What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%
UV Absorber
Homosalate 9%
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexyl Salicylate 4.5%
UV Absorber
Octocrylene 5%
UV Absorber
Water
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantMethyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Glyceryl Polymethacrylate
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Butyloctyl Salicylate
Skin Conditioning
Ceteareth-20
CleansingEthylhexyl Methoxycrylene
Skin Conditioning
Acrylates Copolymer
Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate
Humectant
Saccharomyces Ferment Filtrate
Humectant
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Potassium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningPanax Ginseng Root Extract
Emollient
Sorbitan Oleate
Emulsifying
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Stearate
Emulsifying
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Cetearyl Olivate
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingSodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingIsohexadecane
EmollientAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
BHT
Antioxidant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%, Homosalate 9%, Ethylhexyl Salicylate 4.5%, Octocrylene 5%, Water, Dipropylene Glycol, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Glyceryl Polymethacrylate, Propylene Glycol, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Ceteareth-20, Ethylhexyl Methoxycrylene, Acrylates Copolymer, Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate, Saccharomyces Ferment Filtrate, Ceramide NP, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Potassium Hyaluronate, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Sorbitan Oleate, Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan Stearate, Caprylyl Glycol, Cetearyl Olivate, Panthenol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glycerin, Sorbitan Olivate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Tromethamine, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Isohexadecane, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, 1,2-Hexanediol, BHT, Ethylhexylglycerin, Polysorbate 80, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Xanthan Gum, Butylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Potassium Sorbate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Sodium Benzoate, Octyldodecanol
Water
Skin ConditioningIsododecane
EmollientDimethicone
Emollient
Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate
EmollientNeopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate
EmollientDiethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV Filter
Ethylhexyl Salicylate
UV Absorber
Ethylhexyl Triazone
UV Absorber
Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid
UV Absorber
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Silica
Abrasive
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Lauryl PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin Conditioning
Oryza Sativa Starch
AbsorbentArginine
Masking
Zinc Oxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Magnesium Sulfate
Morinda Citrifolia Callus Culture Lysate
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
Smoothing
Madecassoside
Antioxidant
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate
Skin Conditioning
Cistus Monspeliensis Extract
MaskingGossypium Herbaceum Callus Culture
Skin ConditioningAsiaticoside
Antioxidant
Madecassic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Asiatic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingCoconut Alkanes
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate
Emulsifying
Hexyl Laurate
Emollient
Silica Dimethyl Silylate
EmollientPropylene Carbonate
SolventDisodium EDTA
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Polyhydroxystearic Acid
Emulsifying
Citric Acid
Buffering
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Isododecane, Dimethicone, Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid, Butylene Glycol, Silica, Alcohol Denat., Lauryl PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Oryza Sativa Starch, Arginine, Zinc Oxide, Magnesium Sulfate, Morinda Citrifolia Callus Culture Lysate, Niacinamide, Madecassoside, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate, Cistus Monspeliensis Extract, Gossypium Herbaceum Callus Culture, Asiaticoside, Madecassic Acid, Asiatic Acid, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Cetyl Alcohol, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Coconut Alkanes, Glycerin, Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate, Hexyl Laurate, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Propylene Carbonate, Disodium EDTA, Maltodextrin, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Citric Acid, Tocopherol, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, 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.
Butylene 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 GlycolEthylhexyl Salicylate (also called Octisalate or Octyl Salicylate) is an oil-soluble organic UV filter that's been used in sunscreen since the 1950's.
It absorbs UVB light in the 280-320 nm range with a peak absorbance around 306 nm.
You'll often see it paired with other UV filters to boost overall SPF because octisalate is a fairly week filter on its own.
The reason you'll see it so often is because it can help solubilize and stabilize the trickier filters like oxybenzone and avobenzone.
Unlike these filters, octisalate has pretty good photostability and doesn't create skin-damaging free radicals when exposed to sunlight.
The fatty-alcohol part of the molecule also gives it a light, emollient feel so it doubles as a nice texture enhancer.
Usage levels vary around the world:
Safety-wise, this ingredient has a pretty reassuring track record. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Products (SCCP) found very low skin penetration in human skin tests and negative results for irritation, phototoxicity, and photoallergy.
The real-world allergy risk is pretty low too; a 2012 European study of 1,031 people recorded only 2 reactions to it (a rate of 0.19%).
You might have seen scary headlines about sunscreen getting into your blood.
In 2019, the FDA found that several chemical filters can absorb through the skin and show up in the bloodstream at small but measurable levels.
Here's the important part: these tiny levels are just a cutoff the FDA uses to decide which ingredients need more testing and doesn't mean anything harmful was found.
The researchers were clear that the results are no reason to stop wearing sunscreen.
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 EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 GlycerinWater. 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
