Question from Readers: Sunscreen Inactive Ingredients

A follow-up question from our reader that we wanted to post as it is on a similar topic 🙂

Here are the incative ingredients found in my suncream, could you tell me if there are bad ingredients, please?

Water, Alcohol Denat., Butyloctyl Salicylate, Silica, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Polyglyceryl-6 Stearate, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Disostearoyl Polyglyceryl-3 Dimer Dilinoleate, Behenyl Alcohol, Butylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Copernicia Cerifera (Carnauba) Wax, Dibutyl Adipate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glycyrrhiza Inflata Root Extract, Glycyrrhetinic Acid, Tocopherol, Dimethicone, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Diethylhexyl Syringylidenemalonate, Ethylcellulose, Glyceryl Behenate, L-Carnitine, Polyglyceryl-6 Octastearate, Phenoxyethanol, Glycerin, Xanthan Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, Hydroxyacetophenone, Polyglyceryl-6 Behenate, Cetyl Alcohol, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate

Here’s a breakdown of the inactive ingredients in your suncream:

1. Water: Acts as a solvent and base for the formulation.
2. Alcohol Denat.: Often used as a solvent and can have a drying effect on the skin, which may be problematic for sensitive skin types.
3. Butyloctyl Salicylate: An emollient and skin conditioning agent.
4. Silica: Used as an absorbent and anti-caking agent.
5. C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate: An emollient that helps improve the spreadability of the product.
6. Polyglyceryl-6 Stearate: An emulsifier that helps mix oil and water-based ingredients.
7. Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate: An emulsifier and surfactant derived from amino acids.
8. Disostearoyl Polyglyceryl-3 Dimer Dilinoleate: A synthetic compound used as an emulsifier and surfactant.
9. Behenyl Alcohol: A fatty alcohol used as an emollient and thickening agent.
10. Butylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate: A synthetic compound that acts as an emollient and skin-conditioning agent.
11. Cetearyl Alcohol: A fatty alcohol used as an emollient and emulsifier.
12. Copernicia Cerifera (Carnauba) Wax: A natural wax derived from the leaves of the carnauba palm, often used as a thickening agent.
13. Dibutyl Adipate: An emollient and plasticizer that helps improve the texture of the product.
14. Sodium Hyaluronate: The sodium salt of hyaluronic acid, a humectant that helps retain moisture in the skin.
15. Glycyrrhiza Inflata Root Extract: Licorice root extract, which has soothing and anti-inflammatory properties.
16. Glycyrrhetinic Acid: Derived from licorice root, it has soothing and anti-inflammatory properties.
17. Tocopherol: Vitamin E, which acts as an antioxidant.
18. Dimethicone: A silicone-based ingredient that acts as an emollient and forms a protective barrier on the skin.
19. Silica Dimethyl Silylate: Used as an anti-caking agent and to improve the texture of the product.
20. Diethylhexyl Syringylidenemalonate: A synthetic compound used as a skin conditioning agent and UV filter.
21. Ethylcellulose: A thickening agent and film-forming agent.
22. Glyceryl Behenate: A synthetic compound used as an emulsifier and thickening agent.
23. L-Carnitine: An amino acid derivative with antioxidant properties.
24. Glycerin: A humectant that helps attract and retain moisture in the skin.
25. Xanthan Gum: A polysaccharide used as a thickening agent and stabilizer.
26. Ethylhexylglycerin: A synthetic compound used as a preservative and skin conditioning agent.
27. Disodium EDTA: A chelating agent that helps stabilize the formulation.
28. Hydroxyacetophenone: An antioxidant and preservative booster.
29. Polyglyceryl-6 Behenate: An emulsifier and thickening agent derived from glycerin.
30. Cetyl Alcohol: A fatty alcohol used as an emollient and emulsifier.
31. Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate: A stable form of vitamin C, which acts as an antioxidant and helps brighten the skin.

Overall, while some of the ingredients may not be ideal for sensitive skin types, such as alcohol denat., the formulation also contains beneficial ingredients like licorice root extract and sodium hyaluronate, which can help soothe and hydrate the skin. It’s always a good idea to patch test new products on a small area of skin before applying them more widely, especially if you have sensitive or problematic skin.