What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Ethylhexyl Salicylate
UV Absorber
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
PEG-8 Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Homosalate
Skin Conditioning
CI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantIsononyl Isononanoate
EmollientDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Magnesium Sulfate
Dimethicone
Emollient
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Hydroxyapatite
Abrasive
CI 77288
Cosmetic ColorantArtemisia Vulgaris Oil
Perfuming
Triethoxycaprylylsilane
Aluminum Hydroxide
EmollientDisteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
CI 77220
Cosmetic ColorantButylene Glycol
Humectant
Chrysanthellum Indicum Extract
Skin Conditioning
Fructose
Humectant
CI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantFarnesol
Perfuming
Centella Asiatica Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Phosphatidylcholine
EmulsifyingCeramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate
Skin Conditioning
Saururus Chinensis Leaf/Root Extract
Antimicrobial
Taraxacum Officinale Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientStephania Tetrandra Root Extract
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Titanium Dioxide, Propylene Glycol, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Cyclopentasiloxane, PEG-8 Dimethicone, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Homosalate, CI 77492, Isononyl Isononanoate, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Magnesium Sulfate, Dimethicone, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Hydroxyapatite, CI 77288, Artemisia Vulgaris Oil, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Aluminum Hydroxide, Disteardimonium Hectorite, CI 77491, Panthenol, Bisabolol, CI 77220, Butylene Glycol, Chrysanthellum Indicum Extract, Fructose, CI 77499, Farnesol, Centella Asiatica Root Extract, Sodium Polyacrylate, Phosphatidylcholine, Ceramide NP, Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate, Saururus Chinensis Leaf/Root Extract, Taraxacum Officinale Leaf Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hydroxyacetophenone, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Glyceryl Caprylate, Stephania Tetrandra Root Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV Absorber
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Polymethyl Methacrylate
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Octocrylene
UV Absorber
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Niacinamide
Smoothing
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexyl Triazone
UV Absorber
Cetearyl Olivate
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Lecithin
Emollient
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Aminomethyl Propanol
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Artemisia Capillaris Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Extract
Antioxidant
Haberlea Rhodopensis Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningBHT
Antioxidant
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Citric Acid
Buffering
Water, Propanediol, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Butylene Glycol, Octocrylene, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Niacinamide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Cetearyl Olivate, Panthenol, Glycerin, Allantoin, Chlorphenesin, Propylene Glycol, Salicylic Acid, Xanthan Gum, Disodium EDTA, Lecithin, Sorbitan Olivate, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Aminomethyl Propanol, Phenoxyethanol, Artemisia Capillaris Flower Extract, Camellia Sinensis Extract, Haberlea Rhodopensis Leaf Extract, BHT, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Citric Acid
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
Also known as Avobenzone, this ingredient is a chemical sunscreen filter that provides protection in the UV-A range.
Avobenzone is globally approved and is the most commonly used UV-A filter in the world.
Studies have found that avobenzone becomes ineffective when exposed to UV light (it is not photostable; meaning that it breaks down in sunlight). Because of this, formulations that include avobenzone will usually contain stabilizers such as octocrylene.
However, some modern formulations (looking at you, EU!) are able to stabilize avobenzone by coating the molecules.
Avobenzone does not protect against the UV-B range, so it's important to check that the sunscreen you're using contains other UV filters that do!
The highest concentration of avobenzone permitted is 3% in the US, and 5% in the EU.
Learn more about Butyl MethoxydibenzoylmethaneButylene 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 GlycolGlycerin (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 GlycerinPanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolPhenoxyethanol 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.
Propylene Glycol is a synthetic, colorless, odorless liquid that has been a staple in cosmetics for decades. It is a skin conditioning agent, humectant, and solvent.
As a humectant, it draw water to the skin to reduce flaking and restore suppleness. It's also a solvent that helps dissolve other actives and keeps formulas stable across temperature changes.
The CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be nontoxic and clinical studies show no sensitization at cosmetic use concentrations.
True allergic reactions are quite rare: a 15-year retrospective study of 6,751 patients found only 0.31% had a positive reaction (and less than half were considered clinically relevant).
It seemed that when sensitization does occur, it's most commonly linked to topical medication (like corticosteroids) and not cosmetics. Allergic contact dermatitis also appears largely limited to individuals with underlying skin conditions.
Overall, propylene glycol is a well-studied ingredient that most people can tolerate without issue.
Learn more about Propylene GlycolWater. 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
