This chemical sunscreen covers the full UV range and blocks ~98% of UVB at SPF 50.
This chemical sunscreen covers the full UV range and blocks ~98% of UVB at SPF 50.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDibutyl Adipate
EmollientDiethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV Filter
Propanediol
Solvent
Ethylhexyl Triazone
UV Absorber
Glycerin
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Caprylyl Methicone
Skin Conditioning
Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol
UV Filter
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Lauryl Glucoside
CleansingPolyglyceryl-2 Dipolyhydroxystearate
Skin Conditioning
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingMyristyl Alcohol
Emollient
Myristyl Glucoside
CleansingCentella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Zea Mays Starch
Absorbent
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Acacia Seyal Gum Extract
HumectantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
Buffering
Water, Dibutyl Adipate, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Propanediol, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Caprylyl Methicone, Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Pentylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Lauryl Glucoside, Polyglyceryl-2 Dipolyhydroxystearate, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Myristyl Alcohol, Myristyl Glucoside, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Zea Mays Starch, Decyl Glucoside, Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer, Carbomer, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Sodium Hydroxide, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Acacia Seyal Gum Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Propylene Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Citric Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningDiethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV Filter
Ceteareth-20
CleansingBis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
UV Absorber
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Parfum
Masking
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Collagen
Emollient
Silybum Marianum Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningSolanum Lycopersicum Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Vp/Eicosene Copolymer
Glycerin
Humectant
Water, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Ceteareth-20, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Glyceryl Stearate, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Polyacrylate, Parfum, Panthenol, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Silybum Marianum Seed Extract, Solanum Lycopersicum Fruit Extract, Hyaluronic Acid, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Allantoin, Vp/Eicosene Copolymer, Glycerin
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer is a synthetic polymer. It is used to thicken, emulsify, and improve the texture of products.
As an emulsifier, it helps stabilize oil-in-water emulsions to give products an elegant feel when applied.
It can also form a thin protective film on skin. One study found that a formula using this polymer helped slow down how quickly other ingredients (like DEET) were absorbed through skin.
A 2024 study of over 1,300 patients confirmed that sensitization to this ingredient is rare. It is also non-mutagenic and has a clean track record.
Learn more about Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate CrosspolymerDiethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate (DHHB) is a chemical UV-A absorber. It is formulated for high UVA protection (320-400 nm).
DHHB is well-liked for:
DHHB has been approved by the EU, Japan, Taiwan, and South America for use up to 10%. Unfortunately, it has not been approved for use in the US or Canada due to slow regulatory processes.
This ingredient is soluble in oils, fats, and lipids.
Learn more about Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl BenzoateEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol 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 PhenoxyethanolWater. 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
