What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Palmitate
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantDipropylene Glycol
HumectantDimethicone
EmollientCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientCyclohexasiloxane
EmollientPolyacrylate-13
Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV AbsorberAllantoin
Skin ConditioningDimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
AntioxidantCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingBisabolol
AntioxidantSodium Hydroxide
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Biosaccharide Gum-1
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingSalicylic Acid
MaskingParfum
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialWater, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Dimethicone, Cyclopentasiloxane, Cyclohexasiloxane, Polyacrylate-13, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Allantoin, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Carbomer, Bisabolol, Sodium Hydroxide, Disodium EDTA, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Butylene Glycol, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Salicylic Acid, Parfum, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin
Water
Skin ConditioningCyclomethicone
EmollientPropylene Glycol
HumectantHydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientTalc
AbrasiveTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic ColorantEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV AbsorberAluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate
AbsorbentCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientCetyl Alcohol
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingBenzophenone-3
UV AbsorberEthoxydiglycol
HumectantSulfur
AntiseborrhoeicCucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
EmollientMagnesium Aluminum Silicate
AbsorbentTocopherol
AntioxidantSorbitan Caprylate
EmulsifyingDipalmitoyl Hydroxyproline
Skin ConditioningDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantTriethanolamine
BufferingBisabolol
AntioxidantMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
AntioxidantHyaluronic Acid
HumectantWater, Cyclomethicone, Propylene Glycol, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Talc, Titanium Dioxide, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Polysorbate 20, Benzophenone-3, Ethoxydiglycol, Sulfur, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Tocopherol, Sorbitan Caprylate, Dipalmitoyl Hydroxyproline, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Triethanolamine, Bisabolol, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Hyaluronic 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.
Bisabolol is a gentle skin conditioner, antioxidant, and soothing ingredient.
It's primary claim to fame is soothing and research shows topically applied bisabolol can quiet the chemical messengers that cause your skin to become inflamed, helping to sooth any irritation.
A clinical study found that applying 0.5% bisabolol daily for 8 weeks produced an average 9% decrease in skin pigmentation. Researchers found it can also suppress the process that leads to excess melanin production in skin.
In vitro studies found that bisabolol combined with propylene glycol significantly increased skin permeability by increasing lipid fluidity in the stratum corneum.
You'll likely see use concentrations quite low, usually 0.1-0.2%.
Overall, this is a well-tolerated ingredient that works well in formulas designed for sensitive, reactive, or post-procedure skin.
Learn more about BisabololDimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate is an organic compound that provides UVB protection. It often goes by the more common name of octinoxate. It is created from methoxycinnamic acid and 2-ethylhexanol.
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate absorbs UVB rays with wavelengths between 280-320 nm. UV absorbers protect your skin by using chemical reactions to convert UV rays into heat and energy.
UVB (290-320 nm) rays emit more energy than UVA rays. They are capable of damaging DNA, causing sunburns and are thought to be linked to skin cancer.
The state of Hawaii has banned sunscreens containing octinoxate due to its potential impact on coral reefs. More research is needed to bridge gaps in this research. The European Union allows higher levels of octinoxate in sunscreens than the US and Australia.
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate is oil soluble. It is not stable and may lose efficacy when exposed to sunlight.
Learn more about Ethylhexyl MethoxycinnamateThis ingredient is also known as tea tree oil. It has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties.
Tea tree oil is a complex lipophilic (fat-loving) oil that contains around 100 compounds with terpinen-4-ol being the most abundant (~40%).
Terpinen-4-ol is responsible for tea tree oil's broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity and makes it a well-researched option for acne.
Clinical studies support 5% tea tree oil as an effective topical treatment for mild to moderate acne. A study with 124 patients compared 5% tea tree oil gel to 5% benzoyl peroxide and both reduced acne (though tea tree oil worked more slowly).
Besides acne, it is also seen in anti-dandruff shampoos and scalp treatments for it's antimicrobial and anti-seborrheic properties.
Safety-wise, the allergic potential of low concentrations on healthy skin is considered low. However, oxidized (old or improperly stored) tea tree oil is a stronger sensitizer.
Irritation can also occur if using the undiluted oil on skin; it's best to use this ingredient as part of a carefully crafted cosmetic formula. This is because regulations require tea tree oil in cosmetics to be stabilized to prevent degradation.
This ingredient has been deemed safe up to 2% in shampoo, 1% in cleansers, and 0.1% in face cream by the EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS).
There is some lab evidence that tea tree oil is antifungal against Malassezia, but it is a supportive option at best and not a replacement for proven antifungal treatments.
Learn more about Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf OilWater. 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