What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientEthylhexyl Salicylate
UV AbsorberNiacinamide
SmoothingSilica
AbrasiveButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV AbsorberOctocrylene
UV AbsorberButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantHomosalate
Skin ConditioningTapioca Starch
Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate
EmollientAmps/Hema Crosspolymer
C13-15 Alkane
SolventCoco-Glucoside
CleansingOctyldodecanol
EmollientPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingZinc Oxide
Cosmetic ColorantTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic ColorantAvena Sativa Kernel Extract
AbrasiveZinc PCA
HumectantSorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCeramide Eos
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantHyaluronic Acid
HumectantCitric Acid
BufferingWater, 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
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%
UV AbsorberHomosalate 7.3%
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Salicylate 5%
UV AbsorberOctocrylene 9%
UV AbsorberAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningBisabolol
AntioxidantButyloctyl Salicylate
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingCentella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCereus Grandiflorus Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningDimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingDimethicone/Bis-Isobutyl PPG-20 Crosspolymer
EmollientEthyl Ferulate
AntioxidantHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientHyaluronic Acid
HumectantIsododecane
EmollientPalmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningPolyamide-3
Propanediol
SolventSqualane
EmollientTrimethylpentanediol/Adipic Acid/Glycerin Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningVp/Hexadecene Copolymer
Water
Skin ConditioningButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%, Homosalate 7.3%, Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%, Octocrylene 9%, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Bisabolol, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Ceramide NP, Cereus Grandiflorus Flower Extract, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Dimethicone/Bis-Isobutyl PPG-20 Crosspolymer, Ethyl Ferulate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Hyaluronic Acid, Isododecane, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Polyamide-3, Propanediol, Squalane, Trimethylpentanediol/Adipic Acid/Glycerin Crosspolymer, Vp/Hexadecene Copolymer, Water
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 MethoxydibenzoylmethaneCeramide NP (formerly known as Ceramide 3) is one of the skin's naturally occurring lipids.
Since ceramides are the major lipid components of the skin, they are crucial for maintaining skin barrier and hydration. Ceramide NP most closely mirrors the dominant kind in human skin amongst ceramide subtypes.
This ceramide works by slotting into gaps within the stratum corneum's lipid matrix to limit trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL) and shield the skin against external irritants.
A study with 312 patients found that using a ceramide-containing routine for 4 weeks reduced the severity of atopic dermatitis by over 61%.
Another clinical study in subjects aged 60 and older found that a ceramide body wash and moisturizer improved skin dryness and itchy skin in 15 days.
Overall, ceramides are considered non-irritating and safety tests have found little to no observable adverse effects from using this ingredient.
Ceramide NP is usually sourced from plants (like soybean or rice bran), or produced synthetically.
Learn more about Ceramide NPEthylhexyl Salicylate is an organic compound used to block UV rays. It primarily absorbs UVB rays but offers a small amount of UVA protection as well.
Commonly found in sunscreens, Ethylhexyl Salicylate is created from salicylic acid and 2-ethylhexanol. You might know salicylic acid as the effective acne fighter ingredient and BHA.
The ethylhexanol in this ingredient is a fatty alcohol and helps hydrate your skin, similar to oils. It is an emollient, which means it traps moisture into the skin.
According to manufacturers, Ethylhexyl Salicylate absorbs UV wavelength of 295-315 nm, with a peak absorption at 307-310 nm. UVA rays are linked to long term skin damage, such as hyperpigmentation. UVB rays emit more energy and are capable of damaging our DNA. UVB rays cause sunburn.
Learn more about Ethylhexyl SalicylateHomosalate is a chemical sunscreen filter that provides protection in the UV-B range (280nm - 320 nm), with a peak protection at 306 nm. It is internationally approved for use in sunscreens.
Homosalate is not photo-stable, meaning it's strength as a UV filter degrades over time with exposure to the sun. Because of this, it's often used in combination with other chemical sunscreen filters as avobenzone (which protects from the UV-A range). Homosalate also helps act as a solvent for harder-to-dissolve UV filters.
(Part of the reason that sunscreens need to be frequently re-applied is due to the photo instability of many chemical sunscreen filters)
Currently, homosalate is approved in concentrations up to 10% in the EU and 15% in the US. The FDA is currently doing further research on the effects of homosalate, and it is possible that these approved concentrations will change in the future.
Learn more about HomosalateHyaluronic acid (HA) is a glycosaminoglycan (basically a long sugar chain) that your skin already makes on its own. In your skin, HA lives in the extracellular matrix and acts as the body's moisture reservoir.
Topically, HA is a humectant that binds water and helps skin look more plump, smooth, and hydrated.
The only catch is that HA isn't a single thing; it actually comes in a wide range of molecular weights (~50 - 2,000+ kDA) and size matters.
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
This is why the best HA serums blend the two sizes together so you get the best of both worlds.
The majority of cosmetic HA is produced by bacterial fermentation, typically using Streptococcus or Bacillus strains. Typical use levels in skincare sit around 0.1-2%.
A clinical study using a 0.2% low-molecular weight HA gel showed improvement in facial seborrheic dermatitis with excellent tolerance.
These are some other common types of Hyaluronic Acid:
Learn more about Hyaluronic AcidOctocrylene 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 OctocryleneWater. 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