What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Butane
Water
Skin ConditioningHomosalate
Skin Conditioning
Dicaprylyl Ether
Emollient
Octocrylene
UV Absorber
Glycerin
Humectant
Ethylhexyl Salicylate
UV Absorber
Dimethicone
Emollient
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer
Drometrizole Trisiloxane
UV Absorber
PEG-30 Dipolyhydroxystearate
Emulsifying
Nylon-12
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientMethyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Cyclohexasiloxane
Emollient
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
P-Anisic Acid
Masking
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Disodium EDTA
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingDodecene
MaskingEthylhexyl Triazone
UV Absorber
Isododecane
EmollientLauryl PEG/PPG-18/18 Methicone
Skin Conditioning
PEG-8 Laurate
Emulsifying
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Poloxamer 407
EmulsifyingPoly C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate
Emulsion StabilisingPropylene Carbonate
SolventSodium Chloride
MaskingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Parfum
Masking
Butane, 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
Octocrylene 7%
UV Absorber
Titanium Dioxide 4.15%
Cosmetic Colorant
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%
UV Absorber
Drometrizole Trisiloxane 2.5%
UV Absorber
Terephthalylidene Dicamphor Sulfonic Acid 0.5%
UV Absorber
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialAlcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Nylon-12
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingTriethanolamine
BufferingPalmitic Acid
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Dimethicone
Emollient
Poly C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAluminum Hydroxide
EmollientAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Silica
Abrasive
Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingDisodium EDTA
Benzyl Benzoate
Antimicrobial
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Octocrylene 7%, Titanium Dioxide 4.15%, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%, Drometrizole Trisiloxane 2.5%, Terephthalylidene Dicamphor Sulfonic Acid 0.5%, Water, Glycerin, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Alcohol Denat., Propylene Glycol, Cyclopentasiloxane, Nylon-12, Stearic Acid, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Triethanolamine, Palmitic Acid, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Dimethicone, Poly C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Aluminum Hydroxide, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Tocopherol, Glycine Soja Oil, Silica, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Disodium EDTA, Benzyl Benzoate, Benzyl Alcohol
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 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 MethoxydibenzoylmethaneDimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeDisodium 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 EDTADrometrizole Trisiloxane is a UV filter that provides both UV-A (344 nm) and UV-B (303 nm) protection.
This ingredient is photostable and studies show it to be generally safe and effective. The compound Meroxyl XL is owned by L'Oreal while Drometrizole trisiloxane can be found in other sunscreen brands.
It is currently approved for use in the EU, Canada, Australia, and Japan. However, it is not yet approved for use in the US.
This ingredient is often used with other sunscreen ingredients, such as Ecamsule.
Learn more about Drometrizole TrisiloxaneGlycerin (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 GlycerinNylon-12 is a polymer. It is derived from 12-aminododecanoic acid, an omega-amino fatty acid
According to a manufacturer, it is a talc substitute. Like talc, nylon-12 gives products a satin feel. The manufacturer also claims this ingredients does not block pores and has moderate oil absorption.
This ingredient may not be reef-safe.
Learn more about Nylon-12Octocrylene 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 OctocryleneThis ingredient is a polymer made from acrylic acid esters and long-chain (C10–C30) alcohols.
It is used as an emulsion stabilizer and viscosity controlling agent. This helps products maintain a smooth and uniform texture.
Tocopherol 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 TocopherolWater. 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
