What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%
UV Absorber
Homosalate 7%
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%
UV Absorber
Octocrylene 6%
UV Absorber
Water
Skin ConditioningIsododecane
EmollientButyloctyl Salicylate
Skin Conditioning
Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate
Glycerin
Humectant
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
Polyglycerin-3
Humectant
Polyglyceryl-3 Lactate/Laurate
CleansingAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Ectoin
Skin Conditioning
Acrylates Crosspolymer
AbsorbentGluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Arginine
Masking
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingBisabolol
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Sodium Dilauramidoglutamide Lysine
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Calcium Gluconate
HumectantSodium Polyglutamate
HumectantHydrolyzed Rhodophyceae Extract
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%, Homosalate 7%, Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%, Octocrylene 6%, Water, Isododecane, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate, Glycerin, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Polyglycerin-3, Polyglyceryl-3 Lactate/Laurate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Ectoin, Acrylates Crosspolymer, Gluconolactone, Arginine, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Benzoate, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Bisabolol, Tocopherol, Citric Acid, Niacinamide, Sodium Dilauramidoglutamide Lysine, Sodium Hyaluronate, Calcium Gluconate, Sodium Polyglutamate, Hydrolyzed Rhodophyceae Extract
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 2.5%
UV Absorber
Homosalate 8%
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%
UV Absorber
Water
Skin ConditioningCarthamus Tinctorius Oleosomes
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialPolyester-7
Skin ConditioningAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate
EmollientCarthamus Tinctorius Seedcake Extract
Skin ProtectingAphanizomenon Flos-Aquae Extract
HumectantInulin Lauryl Carbamate
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingBiosaccharide Gum-4
Skin Conditioning
Cerium Oxide
Platinum Powder
Abrasive
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenethyl Alcohol
MaskingChlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 2.5%, Homosalate 8%, Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%, Water, Carthamus Tinctorius Oleosomes, Glycerin, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Polyester-7, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate, Carthamus Tinctorius Seedcake Extract, Aphanizomenon Flos-Aquae Extract, Inulin Lauryl Carbamate, Xanthan Gum, Biosaccharide Gum-4, Cerium Oxide, Platinum Powder, 1,2-Hexanediol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenethyl Alcohol, Chlorphenesin
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer is a synthetically created polymer. It's used as a film-forming agent and used to thicken the consistency of products.
Think of it as a supportive ingredient that helps your gel-creams feel silky, "cloud cream-like", and spread evenly without being greasy.
The Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel evaluated it (along with 22 other acryloyldimethyltaurate polymers) and concluded it's:
Due to its large molecular size, it sits on the surface of skin rather than penetrating it.
Learn more about Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp CopolymerAlso 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 SalicylateGlycerin (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 GlycerinHomosalate 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 HomosalateWater. 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
