What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV Absorber
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
4-Methylbenzylidene Camphor
UV Absorber
Acrylates Copolymer
Polyacrylamide
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Dimethicone
Emollient
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Triethanolamine
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
C13-14 Isoparaffin
Emollient
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Laureth-7
EmulsifyingDimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion Stabilising
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Disodium EDTA
Triethylene Glycol
Masking
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Dimethiconol
Emollient
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Water, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Propylene Glycol, 4-Methylbenzylidene Camphor, Acrylates Copolymer, Polyacrylamide, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Dimethicone, Panthenol, Cyclopentasiloxane, Triethanolamine, Phenoxyethanol, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Laureth-7, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Carbomer, Tocopheryl Acetate, Disodium EDTA, Triethylene Glycol, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Dimethiconol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate
Water
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV Absorber
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV Filter
Octocrylene
UV Absorber
Dimethicone
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
C14-22 Alcohols
Emulsion Stabilising
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Ethylhexyl Triazone
UV Absorber
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingDimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion Stabilising
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Cyclohexasiloxane
Emollient
Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingParfum
Masking
Isohexadecane
EmollientLauryl Polyglyceryl-3 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Polysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Triethoxycaprylylsilane
Sorbitan Oleate
Emulsifying
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Ectoin
Skin Conditioning
Zinc Hydrolyzed Hyaluronate
HumectantGlucosylrutin
Antioxidant
Propanediol
Solvent
Zea Mays Starch
Absorbent
Hydrolyzed Corn Starch Octenylsuccinate
AbsorbentHydrolyzed Corn Starch
HumectantIsoquercitrin
Antioxidant
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Cocamidopropyl Dimethylamine
Emulsifying
Buddleja Officinalis Flower Extract
UV FilterPhenylethyl Resorcinol
Antioxidant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin Conditioning
Hydrated Silica
Abrasive
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Glucose
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Chondrus Crispus Extract
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Potassium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningWater, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Propylene Glycol, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Octocrylene, Dimethicone, Cetearyl Alcohol, C14-22 Alcohols, Cyclopentasiloxane, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Glyceryl Stearate, Phenoxyethanol, PEG-100 Stearate, Titanium Dioxide, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Hydroxyacetophenone, Cyclohexasiloxane, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Xanthan Gum, Parfum, Isohexadecane, Lauryl Polyglyceryl-3 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Polysorbate 80, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Sorbitan Oleate, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Ectoin, Zinc Hydrolyzed Hyaluronate, Glucosylrutin, Propanediol, Zea Mays Starch, Hydrolyzed Corn Starch Octenylsuccinate, Hydrolyzed Corn Starch, Isoquercitrin, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Cocamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Buddleja Officinalis Flower Extract, Phenylethyl Resorcinol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Lactic Acid, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Hydrated Silica, Caprylyl Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Glucose, Sodium Hyaluronate, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Potassium Hyaluronate
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 an oil-soluble used to absorb the full spectrum of UVA rays (peak 357 nm).
It's one of the most effective UVA filters available but has a major caveat of photostability: avobenzone is susceptible to photodegradation.
This means it can lose efficacy when exposed to sunlight without the help of a stabilizing agent.
Studies show antioxidants (like vitamin E or vitamin C) and some UV filters (like octocrylene and Tinosorb S) can meaningfully improve its stability in a formulation.
The maximum allowable concentration according to regulation is 3% in the US + Canada, and 5% in the EU, Australia, China, Korea, and ASEAN countries.
It has a well-support safety profile: a comprehensive 2025 review found minimal toxicity with no evidence of carcinogenicity.
Overall, avobenzone is a safe and regulated ingredient used in sunscreen for over 40 years.
Learn more about Butyl MethoxydibenzoylmethaneCyclopentasiloxane (D5) is a lightweight silicone that mostly acts as an emollient and solvent in cosmetics. Its the reason your products feel silky, fast-spreading, and non-greasy.
Since D5 is volatile, it does its thing and then evaporates off the skin quickly.
The safety profile of this ingredient is reassuring; the US CIR Expert Panel concluded D5 is safe as used in cosmetics and Health Canada concluded that D5 is not harmful to human health or the environment as currently used in cosmetics
There's a study that people mention about D5 in a rat study showing tumors. This study is related to long-term inhalation of high D5 levels.
Regulatory bodies have judged this study to be not applicable in topical skincare since skin absorption of D5 is very low and we're not really inhaling huge amounts of D5.
The only restriction for this ingredient is environmental. The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) restricted D5 in wash-off cosmetics at or above 0.1% due to their persistence in water.
Learn more about CyclopentasiloxaneDimethicone 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 DimethiconeDimethicone Crosspolymer is a silicone created by modifying dimethicone with hydrocarbon side chains. Due to its large size, it does not penetrate skin. It is considered non-occlusive.
Dimethicone Crosspolymer is used to stabilize and thicken products. It also helps give products a silky feel.
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 MethoxycinnamatePhenoxyethanol 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.
Propylene Glycol is a synthetic, colorless, odorless liquid that has been a staple in cosmetics for decades. It is a skin conditioning agent, humectant, and solvent.
As a humectant, it draw water to the skin to reduce flaking and restore suppleness. It's also a solvent that helps dissolve other actives and keeps formulas stable across temperature changes.
The CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be nontoxic and clinical studies show no sensitization at cosmetic use concentrations.
True allergic reactions are quite rare: a 15-year retrospective study of 6,751 patients found only 0.31% had a positive reaction (and less than half were considered clinically relevant).
It seemed that when sensitization does occur, it's most commonly linked to topical medication (like corticosteroids) and not cosmetics. Allergic contact dermatitis also appears largely limited to individuals with underlying skin conditions.
Overall, propylene glycol is a well-studied ingredient that most people can tolerate without issue.
Learn more about Propylene GlycolWater. 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
