What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 2.9%
UV Absorber
Ethylhexyl Salicylate 4.9%
UV Absorber
Octocrylene 9.5%
UV Absorber
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Butyloctyl Salicylate
Skin Conditioning
Butyrospermum Parkii Oil
Emollient
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
Masking
Chlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningCocos Nucifera Fruit Extract
Emollient
Cucumis Sativus Seed Oil
Emollient
Diisooctyl Succinate
Emollient
Ethyl Ferulate
Antioxidant
Ethylhexyl Methoxycrylene
Skin Conditioning
Parfum
Masking
Musa Sapientum Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPassiflora Edulis Seed Oil
Emollient
Polyester-8
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Va/Butyl Maleate/Isobornyl Acrylate Copolymer
Water
Skin ConditioningButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 2.9%, Ethylhexyl Salicylate 4.9%, Octocrylene 9.5%, Alcohol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Bisabolol, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Butyrospermum Parkii Oil, Caffeine, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Cocos Nucifera Fruit Extract, Cucumis Sativus Seed Oil, Diisooctyl Succinate, Ethyl Ferulate, Ethylhexyl Methoxycrylene, Parfum, Musa Sapientum Fruit Extract, Passiflora Edulis Seed Oil, Polyester-8, Tocopherol, Va/Butyl Maleate/Isobornyl Acrylate Copolymer, Water
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 2.9%
UV Absorber
Homosalate
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexyl Salicylate
UV Absorber
Octocrylene
UV Absorber
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Butyloctyl Salicylate
Skin Conditioning
Diheptyl Succinate
EmollientSilica Silylate
Emollient
Coconut Alkanes
Emollient
Parfum
Masking
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Algae Extract
EmollientAscophyllum Nodosum Extract
Skin ConditioningLaminaria Digitata Extract
Skin Protecting
Water
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Hydrolyzed Jojoba Esters
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer
Skin ConditioningCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Ethyl Ferulate
Antioxidant
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 2.9%, Homosalate, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Octocrylene, Alcohol Denat., Butyloctyl Salicylate, Diheptyl Succinate, Silica Silylate, Coconut Alkanes, Parfum, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Algae Extract, Ascophyllum Nodosum Extract, Laminaria Digitata Extract, Water, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Hydrolyzed Jojoba Esters, Glycerin, Bisabolol, Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Ethyl Ferulate
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Bisabolol is a gentle skin conditioner, antioxidant, and soothing ingredient.
It's primary claim to fame is soothing and research shows topically applied bisabolol can quiet the chemical messengers that cause your skin to become inflamed, helping to sooth any irritation.
A clinical study found that applying 0.5% bisabolol daily for 8 weeks produced an average 9% decrease in skin pigmentation. Researchers found it can also suppress the process that leads to excess melanin production in skin.
In vitro studies found that bisabolol combined with propylene glycol significantly increased skin permeability by increasing lipid fluidity in the stratum corneum.
You'll likely see use concentrations quite low, usually 0.1-0.2%.
Overall, this is a well-tolerated ingredient that works well in formulas designed for sensitive, reactive, or post-procedure skin.
Learn more about BisabololAlso 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 MethoxydibenzoylmethaneButyloctyl Salicylate is a chemical UV filter structurally similar to octisalate. It is a photostabilizer, SPF booster, emollient and solvent. This ingredient helps evenly spread out ingredients.
According to a manufacturer, it is suitable for pairing with micro Titanium Dioxide, Zinc Oxide, and pigments.
Photostabilizers help stabilize UV-filters and prevents them from degrading quickly.
Learn more about Butyloctyl SalicylateEthyl ferulate is an antioxidant derived from ferulic acid and ethyl alcohol. You'll most likely see this ingredient in sunscreens.
One study from 2014 found a concentration of 10% showed a similar SPF to Benzimidazole. Though this is considered a chemical UV filter, this ingredient is not listed as so. This is due to regulatory loopholes. You'll likely find this ingredient in "100% mineral" sunscreens.
This ingredient is typically found in concentrations between 0.5-1%. It is usually created synthetically or from rice bran oil.
Learn more about Ethyl FerulateEthylhexyl 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 SalicylateOctocrylene protects skin from sun damage. It absorbs UV-B with peak absorption of 304 nm. It is a common sunscreen ingredient and often paired with avobenzone, a UVA filter. This is because octocrylene stabilizes other sunscreen ingredients by protecting them from degradation when exposed to sunlight. Octocrylene is a photostable ingredient and loses about 10% of SPF in 95 minutes.
Octocrylene also acts as an emollient, meaning it helps skin retain moisture and softens skin. It is oil-soluble and hydrophobic, enhancing water-resistant properties in a product.
Those who are using ketoprofen, a topical anti-inflammatory drug, may experience an allergic reaction when using octocrylene. It is best to speak with a healthcare professional about using sunscreens with octocrylene.
The EU allows a maximum of these concentrations:
Learn more about OctocryleneParfum is a catch-all term for an ingredient or more that is used to give a scent to products.
Also called "fragrance", this ingredient can be a blend of hundreds of chemicals or plant oils. This means every product with "fragrance" or "parfum" in the ingredients list is a different mixture.
For instance, Habanolide is a proprietary trade name for a specific aroma chemical. When used as a fragrance ingredient in cosmetics, most aroma chemicals fall under the broad labeling category of “FRAGRANCE” or “PARFUM” according to EU and US regulations.
The term 'parfum' or 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term.
For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance by INCI standards.
One example is Calendula flower extract. Calendula is an essential oil that still imparts a scent or 'fragrance'.
Depending on the blend, the ingredients in the mixture can cause allergies and sensitivities on the skin. Some ingredients that are known EU allergens include linalool and citronellol.
Parfum can also be used to mask or cover an unpleasant scent.
The bottom line is: not all fragrances/parfum/ingredients are created equally. If you are worried about fragrances, we recommend taking a closer look at an ingredient. And of course, we always recommend speaking with a professional.
Learn more about ParfumWater. 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
