What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Ethylhexyl Salicylate
UV Absorber
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Silica
Abrasive
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Octocrylene
UV Absorber
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Homosalate
Skin Conditioning
Tapioca Starch
Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate
EmollientAmps/Hema Crosspolymer
C13-15 Alkane
SolventCoco-Glucoside
Cleansing
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Zinc Oxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Avena Sativa Kernel Extract
Abrasive
Zinc PCA
Humectant
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide Eos
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Water, Cyclopentasiloxane, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Niacinamide, Silica, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Octocrylene, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Homosalate, Tapioca Starch, Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate, Amps/Hema Crosspolymer, C13-15 Alkane, Coco-Glucoside, Octyldodecanol, Polysorbate 20, Zinc Oxide, Titanium Dioxide, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Zinc PCA, Sorbitan Olivate, Ceramide AP, Ceramide NP, Ceramide Eos, Panthenol, Centella Asiatica Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Xanthan Gum, Tocopheryl Acetate, Hyaluronic Acid, Citric Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningOctocrylene
UV Absorber
Tris-Biphenyl Triazine
UV Absorber
Ethylhexyl Salicylate
UV Absorber
Isoamyl Laurate
Emollient
Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate
EmollientBis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Caprylyl Methicone
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Sodium Acrylates Copolymer
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSilica
Abrasive
Microcrystalline Wax
Emulsion StabilisingPPG-1 Trideceth-6
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
Emollient
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxide
BufferingParfum
Masking
Water, Octocrylene, Tris-Biphenyl Triazine, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Isoamyl Laurate, Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Glycerin, Propanediol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Caprylyl Methicone, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Xanthan Gum, Silica, Microcrystalline Wax, PPG-1 Trideceth-6, Dimethicone, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Hydroxide, Parfum
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ethylhexyl Salicylate (also called Octisalate or Octyl Salicylate) is an oil-soluble organic UV filter that's been used in sunscreen since the 1950's.
It absorbs UVB light in the 280-320 nm range with a peak absorbance around 306 nm.
You'll often see it paired with other UV filters to boost overall SPF because octisalate is a fairly week filter on its own.
The reason you'll see it so often is because it can help solubilize and stabilize the trickier filters like oxybenzone and avobenzone.
Unlike these filters, octisalate has pretty good photostability and doesn't create skin-damaging free radicals when exposed to sunlight.
The fatty-alcohol part of the molecule also gives it a light, emollient feel so it doubles as a nice texture enhancer.
Usage levels vary around the world:
Safety-wise, this ingredient has a pretty reassuring track record. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Products (SCCP) found very low skin penetration in human skin tests and negative results for irritation, phototoxicity, and photoallergy.
The real-world allergy risk is pretty low too; a 2012 European study of 1,031 people recorded only 2 reactions to it (a rate of 0.19%).
You might have seen scary headlines about sunscreen getting into your blood.
In 2019, the FDA found that several chemical filters can absorb through the skin and show up in the bloodstream at small but measurable levels.
Here's the important part: these tiny levels are just a cutoff the FDA uses to decide which ingredients need more testing and doesn't mean anything harmful was found.
The researchers were clear that the results are no reason to stop wearing sunscreen.
Learn more about Ethylhexyl SalicylateEthylhexylglycerin 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 EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 GlycerinThis ingredient is an emollient with skin conditioning properties.
According to the manufacturer, it is light, non-greasy, spreadable, and has the ability to act as a "silicone alternative".
Octocrylene 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 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.
Silica, also known as silicon dioxide, is a naturally occurring mineral. It is used as a fine, spherical, and porous powder in cosmetics.
Though it has exfoliant properties, the function of silica varies depending on the product.
The unique structure of silica enhances the spreadability and adds smoothness, making it a great texture enhancer.
It is also used as an active carrier, emulsifier, and mattifier due to its ability to absorb excess oil.
In some products, tiny microneedles called spicules are made from silica or hydrolyzed sponge. When you rub them in, they lightly polish away dead skin layers and enhance the penetration of active ingredients.
Learn more about SilicaTocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateWater. 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum
