Educational guide
Haruharu Wonder Black Bamboo Daily Soothing Sun Shield SPF 50+ Versus Mary & May Vegan Peptide Bakuchiol Sun Stick SPF 50+ PA++++
Haruharu Wonder Black Bamboo Daily Soothing Sun Shield SPF 50+ Versus Mary & May Vegan Peptide Bakuchiol Sun Stick SPF 50+ PA++++ This chemical sunscreen covers the full UV range and blocks ~98% of UVB at SPF 50. This hybrid sunscreen covers the full UV range
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Haruharu Wonder Black Bamboo Daily Soothing Sun Shield SPF 50+ Versus Mary & May Vegan Peptide Bakuchiol Sun Stick SPF 50+ PA++++
This chemical sunscreen covers the full UV range and blocks ~98% of UVB at SPF 50.
This hybrid sunscreen covers the full UV range and blocks ~98% of UVB at SPF 50.
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Dibutyl Adipate
Synthetic Wax
Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Butyloctyl Salicylate
Caprylyl Trimethicone
Butylene Glycol
Propylheptyl Caprylate
Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
Isododecane
Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Caprylyl Methicone
Ethylhexyl Triazone
Polysilicone-15
Ceresin
Camellia Japonica Seed Oil
Diphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone
Niacinamide
Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate
Lauryl Polyglyceryl-3 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Sodium Chloride
1,2-Hexanediol
Polyglyceryl-4 Diisostearate/Polyhydroxystearate/Sebacate
Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer
Caprylyl Glycol
Glyceryl Caprylate
Phyllostachys Nigra Leaf Extract
Phyllostachys Pubescens Shoot Bark Extract
Adenosine
Aspergillus Ferment
Tocopherol
Dipropylene Glycol
Pentylene Glycol
Bambusa Vulgaris Water
Betaine
Ectoin
Panthenol
Water, Dibutyl Adipate, Synthetic Wax, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Caprylyl Trimethicone, Butylene Glycol, Propylheptyl Caprylate, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Isododecane, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Caprylyl Methicone, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Polysilicone-15, Ceresin, Camellia Japonica Seed Oil, Diphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone, Niacinamide, Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate, Lauryl Polyglyceryl-3 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Sodium Chloride, 1,2-Hexanediol, Polyglyceryl-4 Diisostearate/Polyhydroxystearate/Sebacate, Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer, Caprylyl Glycol, Glyceryl Caprylate, Phyllostachys Nigra Leaf Extract, Phyllostachys Pubescens Shoot Bark Extract, Adenosine, Aspergillus Ferment, Tocopherol, Dipropylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Bambusa Vulgaris Water, Betaine, Ectoin, Panthenol
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate
Butylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate
Isopropyl Palmitate
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
Ozokerite
Bakuchiol
Vinyldimethicone
Titanium Dioxide
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Ethylhexylglycerin
Polyhydroxystearic Acid
Triethoxycaprylylsilane
Aluminum Hydroxide
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Acetyl Octapeptide-3
Nonapeptide-1
Dipeptide-2
Dipeptide-4
Acetyl Tetrapeptide-2
Acetyl Tetrapeptide-3
Acetyl Tetrapeptide-5
Acetyl Tripeptide-1
Alanine/Histidine/Lysine Polypeptide Copper Hcl
Oligopeptide-6
Copper Tripeptide-1
Tripeptide-1
Tripeptide-2
Tripeptide-3
Pentapeptide-3
Hexapeptide-2
Hexapeptide-9
Dipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate
Palmitoyl Dipeptide-7
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12
Aroma
Ultramarines
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Butylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Synthetic Wax, Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer, Isopropyl Palmitate, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Ozokerite, Polysilicone-15, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Bakuchiol, Vinyldimethicone, Titanium Dioxide, Glyceryl Caprylate, Caprylyl Glycol, Polyglyceryl-4 Diisostearate/Polyhydroxystearate/Sebacate, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Aluminum Hydroxide, Tocopherol, Butylene Glycol, Water, 1,2-Hexanediol, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Acetyl Octapeptide-3, Nonapeptide-1, Dipeptide-2, Dipeptide-4, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-2, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-3, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-5, Acetyl Tripeptide-1, Alanine/Histidine/Lysine Polypeptide Copper Hcl, Oligopeptide-6, Copper Tripeptide-1, Tripeptide-1, Tripeptide-2, Tripeptide-3, Pentapeptide-3, Hexapeptide-2, Hexapeptide-9, Dipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate, Palmitoyl Dipeptide-7, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12, Aroma, Ultramarines
Reviews
Alternatives
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.
It is a:
Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
Emollient, helping to soften skin
Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives
This ingredient is better known as bemotrizinol or Tinosorb S and is one of the best broad-spectrum UV filters in modern sunscreen.
It works by absorbing UV light across a whole range (280-400 nm) with peaks around 310 nm (UVB) and 340-345 nm (UVA). This means it covers UVB plus the deeper UVA wavelengths that drive photoaging and pigmentation.
Another pro?
It's exceptionally photostable, barely degrades in sunlight, and acts as a "bodyguard" for less stable filters.
That's why you'll see it paired with avobenzone or octinoxate; this team up ensures they keep working through sun exposure.
Safety reviews have been reassuring across the board. This ingredient shows low absorption through the skin, rarely irritates, and lab studies found it doesn't act like a hormone in the body (a concern that's been raised about some older sunscreen filters).
On maximum concentrations:
In 2026, the US F.D.A finally added it as an OTC sunscreen ingredient at concentrations up to 6% for adults / children 6 months and older
Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Butyloctyl 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.
Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Diethylamino 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.
Ethylhexyl Triazone (aka Octyl Triazone) is an oil-soluble organic UVB filter. It has peak absorption around 314 nm, right in the middle of the UVB range.
This ingredient is described as one of the most effective UVB filters available and small concentrations are enough to deliver a high SPF thanks to its strong UV absorbing power.
Formulators love it for its stability; its ability to filter UV stays practically unchanged even under intense radiation and it can also help boost the photostability of less stable filters like avobenzone.
It's also a great pick for water resistant products because it's insoluble in water and has a good affinity for keratin.
Because it's a big, heavy molecule, the European Scientific Committee has found to to have very low dermal penetration and negative results for allergenicity.
In vitro testing also showed a low absorption rate and clean results on irritation.
Typical use levels are 1-5% with 5% being the maximum in the EU, Japan, and other markets that allow it. However, this ingredient is not approved yet in the US or Canada.
Glyceryl Caprylate comes from glycerin and caprylic acid. It is an emollient, co-emulsifier, and preservative booster.
Its short C8 fatty acid chain makes it behave differently from its longer-chain emollient cousins like Glyceryl Stearate. It feels more lightweight, fast-absorbing, and silky instead of rich and waxy.
As a co-emulsifier, its "head" and "tail" sit at the oil-water interface. But overall, the short C8 tail and not being water soluble means it doesn't really have the muscle to emulsify a formula on its own. That's why you'll often see it paired with a primary emulsifier like Cetearyl Glucoside.
Interestingly, Glyceryl Caprylate acts as a preservative booster. This is because its fatty-acid backbone disrupts microbial lipid membranes. It shows excellent activity against bacteria and yeast but is weaker against mold.
Typical concentrations range from 0.5-1% and this ingredient is generally non-irritating.
Because this ingredient has a C8 fatty acid chain, it is outside the range that the Malassezia yeast metabolizes (making it fungal acne safe).
This ingredient comes as a powder made up of small, porous, microbeads. It is used to add a silky feel to products and also helps absorb oil.
This ingredient is a water-in-oil emulsifier and is sometimes known by its trade name, Isolan GPS. It helps create stable emulsions by bridging oil and water phases without adding a greasy feel.
Common usage levels sit between 2-5% for this ingredient.
Polysilicone-15 (trade name: Parsol SLX) is a silicone-based UVB filter that soaks up UVB light (~280-320nm) with a peak around 310nm.
It's a fairly modest sunscreen filter so formulators mostly use it as an SPF booster and "light stabilizer". This just means it helps keep other light-sensitive ingredients from breaking down in sunlight.
A 2007 study measured the in-vitro SPF of 18 filters and found Polysilicone-15 contributed an SPF of about 3.64 at its maximum legal concentration (though worth noting its maker points out that in-vitro tests tend to underestimate its real performance because of its large polymeric structure).
Usage levels vary; it's approved up to 10% as a UV filter in the EU, China, Japan, Australia, ASEAN, and Mercosur countries. In the US, it's only permitted up to 1% as a light stabilizer because the FDA hasn't reviewed it as a sunscreen active.
Typical use levels range from 1-3%.
The EU's scientific committee concluded that this ingredient is safe for use as a UV absorber up to 10%, and tests came back negative for irritation, phototoxicity, and photoallergy.
There is one case of allergic lip inflammation from a lip balm with this ingredient, though this is rare.
Synthetic Wax is a manufactured hydrocarbon wax. In formulas, it works as an occlusive emollient that helps reduce water loss and improves the spreadability of products.
Research comparing synthetic wax to traditional mineral-derived products found that formulas containing it perform as well for skin hydration.
It is considered non-comedogenic and vegan-friendly.
This ingredient has a well-established safety record by the CIR Expert Panel for Cosmetic Ingredient Safety.
Synthetic Waxes are straight/branched-chain hydrocarbons with no ester bond or fatty acids. That means there is nothing for the Malassezia yeast to feed on.
Tocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
This ingredient is used in makeup and skincare to thicken formulas, reduce shine, and give skin a silky-smooth feel.
It’s a white silicone powder that sits in fine lines and pores to blur their appearance though its effectiveness depends on the particle size.
You'll typically find this ingredient in amounts between 0.1-20%.
Water. 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!