What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningRosa Damascena Flower Water
Masking
Paba
Hydroxyapatite
Abrasive
Terephthalylidene Dicamphor Sulfonic Acid
UV Absorber
Benzophenone-4
UV Absorber
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV Absorber
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Benzophenone-3
UV Absorber
Phospholipids
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Zinc Oxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol
UV Filter
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Rubus Idaeus Extract
Skin ProtectingHyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Oryza Sativa Bran Water
Masking
Silica
Abrasive
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Rosa Damascena Flower Water, Paba, Hydroxyapatite, Terephthalylidene Dicamphor Sulfonic Acid, Benzophenone-4, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Benzophenone-3, Phospholipids, Butylene Glycol, Zinc Oxide, Titanium Dioxide, Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Rubus Idaeus Extract, Hyaluronic Acid, Tocopherol, Ascorbic Acid, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Oryza Sativa Bran Water, Silica, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol
Water
Skin ConditioningPhenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid
UV Absorber
Terephthalylidene Dicamphor Sulfonic Acid
UV Absorber
Polysilicone-15
UV Filter
Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol
UV Filter
Propanediol
Solvent
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Vetiveria Zizanoides Root Extract
Perfuming
Saccharomyces/Rice Ferment Filtrate
Skin Conditioning
Withania Somnifera Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Prunus Yedoensis Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningWater, Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid, Terephthalylidene Dicamphor Sulfonic Acid, Polysilicone-15, Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol, Propanediol, Butylene Glycol, Hyaluronic Acid, Vetiveria Zizanoides Root Extract, Saccharomyces/Rice Ferment Filtrate, Withania Somnifera Root Extract, Prunus Yedoensis Leaf Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Gluconate
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolHyaluronic 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 AcidMethylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol (Tinosorb M) is a hybrid and broad-spectrum UV ingredient. It is both a UV absorber and filter.
UV absorbers are an agent that absorbs UV rays. They protect your skin by using chemical reactions to convert UV rays into heat and energy. UV filters physically reduce the amount of UV rays from reaching your skin.
Tinosorb M covers a range of 280-400 nm and is photostable. This ingredient is neither oil or water soluble.
Tinosorb M is not available in the US. However, it is available in the EU and Asia.
It's sister, Tinosorb S, is set to be approved in the US by late 2025 (fingers crossed!).
Learn more about Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl TetramethylbutylphenolPhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Terephthalylidene Dicamphor Sulfonic Acid (aka ecamsule or Mexoryl SX) is a water-soluble organic UV filter developed and patented by L'Oreal back in 1982.
It's one of the better UVA protectors out there and shields skin across a broad UVA range (~290-390 nm) with peak absorption right around 345 nm.
This peak absorption happens to be the exact type of UVA light that sinks deepest into skin and does the most to cause aging and dark spots.
Ecamsule works by soaking up UV rays and turning them into a tiny bit of harmless heat. The molecule basically flips, releases that energy as heat, then snaps back to its original shape and does it all over again. This is also why it's so stable in sunlight and doesn't break down or wear out the way some filters do.
The clinical backing for this ingredient is solid as well:
A large 2008 review by Fourtanier & colleagues (2008) pulled together human trials showing ecamsule-containing sunscreens prevented UV-induced pigmentation, DNA damage, and signs of aging.
That built on earlier work by Seite et al. (1998) that found it protected skin from repeated low-level UVA exposure. And a controlled study by DeLeo et al. (2009) showed that even an SPF 40 cream with ecamsule helped prevent sun-triggered rash even under the real sun.
On concentrations:
Because this ingredient is an acid, it has to be neutralized so it doesn't tank the product's pH.
Safety-wise, it's pretty well tolerated. There are some rare cases of mild irritation mostly in people with sensitivities towards camphor derivatives.
A 2019 FDA study found that volunteers who slathered on sunscreen heavily for several days had tiny amounts of ecamsule show up in their blood. This was slightly above the level at which the FDA asks for extra safety testing; this just means the FDA wants more safety studies done and not evidence that anything harmful actually happens. No problems were found and dermatologists still recommend using sunscreen.
Learn more about Terephthalylidene Dicamphor Sulfonic AcidWater. 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
