What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%
UV AbsorberHomosalate 10%
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Salicylate 5%
UV AbsorberOctocrylene 8%
UV AbsorberWater
Skin ConditioningC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialTriacontanyl Pvp
HumectantEuphorbia Cerifera Wax
Silica
AbrasivePEG-15 Cocamine
EmulsifyingAcrylates/Steareth-20 Methacrylate Copolymer
PEG-40 Stearate
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Behenate
EmollientPanthenol
Skin ConditioningLavandula Angustifolia Oil
MaskingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientMentha Viridis Leaf Oil
AstringentAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
Glycerin
HumectantCitrus Limon Peel Oil
MaskingPersea Gratissima Oil
Skin ConditioningPrunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin ConditioningSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientGlycine Soja Oil
EmollientMethyl Glucose Sesquistearate
EmollientTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantDaucus Carota Sativa Root Extract
Skin ConditioningBeta-Carotene
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantLinalool
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingCitral
PerfumingButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%, Homosalate 10%, Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%, Octocrylene 8%, Water, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Triacontanyl Pvp, Euphorbia Cerifera Wax, Silica, PEG-15 Cocamine, Acrylates/Steareth-20 Methacrylate Copolymer, PEG-40 Stearate, Glyceryl Behenate, Panthenol, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Caprylyl Glycol, Mentha Viridis Leaf Oil, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Glycerin, Citrus Limon Peel Oil, Persea Gratissima Oil, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Glycine Soja Oil, Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Daucus Carota Sativa Root Extract, Beta-Carotene, Tocopherol, Linalool, Limonene, Citral
Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV FilterEthylhexyl Triazone
UV AbsorberMethylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol
UV FilterBis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingSodium Dehydroacetate
PreservativeWater
Skin ConditioningDiisopropyl Adipate
EmollientAcrylates Copolymer
Cetearyl Alcohol
EmollientCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPotassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingNiacinamide
SmoothingSilicon
AbrasiveEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDecyl Glucoside
CleansingSaccharide Isomerate
HumectantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingOctyldodecanol
EmollientLavandula Angustifolia Oil
MaskingCedrus Atlantica Wood Oil
PerfumingTocopherol
AntioxidantTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantGlycine Soja Oil
EmollientSalmo Oil
EmollientPropylene Glycol
HumectantCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Citrate
BufferingLinalool
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingDiethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Phenoxyethanol, Benzyl Alcohol, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Water, Diisopropyl Adipate, Acrylates Copolymer, Cetearyl Alcohol, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Niacinamide, Silicon, Ethylhexylglycerin, Decyl Glucoside, Saccharide Isomerate, Xanthan Gum, Octyldodecanol, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Cedrus Atlantica Wood Oil, Tocopherol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Glycine Soja Oil, Salmo Oil, Propylene Glycol, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Linalool, Limonene, Geraniol
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Glycerin (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 GlycerinGlycine Soja Oil is a plant-derived oil from soybean seeds. Like other oils, it is rich in essential fatty acids (mostly linoleic and oleic) that support skin hydration and barrier function.
The fatty acids are able to integrate into the lipid matrix of the stratum corneum to help soften skin and reduce water loss.
On top of that, soybean oil is rich in vitamins like vitamin E, a potent antioxidant.
Research on soybean's active components also point to anti-inflammatory, collagen-stimulating, antioxidant activity, and protection against UV-induced oxidative damage.
Most of this research applies to the broader soybean plant and not just the oil fraction alone.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe due to the oleic acid content.
Learn more about Glycine Soja OilLavandula Angustifolia Oil is more commonly known as lavender essential oil. It is considered a fragrancing ingredient.
Lavender imparts a famous scent. While the smell is lovely, this ingredient and may sensitize skin in topical products. This is because about 85% of the oil is made up of linalool and linalyl acetate.
When exposed to air, these two compounds become strong allergens. This ingredient exhibits cytotoxicity at low concentrations; amounts of 0.25% have been shown to damage skin cells.
A study from Japan found this ingredient caused lavender sensitivity after widespread exposure.
Lavender essential oil has some antimicrobial, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties. However, the cons of this ingredient may outweight the pros.
More research is needed to confirm lavender essential oil's effects when used in aromatherapy.
Lavandula Angustifolia is known as the English Lavender and famous for creating purple fields in Provence, France.
Learn more about Lavandula Angustifolia OilLimonene is a fragrance that adds scent and taste to a formulation.
It's found in the peel oil of citrus fruits and other plants such as lavender and eucalyptus. The scent of limonene is generally described as "sweet citrus".
Limonene acts as an antioxidant, meaning it helps neutralize free radicals.
When exposed to air, oxidized limonene may sensitize the skin. Because of this, limonene is often avoided by people with sensitive skin.
The term '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.
Learn more about LimoneneLinalool is a fragrance and helps add scent to products. It's derived from common plants such as cinnamon, mint, citrus, and lavender.
Like Limonene, this ingredient oxidizes when exposed to air. Oxidized linalool can cause allergies and skin sensitivity.
This ingredient has a scent that is floral, spicy tropical, and citrus-like.
Learn more about LinaloolTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolTocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateWater. 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