What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid
UV Absorber
Tromethamine
BufferingDimethicone
Emollient
Terephthalylidene Dicamphor Sulfonic Acid
UV Absorber
PEG/PPG-17/6 Copolymer
SolventHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialPrunus Persica Flower Extract
MoisturisingHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
PEG-10 Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Parfum
Masking
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantSodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Benzoate
Masking
Citric Acid
Buffering
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Ethyl Ferulate
Antioxidant
Caprylyl Methicone
Skin Conditioning
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Water, Glycerin, Cyclopentasiloxane, Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid, Tromethamine, Dimethicone, Terephthalylidene Dicamphor Sulfonic Acid, PEG/PPG-17/6 Copolymer, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Prunus Persica Flower Extract, Hexylene Glycol, Hydroxyacetophenone, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Parfum, Dipropylene Glycol, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Benzoate, Citric Acid, Tocopherol, Ethyl Ferulate, Caprylyl Methicone, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Water
Skin ConditioningZinc Oxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Cyclohexasiloxane
Emollient
Butyloctyl Salicylate
Skin Conditioning
Propanediol
Solvent
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientPropylheptyl Caprylate
EmollientDisiloxane
Skin Conditioning
Trimethylsiloxysilicate
Emollient
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Lauryl Polyglyceryl-3 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingMagnesium Sulfate
Polyglyceryl-2 Dipolyhydroxystearate
Skin Conditioning
Isododecane
EmollientTriethoxycaprylylsilane
Acrylates/Polytrimethylsiloxymethacrylate Copolymer
Skin ConditioningPolyhydroxystearic Acid
Emulsifying
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-4 Diisostearate/Polyhydroxystearate/Sebacate
Emulsifying
Lecithin
Emollient
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Isostearic Acid
Cleansing
Isopropyl Myristate
Emollient
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate
Emulsifying
Houttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin Conditioning
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Ethyl Ferulate
Antioxidant
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialButylene Glycol
Humectant
Water, Zinc Oxide, Cyclohexasiloxane, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Propanediol, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Propylheptyl Caprylate, Disiloxane, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Pentylene Glycol, Lauryl Polyglyceryl-3 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, 1,2-Hexanediol, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Magnesium Sulfate, Polyglyceryl-2 Dipolyhydroxystearate, Isododecane, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Acrylates/Polytrimethylsiloxymethacrylate Copolymer, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Hydroxyacetophenone, Dimethicone, Polyglyceryl-4 Diisostearate/Polyhydroxystearate/Sebacate, Lecithin, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Isostearic Acid, Isopropyl Myristate, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Tocopherol, Ethyl Ferulate, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Butylene Glycol
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Dimethicone 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 DimethiconeEthyl ferulate is an antioxidant derived from ferulic acid and ethyl alcohol. You'll most likely see this ingredient in sunscreens.
One study from 2014 found a concentration of 10% showed a similar SPF to Benzimidazole. Though this is considered a chemical UV filter, this ingredient is not listed as so. This is due to regulatory loopholes. You'll likely find this ingredient in "100% mineral" sunscreens.
This ingredient is typically found in concentrations between 0.5-1%. It is usually created synthetically or from rice bran oil.
Learn more about Ethyl FerulateHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil is a plant oil derived from the seeds of a sunflower.
It is rich in fatty acids, primarily linoleic acid and oleic acid. This gives it emollient and skin conditioning properties.
The reason this ingredient is so effective is because it forms a thin film on the skin that reduces transepidermal water loss (TEWL) while supplying linoleic acid to the stratum corneum to improve barrier strength.
The high linoleic acid content is particularly noteworthy for acne-prone skin.
Research suggests that acne-prone skin tends to be deficient in linoleic acid in sebum. Topical application may help replenish this to support a healthier follicular environment and less comedone-promoting sebum.
One randomized study found sunflower seed oil preserved skin barrier integrity in adult volunteers with and without atopic dermatitis (outperforming olive oil).
This ingredient is well-studied, gentle, and an effective emollient suitable for most skin types.
On fungal acne: This ingredient may not be Fungal acne (Malassezia folliculitis) safe. This is because it contains fatty acids with carbon chain lengths in the C11-C24 range.
Learn more about Helianthus Annuus Seed OilHydroxyacetophenone is antioxidant with skin conditioning and soothing properties. It also boosts the efficiency of preservatives.
Though naturally occuring in Norwegian spruce needles, this ingredient is usually synthetically created.
This ingredient is not irritating or sensitizing. Recent research also suggests it may have skin-brightening effects through tyrosinase inhibition.
Learn more about HydroxyacetophenoneThis is a botanical extract from the rosemary plant (the same one you cook with). In skincare, it mostly works as a skin conditioning agent.
Its activity comes from a handful of polyphenols, carnosic acid, carnosol, and rosmarinic acid. Almost 90% of the antioxidant activity of this ingredient can be attributed to canosol and carnosic acid.
These compounds protect your skin two ways:
1) They fight off free radicals, or the unstable molecules from things like sun and pollution that age and damage skin.
2) They help calm inflammation by switching off the chemical signals that tell skin to get red and irritated.
Lab studies also suggest that rosmarinic acid may help protect collagen and slow sugar-related damage to it.
The Cosmetic Ingredient Review has concluded rosemary-derived ingredients to be safe when formulated to be non-sensitizing.
Rosemary can occasionally cause allergic contact dermatitis (due to carnosol), so be sure to patch test if you have reactive or fragrance-sensitive skin.
Learn more about Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf ExtractTocopherol 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 TocopherolWater. 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
