Photoderm Cream SPF 50

The base most products are built on. It carries the other ingredients and has no safety concern.

A modern UVA sunscreen filter widely used in Europe and Asia, valued for photostability and low skin penetration. It is not yet approved as a sunscreen active in the United States, which reflects a slower regulatory pathway rather than a specific safety finding against it.

A UV-B filter used in sunscreens. After reassessing hormone-activity data, the EU lowered its permitted maximum concentration as a precaution, but concluded the ingredient remains safe for use at the new lower limit.

A lightweight ester emollient rated safe at concentrations up to 10 percent by the CIR Expert Panel. It has been assessed as low irritation, non-comedogenic, and shows no evidence of endocrine disruption in published literature.

A broad-spectrum organic UV filter used widely in European and international sunscreens. Approved by the EU and other regulators as safe at cosmetic levels.

A lightweight emollient used in cosmetics and sunscreens to give a smooth texture. Inert and well tolerated.

A corn-derived solvent and humectant that has largely replaced propylene glycol in "clean" formulas; CIR reviewed the alkane diol group and found use concentrations up to about 40 percent in leave-on products like deodorant sticks with no meaningful irritation signal.

A mild UVB chemical filter usually used to help dissolve and stabilize other sunscreen actives. It has a long OTC history at US-approved levels with a low rate of reported irritation.

An organic UVB filter approved in the EU and widely used in Korean and Japanese sunscreens at up to 5 percent. It is highly photostable and shows low skin penetration in the reviewed data. It is not on the FDA-approved UV filter list, so US-formulated sunscreens do not use it; that is a regulatory-process gap rather than a documented safety finding against the ingredient.

A humectant that draws water into the skin. One of the best-studied, best-tolerated ingredients in personal care.

A mineral thickener and anti-caking agent widely used in sunscreens and cosmetics to control texture and prevent ingredient separation. CIR has reviewed silica in cosmetic use and found no basis for concern at the levels used topically.

A mineral UV filter and white pigment used in sunscreens and makeup. It sits on the skin surface rather than being absorbed, and major regulators consider it safe for topical cosmetic use.

An amino acid derived emulsifier made from stearic acid and glutamic acid that is increasingly used in natural and clean formulations. It is mild, biodegradable, and presents no known safety concerns for cosmetic use.

A mixture of fatty alcohols ranging from 14 to 22 carbons, used as emollients and emulsifiers in creams and formulations. The published evidence supports safety at cosmetic levels.

A synthetic gelling and stabilizing polymer that gives lotions and gels their smooth, cushiony texture. The large molecule stays on the skin surface rather than penetrating, and it is graded low concern in published assessments.

A modified amino acid derived from caprylic acid and glycine, used as a skin conditioning agent and mild antimicrobial. Available data suggests good safety, though it remains a less extensively documented ingredient compared to traditional amino acids.

A strong alkali used in tiny amounts to adjust the pH of cosmetics to safe, skin-friendly levels. At the pH found in finished products, sodium hydroxide is neutralized and well tolerated.

A salt derived from citric acid that buffers pH and prevents metal oxidation in formulas. Widely used in food and cosmetics, it is well tolerated at cosmetic concentrations.

Caprylyl glycol is a plant-derived humectant that also has mild antimicrobial properties, so it is commonly paired with other preservatives to allow lower overall preservative levels. Available data do not point to meaningful irritation or sensitization concerns at typical use levels.

A natural osmolyte produced by halophilic bacteria. Used for hydration and protective stress response, ectoin is well tolerated with emerging evidence for skin barrier support and soothing. No safety concerns flagged in cosmetic applications.

A polyol (sugar alcohol) that attracts water to the skin. Like sorbitol and glycerin, it is well tolerated in skincare formulas. It is commonly used to boost hydration without the stickiness of other humectants.

A five-carbon sugar alcohol (polyol) that functions as an effective humectant comparable to glycerin, drawing moisture into the skin. It is well tolerated in cosmetics and assessed as safe by regulatory bodies at typical formulation levels.

An amino acid-derived, plant-based mild surfactant. Well-tolerated in gentle cleansers and shampoos, rarely causes irritation.

Naturally occurring short-chain carbohydrates that function as humectants to draw moisture into skin. They are graded with no known concerns in cosmetic use and may support skin microbiome balance.

A lightweight, odorless emollient made by combining coconut or palm-derived fatty acids with glycerin. It spreads easily, feels non-greasy, and has a long history of use in skin and hair products with no meaningful irritation or sensitization signal.

An antioxidant that helps protect a formula and condition skin. Well tolerated.

A linoleic-acid-rich plant oil used as an emollient and, in some small pediatric studies, associated with support of the skin barrier when applied to infant skin. It is well tolerated with a low reported rate of contact reactions.