rabbit ears; a "2" means mildly comedogenic and a "1" means low irritancy.
Here's the catch: rabbit skin is more sensitive than human skin and throws a lot of false positives. A 1996 reappraisal found that ingredients rated 1-2 in the rabbit ear tests are generally safe for humans.
Remember comedogenic ratings are unable to assess the entire formula of a product or how it will react on your skin. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure about certain ingredients.
This ingredient is not fungal acne safe. Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol with chain lengths that fall within the range that Malassezia can metabolize.
A 2019 study has also observed Malassezia growth in the presence of this ingredient, confirming it to be not-fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholGlycerin (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 GlycerinPentylene Glycol (1,2-pentanediol) is a multitasking little diol with three main roles in a formula:
Research on alkanediols (the family pentylene glycol belongs to) show they work by disrupting microbial cell membranes. This disruption helps the primary preservative system in a product work more effectively at lower doses.
On the safety side, the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has concluded this ingredient to be safe as used in current cosmetic practices + concentrations.
Typical use levels in a formula run about 1-5%.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolSilica, 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 SilicaWater. 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
