What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialOctocrylene
UV Absorber
Homosalate
Skin Conditioning
Silica
Abrasive
Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin Conditioning
Polyethylene
Abrasive
Tribehenin
Emollient
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Isohexadecane
EmollientEthylhexyl PCA
HumectantMea-Salicylate
Preservative
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Butyloctyl Salicylate
Skin Conditioning
Dimethicone
Emollient
Polymethyl Methacrylate
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Parfum
Masking
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Octocrylene, Homosalate, Silica, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Polyethylene, Tribehenin, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Isohexadecane, Ethylhexyl PCA, Mea-Salicylate, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Dimethicone, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Phenoxyethanol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tocopherol, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV Absorber
Butylene Glycol Cocoate
Emulsifying
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Sodium Acrylates Crosspolymer-2
AbsorbentIsostearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingOctocrylene
UV Absorber
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Triethanolamine
BufferingHydrolyzed Wheat Protein/Pvp Crosspolymer
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingTetrasodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Alumina
Abrasive
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Oleth-10
EmulsifyingPolysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Aroma
Glycerin
Humectant
Lecithin
Emollient
Ethylcellulose
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Seedcoat Powder
Abrasive
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Disodium EDTA
Schisandra Chinensis Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Benzoic Acid
Masking
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Citric Acid
Buffering
Carthamus Tinctorius Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Benzoate
Masking
CI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Butylene Glycol Cocoate, Butylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Sodium Acrylates Crosspolymer-2, Isostearyl Alcohol, Titanium Dioxide, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Octocrylene, Sodium Hyaluronate, Triethanolamine, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein/Pvp Crosspolymer, Sodium Hydroxide, Tetrasodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Propylene Glycol, Alumina, 1,2-Hexanediol, Oleth-10, Polysorbate 60, Stearic Acid, Aroma, Glycerin, Lecithin, Ethylcellulose, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Seedcoat Powder, Potassium Sorbate, Disodium EDTA, Schisandra Chinensis Fruit Extract, Decyl Glucoside, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Benzoic Acid, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Citric Acid, Carthamus Tinctorius Flower Extract, Sodium Benzoate, CI 19140
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 MethoxydibenzoylmethaneEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinOctocrylene is an oil-soluble organic UV filter that mainly absorbs UVB and short wave UVA II light.
Its real superpower is teamwork: octocrylene is remarkably photostable and is most famous for stabilizing avobenzone (the workhorse UVA filter).
This ingredient is commonly used to enhance both UVB and UVA protection due to its unique property in stabilizing avobenzone. It also pulls double duty by boosting water resistance and giving formulas a smooth, spreadable feel.
The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) has deemed octocrylene to be safe as a UV-filter at concentrations up to 10% (capped at 9% in propellant sprays). The US also permits it up to 10%.
Two things worth knowing:
You'll usually see this ingredient used in concentrations between 2-10% (higher amounts when used as a stabilizer for avobenzone).
Learn more about OctocrylenePhenoxyethanol is one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.
Learn more about Phenoxyethanol
