What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningNeopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate
EmollientGlycerin
Humectant
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV Absorber
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Silica
Abrasive
Urea
Buffering
Octocrylene
UV Absorber
Hydrolyzed Jojoba Esters
Skin Conditioning
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Vitis Vinifera Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Avena Sativa Kernel Extract
Abrasive
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialCeramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide As
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide Ns
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Laminaria Digitata Extract
Skin Protecting
Cholesterol
Emollient
Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Isohexadecane
EmollientPolysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Triethanolamine
BufferingLecithin
Emollient
BHT
Antioxidant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Disodium EDTA
Sorbitan Oleate
Emulsifying
Propanediol
Solvent
Ethyl Ferulate
Antioxidant
Polyglyceryl-5 Trioleate
Emollient
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Disodium Uridine Phosphate
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Cetyl-Pg Hydroxyethyl Palmitamide
Skin ConditioningWater, Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate, Glycerin, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Cetyl Alcohol, Silica, Urea, Octocrylene, Hydrolyzed Jojoba Esters, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Vitis Vinifera Leaf Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Ceramide AP, Ceramide As, Ceramide EOP, Ceramide NP, Ceramide Ns, Tocopherol, Laminaria Digitata Extract, Cholesterol, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Butylene Glycol, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Isohexadecane, Polysorbate 80, Triethanolamine, Lecithin, BHT, Phenoxyethanol, Disodium EDTA, Sorbitan Oleate, Propanediol, Ethyl Ferulate, Polyglyceryl-5 Trioleate, Propylene Glycol, Disodium Uridine Phosphate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Cetyl-Pg Hydroxyethyl Palmitamide
Water
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Octocrylene
UV Absorber
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingNiacinamide
Smoothing
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
PEG-20 Stearate
Emulsifying
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Artemisia Vulgaris Extract
Skin Conditioning
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Cetearyl Olivate
Anthyllis Vulneraria Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningFarnesol
Perfuming
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Saururus Chinensis Leaf/Root Extract
Antimicrobial
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Quaternium-73
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningArtemisia Vulgaris Oil
Perfuming
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
Antioxidant
Water, Propylene Glycol, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Octocrylene, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Cetearyl Alcohol, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Niacinamide, Phenoxyethanol, PEG-20 Stearate, Allantoin, Panthenol, Bisabolol, Artemisia Vulgaris Extract, Sorbitan Olivate, Cetearyl Olivate, Anthyllis Vulneraria Flower Extract, Farnesol, Salicylic Acid, Centella Asiatica Extract, Saururus Chinensis Leaf/Root Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Quaternium-73, Ethylhexylglycerin, Artemisia Vulgaris Oil, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
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 GlycolCentella Asiatica Extract (Centella) is derived from an herb native to Southeast Asia. It is famous for its anti-inflammatory and soothing properties.
Centella is rich in antioxidants and amino acids, such as Madecassic Acid and Asiaticoside.
Studies show the compounds in centella help with:
The combination of all these properties makes centella effective at soothing, hydrating, and protecting the skin.
Other great components of centella include Vitamin A, vitamin C, several B vitamins, and Asiatic Acid.
Fun fact: Centella has been used as a medicine and in food for many centuries. As a medicine, it is used to treat burns, scratches, and wounds.
Learn more about Centella Asiatica ExtractGlycerin (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 GlycerinOctocrylene protects skin from sun damage. It absorbs UV-B with peak absorption of 304 nm. It is a common sunscreen ingredient and often paired with avobenzone, a UVA filter. This is because octocrylene stabilizes other sunscreen ingredients by protecting them from degradation when exposed to sunlight. Octocrylene is a photostable ingredient and loses about 10% of SPF in 95 minutes.
Octocrylene also acts as an emollient, meaning it helps skin retain moisture and softens skin. It is oil-soluble and hydrophobic, enhancing water-resistant properties in a product.
Those who are using ketoprofen, a topical anti-inflammatory drug, may experience an allergic reaction when using octocrylene. It is best to speak with a healthcare professional about using sunscreens with octocrylene.
The EU allows a maximum of these concentrations:
Learn more about OctocrylenePhenoxyethanol 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
