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
Homosalate
Skin Conditioning
Octocrylene
UV Absorber
Ethylhexyl Salicylate
UV Absorber
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Diethylhexyl Carbonate
EmollientDimethicone
Emollient
Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Synthetic Wax
Abrasive
Diphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Butyloctyl Salicylate
Skin Conditioning
Isopropyl Palmitate
Emollient
Phenethyl Benzoate
Emollient
Diisostearyl Malate
EmollientEthylhexyl Isononanoate
EmollientCaprylyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Synthetic Fluorphlogopite
Bis-Behenyl/Isostearyl/Phytosteryl Dimer Dilinoleyl Dimer Dilinoleate
EmollientPolymethylsilsesquioxane
Polyethylene
Abrasive
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Camellia Japonica Seed Oil
Emollient
Ethylene/Propylene Copolymer
Abrasive
Silica Dimethyl Silylate
EmollientDimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion Stabilising
Candelilla Wax Esters
Artemisia Annua Extract
Masking
Copernicia Cerifera Wax
Pinus Sylvestris Leaf Oil
Masking
Anthemis Nobilis Flower Oil
Masking
Water
Skin ConditioningDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Glucoside
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Betula Platyphylla Japonica Juice
Skin Conditioning
Ulmus Davidiana Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Dioscorea Japonica Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Viola Mandshurica Flower Extract
Antioxidant
Laminaria Japonica Extract
Skin Protecting
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Homosalate, Octocrylene, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Diethylhexyl Carbonate, Dimethicone, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Synthetic Wax, Diphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Isopropyl Palmitate, Phenethyl Benzoate, Diisostearyl Malate, Ethylhexyl Isononanoate, Caprylyl Trimethicone, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Bis-Behenyl/Isostearyl/Phytosteryl Dimer Dilinoleyl Dimer Dilinoleate, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Polyethylene, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Camellia Japonica Seed Oil, Ethylene/Propylene Copolymer, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Candelilla Wax Esters, Artemisia Annua Extract, Copernicia Cerifera Wax, Pinus Sylvestris Leaf Oil, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Oil, Water, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Allantoin, Glyceryl Glucoside, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Betula Platyphylla Japonica Juice, Ulmus Davidiana Root Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Dioscorea Japonica Root Extract, Viola Mandshurica Flower Extract, Laminaria Japonica Extract, Glyceryl Caprylate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hyaluronic Acid, Ascorbic Acid
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 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 SalicylateDimethicone 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 DimethiconeThis ingredient is a silicone elastomer that works as a texture enhancer, adds a silky slip, and also helps absorb excess oil.
Because it's a large macromolecule that's insoluble in water and chemically inert, it's not expected to penetrate or be absorbed into skin.
Human patch tests with a facial lotion containing 1% of this ingredient found no sensitization.
Learn more about Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone CrosspolymerHomosalate is an oil-soluble organic UVB filter that has been a sunscreen staple for decades. Its job is to absorb UVB rays (~295-315 nm) and protect your skin against sunburn,
This is one of the more photostable organic UV filters; it holds up pretty well under UV and a 2022 quantum-chemistry study found it stays stable in sunlight.
It's actually so reliable that formulators often pair it with shakier ingredients like oxybenzone and avobenzone. Formulators also use it to help dissolve the other UV filters into the oil phase.
One thing to keep in mind: "stable" isn't the same as "strong". On its own, homosalate is actually a pretty weak UV filter so it's better off as a helpful team player that helps boost overall SPF protection.
The safety picture is a bit nuanced but not scary.
This ingredient has a long track record of being gentle and regulators agree it isn't an irritant; EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety found that homosalate is not considered a skin irritant and doesn't raise eye-irritation flags either.
There's talk about homosalate because your skin absorbs a little bit of it into your bloodstream. A 2020 FDA-backed study found homosalate showed up in people's blood levels at the level where the FDA decides to double check.
The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) also found small amounts in blood and breast milk. They estimated that about 5% of what you apply gets absorbed through the skin.
Due to the debate about whether it might mess with hormones, the SCCS recommended a maximum limit of 0.5% in most products of 7.3% in face creams/pump sprays.
One important thing to keep in mind: in the US, Homosalate is currently labeled "non-GRASE" by the FDA. This sounds alarming but really just means the FDA wants more data to confirm it's safe. It's not confidently saying this ingredient is harmful.
As of now, homosalate is still completely legal and widely used while that research gets done.
The current maximum limits are:
Learn more about HomosalateOctocrylene 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 OctocrylenePolyethylene is a synthetic ingredient that helps the skin retain moisture. It is a polymer.
It is also typically used within product formulations to help bind solid ingredients together and thicken oil-based ingredients. When added to balms and emulsions, it helps increase the melting point temperature.
