What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%
UV Absorber
Homosalate 8%
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%
UV Absorber
Octocrylene 4%
UV Absorber
Isododecane
EmollientDimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion Stabilising
Dimethicone/Bis-Isobutyl PPG-20 Crosspolymer
Emollient
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
Isohexadecane
EmollientDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientMeadowfoam Estolide
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Polyester-7
Skin ConditioningNeopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate
EmollientLithothamnion Calcareum Extract
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Jojoba Esters
Emollient
Mannitol
Humectant
Boswellia Serrata Resin Extract
SmoothingLecithin
Emollient
Microcrystalline Cellulose
AbsorbentDiatomaceous Earth
Abrasive
Zinc Sulfate
Antimicrobial
Silica
Abrasive
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%, Homosalate 8%, Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%, Octocrylene 4%, Isododecane, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Dimethicone/Bis-Isobutyl PPG-20 Crosspolymer, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Isohexadecane, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Meadowfoam Estolide, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Polyester-7, Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate, Lithothamnion Calcareum Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Jojoba Esters, Mannitol, Boswellia Serrata Resin Extract, Lecithin, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Diatomaceous Earth, Zinc Sulfate, Silica, Tocopherol
Water
Skin ConditioningOctocrylene
UV Absorber
Arginine
Masking
Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin Conditioning
Disodium Phenyl Dibenzimidazole Tetrasulfonate
UV Absorber
Ethylhexyl Benzoate
EmollientPhenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid
UV Absorber
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Caprylyl Methicone
Skin Conditioning
Tris-Biphenyl Triazine
UV Absorber
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialC14-22 Alcohols
Emulsion Stabilising
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientNylon-12
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Lepidium Sativum Sprout Extract
Skin ConditioningCeteareth-20
CleansingTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Polypodium Leucotomos Leaf Extract
Skin Protecting
Physalis Angulata Extract
Skin ProtectingMelanin
Skin ProtectingCamellia Sinensis Extract
Antioxidant
Plankton Extract
Skin ConditioningCichorium Intybus Extract
Skin Conditioning3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingDipropylene Glycol Dibenzoate
EmollientDisiloxane
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein/Pvp Crosspolymer
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Phenylpropanol
Masking
Polyglyceryl-3 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Ceteareth-25
CleansingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Aluminum Hydroxide
EmollientStearic Acid
Cleansing
Hydrogenated Dimer Dilinoleyl/Dimethylcarbonate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPPG-15 Stearyl Ether Benzoate
EmollientDisodium Ethylene Dicocamide PEG-15 Disulfate
Cleansing
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingGlycerin
Humectant
Disodium EDTA
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Lecithin
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Hydroxypropyltrimonium Amylopectin/Glycerin Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
BHT
Antioxidant
Parfum
Masking
Linalool
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Water, Octocrylene, Arginine, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Disodium Phenyl Dibenzimidazole Tetrasulfonate, Ethylhexyl Benzoate, Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Caprylyl Methicone, Tris-Biphenyl Triazine, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, C14-22 Alcohols, Pentylene Glycol, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Nylon-12, Cyclopentasiloxane, Lepidium Sativum Sprout Extract, Ceteareth-20, Titanium Dioxide, Butylene Glycol, Polypodium Leucotomos Leaf Extract, Physalis Angulata Extract, Melanin, Camellia Sinensis Extract, Plankton Extract, Cichorium Intybus Extract, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside, Dipropylene Glycol Dibenzoate, Disiloxane, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein/Pvp Crosspolymer, Propylene Glycol, Phenylpropanol, Polyglyceryl-3 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Ceteareth-25, Caprylyl Glycol, Propanediol, Aluminum Hydroxide, Stearic Acid, Hydrogenated Dimer Dilinoleyl/Dimethylcarbonate Copolymer, PPG-15 Stearyl Ether Benzoate, Disodium Ethylene Dicocamide PEG-15 Disulfate, Xanthan Gum, Glycerin, Disodium EDTA, Tocopheryl Acetate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Lecithin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Palmitoyl Hydroxypropyltrimonium Amylopectin/Glycerin Crosspolymer, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Tocopherol, Phenoxyethanol, BHT, Parfum, Linalool, Limonene
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Also known as Avobenzone, this ingredient is an oil-soluble used to absorb the full spectrum of UVA rays (peak 357 nm).
It's one of the most effective UVA filters available but has a major caveat of photostability: avobenzone is susceptible to photodegradation.
This means it can lose efficacy when exposed to sunlight without the help of a stabilizing agent.
Studies show antioxidants (like vitamin E or vitamin C) and some UV filters (like octocrylene and Tinosorb S) can meaningfully improve its stability in a formulation.
The maximum allowable concentration according to regulation is 3% in the US + Canada, and 5% in the EU, Australia, China, Korea, and ASEAN countries.
It has a well-support safety profile: a comprehensive 2025 review found minimal toxicity with no evidence of carcinogenicity.
Overall, avobenzone is a safe and regulated ingredient used in sunscreen for over 40 years.
Learn more about Butyl MethoxydibenzoylmethaneCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride (aka MCT Oil) is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping to prevent moisture loss.
Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. One perk of this ingredient is that it is very stable, resistant to oxidation, and unlikely to go rancid.
In practice, that translates to a long shelf life and a consistently elegant skin feel.
While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this. Just patch test if you have concerns.
Fractionated coconut oil and MCT Oil are both listed as Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride according to INCI. This is because INCI names are based on the ingredient’s final chemical composition and not its marketing name or source.
This ingredient is treated as the gold standard fungal acne safe oil. Even though it is coconut derived, the problematic lauric acid is stripped out.
This leaves just caprylic (C8) and capric (C10) acid. These chain lengths actually trend antifungal; a 2020 study found caprylic acid was enough to disrupt Malassezia furfur cell membrane, with a caprylic acid derivative damaging membrane structures at concentrations as low as 0.2%.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideCaprylyl 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 GlycolDicaprylyl Carbonate comes from carbonic acid and caprylyl alcohol, a fatty alcohol. It is an emollient and gives skin a velvet feel. The sources of Dicaprylyl Carbonate may be synthetic or from animals.
As an emollient, Dicaprylyl Carbonate creates a film on the skin. This film traps moisture in, keeping your skin soft and hydrated.
Lecithin is a term for a group of substances found in the cell membranes of plants, animals, and humans. They are made up of phospholipids.
Thanks to its amphiphilic structure (water-loving head and oil-loving tail), it is a true multitasker:
It plays well with most ingredients and is typically used at 0.1-1%. However, concentrations up to 50% have been reported in moisturizers.
Learn more about LecithinOctocrylene is an oil-soluble organic UV filter that mainly absorbs UVB and short wave UVA II light.
Its real superpower is teamwork: octocrylene is remarkably photostable and is most famous for stabilizing avobenzone (the workhorse UVA filter).
This ingredient is commonly used to enhance both UVB and UVA protection due to its unique property in stabilizing avobenzone. It also pulls double duty by boosting water resistance and giving formulas a smooth, spreadable feel.
The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) has deemed octocrylene to be safe as a UV-filter at concentrations up to 10% (capped at 9% in propellant sprays). The US also permits it up to 10%.
Two things worth knowing:
You'll usually see this ingredient used in concentrations between 2-10% (higher amounts when used as a stabilizer for avobenzone).
Learn more about OctocryleneTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about Tocopherol
