What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV AbsorberZinc Oxide
Cosmetic ColorantHomosalate
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Salicylate
UV AbsorberButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantBis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin ConditioningOctocrylene
UV AbsorberNiacinamide
SmoothingPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingSilica
AbrasiveCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientCetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingBeeswax
Emulsion StabilisingDimethicone
EmollientMagnesium Aluminum Silicate
AbsorbentSorbitan Sesquioleate
EmulsifyingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
MaskingButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientPinus Densiflora Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialMorus Alba Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialChrysanthemum Indicum Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningRhus Semialata Gall Extract
Skin ConditioningScutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
AstringentLonicera Japonica Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningSalicornia Herbacea Extract
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin ConditioningDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
EmollientPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningAspalathus Linearis Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingCommiphora Myrrha Resin Extract
Skin ConditioningYucca Schidigera Root Extract
Skin ConditioningParfum
MaskingWater, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Zinc Oxide, Homosalate, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Octocrylene, Niacinamide, Polysorbate 60, Silica, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Beeswax, Dimethicone, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Pinus Densiflora Leaf Extract, Morus Alba Bark Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Chrysanthemum Indicum Flower Extract, Rhus Semialata Gall Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract, Salicornia Herbacea Extract, Allantoin, Xanthan Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adenosine, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Pentylene Glycol, Aspalathus Linearis Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Commiphora Myrrha Resin Extract, Yucca Schidigera Root Extract, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantIsopropyl Palmitate
EmollientAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialEthylhexyl Salicylate
UV AbsorberOctocrylene
UV AbsorberButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV AbsorberPhenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid
UV AbsorberC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialAcrylic Acid/Vp Crosspolymer
SurfactantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder
Skin ConditioningAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentSodium Hydroxide
BufferingTrisodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeLimonene
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingCitronellol
PerfumingCoumarin
PerfumingParfum
MaskingWater, Glycerin, Isopropyl Palmitate, Alcohol Denat., Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Octocrylene, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Acrylic Acid/Vp Crosspolymer, Panthenol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Sodium Polyacrylate, Sodium Hydroxide, Trisodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Limonene, Linalool, Citronellol, Coumarin, Parfum
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ethylhexyl Salicylate is an organic compound used to block UV rays. It primarily absorbs UVB rays but offers a small amount of UVA protection as well.
Commonly found in sunscreens, Ethylhexyl Salicylate is created from salicylic acid and 2-ethylhexanol. You might know salicylic acid as the effective acne fighter ingredient and BHA.
The ethylhexanol in this ingredient is a fatty alcohol and helps hydrate your skin, similar to oils. It is an emollient, which means it traps moisture into the skin.
According to manufacturers, Ethylhexyl Salicylate absorbs UV wavelength of 295-315 nm, with a peak absorption at 307-310 nm. UVA rays are linked to long term skin damage, such as hyperpigmentation. UVB rays emit more energy and are capable of damaging our DNA. UVB rays cause sunburn.
Learn more about Ethylhexyl SalicylateEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinOctocrylene protects skin from sun damage. It absorbs UV-B with peak absorption of 304 nm. It is a common sunscreen ingredient and often paired with avobenzone, a UVA filter. This is because octocrylene stabilizes other sunscreen ingredients by protecting them from degradation when exposed to sunlight. Octocrylene is a photostable ingredient and loses about 10% of SPF in 95 minutes.
Octocrylene also acts as an emollient, meaning it helps skin retain moisture and softens skin. It is oil-soluble and hydrophobic, enhancing water-resistant properties in a product.
Those who are using ketoprofen, a topical anti-inflammatory drug, may experience an allergic reaction when using octocrylene. It is best to speak with a healthcare professional about using sunscreens with octocrylene.
The EU allows a maximum of these concentrations:
Learn more about OctocryleneParfum is a catch-all term for an ingredient or more that is used to give a scent to products.
Also called "fragrance", this ingredient can be a blend of hundreds of chemicals or plant oils. This means every product with "fragrance" or "parfum" in the ingredients list is a different mixture.
For instance, Habanolide is a proprietary trade name for a specific aroma chemical. When used as a fragrance ingredient in cosmetics, most aroma chemicals fall under the broad labeling category of “FRAGRANCE” or “PARFUM” according to EU and US regulations.
The term 'parfum' or 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term.
For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance by INCI standards.
One example is Calendula flower extract. Calendula is an essential oil that still imparts a scent or 'fragrance'.
Depending on the blend, the ingredients in the mixture can cause allergies and sensitivities on the skin. Some ingredients that are known EU allergens include linalool and citronellol.
Parfum can also be used to mask or cover an unpleasant scent.
The bottom line is: not all fragrances/parfum/ingredients are created equally. If you are worried about fragrances, we recommend taking a closer look at an ingredient. And of course, we always recommend speaking with a professional.
Learn more about ParfumWater. 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