What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDiphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV Absorber
Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Lauryl PEG-10 Tris(Trimethylsiloxy)Silylethyl Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Trimethylsiloxysilicate
Emollient
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
Sodium Chloride
MaskingDisteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Silica
Abrasive
Triethoxycaprylylsilane
Aluminum Hydroxide
EmollientChlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Quartz
Abrasive
Polyurethane-40
Bis-PEG-15 Dimethicone/Ipdi Copolymer
PPG-70 Glyceryl Ether
EmollientSalicylic Acid
Masking
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Biosaccharide Gum-4
Skin Conditioning
Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract
Masking
Houttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin Conditioning
Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Diphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone, Cyclopentasiloxane, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Phenyl Trimethicone, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Lauryl PEG-10 Tris(Trimethylsiloxy)Silylethyl Dimethicone, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Sodium Chloride, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Phenoxyethanol, Silica, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Aluminum Hydroxide, Chlorphenesin, Quartz, Polyurethane-40, Bis-PEG-15 Dimethicone/Ipdi Copolymer, PPG-70 Glyceryl Ether, Salicylic Acid, 1,2-Hexanediol, Biosaccharide Gum-4, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, CI 77891, CI 77492, CI 77491, CI 77499
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 known as Octinoxate and is one of the oldest and most widely used chemical UV filters in skincare.
It has a simple job: soap up UVB radiation (290-320 nm), the wavelengths responsible for sunburn and a big chunk of long-term sun damage.
In formulas, it's always paired with a separate UVA filter because octinoxate solely protects skin from UVB.
Because it's an oil-soluble liquid, it's easy to blend into the oil phase of lotions/creams and gives a cosmetically elegant feel.
The one quirk about formulating this ingredient is photostability; the molecule slowly changes shape into a less effective version when sunlight hits it. So the longer you're in the sun, the weaker its protection gets. The drop can be more than 30% in some formulas.
It also doesn't play nice with Avobenzone (the common UVA filter) since avobenzone destabilizes octinoxate and the two degrade each other. But don't worry: brands have solved this issue by adding photostabilizers like Tinosorb S to prevent degradation and keep SPF stable under heavy UV exposure.
The maximum allowed level is 10% in the EU and Australia, 7.5% in the US and Canada, and 20% in Japan.
The Cosmetic Ingredient Review Panel has concluded this ingredient to be safe in cosmetics up to 10%.
One last thing worth knowing for context:
Octinoxate has been the subject of ongoing review in Europe where the Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety's (SCCS) 2025 final opinion is that this ingredient is an endocrine-active substance.
Lab and animal studies suggest it can act a bit like a hormone in the body (mildly mimicking estrogen and slightly blocking male hormones). It's important to know this hasn't really been shown to happen in everyday human use.
This ingredient is also banned in Hawaii over coral reef concerns.
Learn more about Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
