What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Homosalate 9.5%
Skin ConditioningOctocrylene 5%
UV AbsorberEthylhexyl Salicylate 4.5%
UV AbsorberButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%
UV AbsorberOctyldodecanol
EmollientButylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate
EmollientDibutyl Lauroyl Glutamide
Skin ConditioningDiisostearyl Malate
EmollientDibutyl Ethylhexanoyl Glutamide
Skin ConditioningButyloctyl Salicylate
Skin ConditioningC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialDextrin Palmitate
EmulsifyingWater
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSqualane
EmollientCalophyllum Inophyllum Seed Oil
AntimicrobialArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
EmollientOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
MaskingGlycerin
HumectantAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
EmollientHydrolyzed Vegetable Protein
Skin ConditioningMaltodextrin
AbsorbentButylene Glycol
HumectantPropanediol
SolventCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingCandida Bombicola/Glucose/Methyl Rapeseedate Ferment
AntimicrobialCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantAcetyl Hexapeptide-8
HumectantCopper Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningHomosalate 9.5%, Octocrylene 5%, Ethylhexyl Salicylate 4.5%, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%, Octyldodecanol, Butylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Dibutyl Lauroyl Glutamide, Diisostearyl Malate, Dibutyl Ethylhexanoyl Glutamide, Butyloctyl Salicylate, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Dextrin Palmitate, Water, Sodium Hyaluronate, Squalane, Calophyllum Inophyllum Seed Oil, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Glycerin, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein, Maltodextrin, Butylene Glycol, Propanediol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, 1,2-Hexanediol, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Centella Asiatica Extract, Candida Bombicola/Glucose/Methyl Rapeseedate Ferment, Ceramide NP, Caprylyl Glycol, Tocopherol, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Copper Tripeptide-1
Zinc Oxide
Cosmetic ColorantButylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate
EmollientC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialHexyl Laurate
EmollientNeopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate
EmollientOctyldodecanol
EmollientSilica
AbrasiveDibutyl Lauroyl Glutamide
Skin ConditioningPentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
AntioxidantDipentaerythrityl Hexahydroxystearate/Hexastearate/Hexarosinate
Skin ConditioningPolyamide-8
EmollientDibutyl Ethylhexanoyl Glutamide
Skin ConditioningMica
Cosmetic ColorantTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic ColorantPolyhydroxystearic Acid
EmulsifyingTriethoxycaprylylsilane
Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate
Emulsifying1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningNeopentyl Glycol Diethylhexanoate
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantAluminum Hydroxide
EmollientCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCalamine
AbsorbentRuby Powder
Skin ConditioningWater
Skin ConditioningAscorbic Acid
AntioxidantNiacinamide
SmoothingPinus Pinaster Bark Extract
AntioxidantCaesalpinia Spinosa Fruit Extract
Skin ProtectingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventButylene Glycol
HumectantKappaphycus Alvarezii Extract
Skin ConditioningBuddleja Officinalis Flower Extract
UV FilterOenothera Biennis Flower Extract
AstringentPueraria Lobata Root Extract
HumectantPinus Palustris Leaf Extract
TonicUlmus Davidiana Root Extract
Skin ConditioningZinc Oxide, Butylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Hexyl Laurate, Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate, Octyldodecanol, Silica, Dibutyl Lauroyl Glutamide, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Dipentaerythrityl Hexahydroxystearate/Hexastearate/Hexarosinate, Polyamide-8, Dibutyl Ethylhexanoyl Glutamide, Mica, Titanium Dioxide, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Neopentyl Glycol Diethylhexanoate, Ethylhexylglycerin, CI 77492, Aluminum Hydroxide, CI 77491, Calamine, Ruby Powder, Water, Ascorbic Acid, Niacinamide, Pinus Pinaster Bark Extract, Caesalpinia Spinosa Fruit Extract, Panthenol, Propanediol, Butylene Glycol, Kappaphycus Alvarezii Extract, Buddleja Officinalis Flower Extract, Oenothera Biennis Flower Extract, Pueraria Lobata Root Extract, Pinus Palustris Leaf Extract, Ulmus Davidiana Root Extract
Reviews
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
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 GlycolThis is a lightweight diester (caprylic/capric acid + butylene glycol) with emollient and skin conditioning properties.
According to a manufacturer, this ingredient can help add a "cushiony" oil phase without making it heavy.
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate is a lightweight emollient made by combinig benzoic acid with fatty alcohols that are 12-15 carbons long.
In cosmetics, it plays several roles:
The Cosmetic Review Expert Panel has concluded the alkyl benzoate group to be safe as used in cosmetics; it wasn't found to be a skin irritant and unlikely to be absorbed due to its low water solubility.
This report recorded almost 1000 reported uses with concentrations up to 59% in leave-on products but your cosmetics will typically use 0.5-15% depending on the product.
It's often called a "SPF booster": this is because it keeps UV filters properly dissolved and evenly distributed to support a sunscreen's performance. It doesn't actually raise SPF on its own.
Overall, this ingredient is well tolerated.
This ingredient is fungal acne safe because it is an ester of benzoic acid.
Think of this ingredient as two parts stuck together: an oily part and an acid part. Malassezia only gets a meal when it can snip off a fatty acid to eat. With C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, the acid part is benzoic acid, which isn't a fatty acid and which the yeast can't use as food.
Benzoic acid is actually used as a preservative to stop yeast from growing.
The oily part is a blend of C12-15 fatty alcohols but fatty alcohols in this size range can support only a little Malassezia growth (mostly for one species of Malassezia as well).
In the ingredient, those alcohols stay locked inside the molecule. The yeast can only reach them by snipping the benzoate bond, and that type of bond is harder for it to cut than a normal fatty bond.
So not much gets released. And whatever does get snipped comes packaged with benzoic acid, which discourages yeast growth.
Learn more about C12-15 Alkyl BenzoateWe don't have a description for Dibutyl Ethylhexanoyl Glutamide yet.
We don't have a description for Dibutyl Lauroyl Glutamide yet.
Octyldodecanol is a fatty alcohol sourced from plant oils like coconut or palm (or made synthetically).
It is:
You'll likely see this in many BHA products because this is the go-to solvent for salicylic acid.
This ingredient is typically used at levels between 2-20%.
Regarding fungal acne:
In 2019, this ingredient was tested against multiple Malassezia species (the yeast that causes fungal acne) and showed no growth.
Propanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolWater. 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