What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Butane
Water
Skin ConditioningHomosalate
Skin ConditioningDicaprylyl Ether
EmollientOctocrylene
UV AbsorberGlycerin
HumectantEthylhexyl Salicylate
UV AbsorberDimethicone
EmollientButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV AbsorberStyrene/Acrylates Copolymer
Drometrizole Trisiloxane
UV AbsorberPEG-30 Dipolyhydroxystearate
EmulsifyingNylon-12
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientMethyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Cyclohexasiloxane
EmollientPolymethylsilsesquioxane
P-Anisic Acid
MaskingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientDisodium EDTA
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingDodecene
MaskingEthylhexyl Triazone
UV AbsorberIsododecane
EmollientLauryl PEG/PPG-18/18 Methicone
Skin ConditioningPEG-8 Laurate
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePoloxamer 407
EmulsifyingPoly C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate
Emulsion StabilisingPropylene Carbonate
SolventSodium Chloride
MaskingTocopherol
AntioxidantParfum
MaskingButane, Water, Homosalate, Dicaprylyl Ether, Octocrylene, Glycerin, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Dimethicone, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer, Drometrizole Trisiloxane, PEG-30 Dipolyhydroxystearate, Nylon-12, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Cyclohexasiloxane, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, P-Anisic Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Dodecene, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Isododecane, Lauryl PEG/PPG-18/18 Methicone, PEG-8 Laurate, Phenoxyethanol, Poloxamer 407, Poly C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate, Propylene Carbonate, Sodium Chloride, Tocopherol, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningOctocrylene
UV AbsorberEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV AbsorberButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV AbsorberDiethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV FilterC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingGlycerin
HumectantCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientHydrogenated Dimer Dilinoleyl/Dimethylcarbonate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexyl Triazone
UV AbsorberIsohexadecane
EmollientPotassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingSorbitan Stearate
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPEG-100 Stearate
Phenoxyethanol
PreservativeEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingDisodium EDTA
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingWater, Octocrylene, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Cyclopentasiloxane, Hydrogenated Dimer Dilinoleyl/Dimethylcarbonate Copolymer, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Isohexadecane, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Sorbitan Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Carbomer, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hydroxide
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 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 MethoxydibenzoylmethaneDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAEthylhexyl Triazone is a modern chemical sunscreen that protects from UV-B radiation.
It is the most effective of existing UV-B filters, as it provides the highest level of photo-stable absorption. It protects from the entire UV-B range (280 to 320nm), with it's highest level of protection at 314nm.
Ethylhexyl Triazone is oil soluble, oderless and colorless, which mean it is able to be incorporated into a variety of different formulations.
It is not currently available within the United States due to slow changing FDA regulations. Outside of the US, it is used in formulations at concentrations up to 5%.
Learn more about Ethylhexyl TriazoneGlycerin (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 GlycerinOctocrylene 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 OctocrylenePhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Water. 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