What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV AbsorberCyclohexasiloxane
EmollientPropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantTerephthalylidene Dicamphor Sulfonic Acid
UV AbsorberTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic ColorantTriethanolamine
BufferingC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialDrometrizole Trisiloxane
UV AbsorberStearic Acid
CleansingPotassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingTocopherol
AntioxidantSodium Cocoyl Sarcosinate
CleansingHydroxypropyl Methylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePEG-100 Stearate
Ethylparaben
PreservativePalmitic Acid
EmollientNelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientTromethamine
BufferingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingDisodium EDTA
Cetyl Alcohol
EmollientMethylparaben
PreservativeAluminum Hydroxide
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientGlycine Soja Oil
EmollientWater, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Cyclohexasiloxane, Propylene Glycol, Glycerin, Terephthalylidene Dicamphor Sulfonic Acid, Titanium Dioxide, Triethanolamine, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Drometrizole Trisiloxane, Stearic Acid, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Tocopherol, Sodium Cocoyl Sarcosinate, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Phenoxyethanol, PEG-100 Stearate, Ethylparaben, Palmitic Acid, Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract, Dimethicone, Tromethamine, Caprylyl Glycol, Carbomer, Disodium EDTA, Cetyl Alcohol, Methylparaben, Aluminum Hydroxide, Glyceryl Stearate, Glycine Soja Oil
Water
Skin ConditioningIsononyl Isononanoate
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantOctocrylene
UV AbsorberNiacinamide
SmoothingEthylhexyl Salicylate
UV AbsorberDiisopropyl Sebacate
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientSucrose Tristearate
EmollientButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV AbsorberCyclohexasiloxane
EmollientAmmonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingMethylsilanol/Silicate Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningDrometrizole Trisiloxane
UV AbsorberAscorbyl Glucoside
AntioxidantPolysorbate 61
EmulsifyingPEG-12 Dimethicone
Skin ConditioningDimethiconol
EmollientCaffeine
Skin ConditioningSodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingDisodium EDTA
Citric Acid
BufferingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Benzoate
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantCI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Isononyl Isononanoate, Glycerin, Octocrylene, Niacinamide, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Diisopropyl Sebacate, Dimethicone, Sucrose Tristearate, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Cyclohexasiloxane, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Methylsilanol/Silicate Crosspolymer, Drometrizole Trisiloxane, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Polysorbate 61, PEG-12 Dimethicone, Dimethiconol, Caffeine, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Disodium EDTA, Citric Acid, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, CI 19140, CI 42090
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolCyclohexasiloxane is a type of silicone more commonly known as D6. It is an emollient and solvent.
Cyclohexasiloxane is used to evenly distribute ingredients throughout the product. When applied to the skin, Cyclohexasiloxane evaporates and leaves behind a silky feel.
As an emollient, it can help the skin feel soft and hydrated. It is also used to reduce frizz in hair products.
Learn more about CyclohexasiloxaneDimethicone 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 DimethiconeDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTADrometrizole Trisiloxane is a UV filter that provides both UV-A (344 nm) and UV-B (303 nm) protection.
This ingredient is photostable and studies show it to be generally safe and effective. The compound Meroxyl XL is owned by L'Oreal while Drometrizole trisiloxane can be found in other sunscreen brands.
It is currently approved for use in the EU, Canada, Australia, and Japan. However, it is not yet approved for use in the US.
This ingredient is often used with other sunscreen ingredients, such as Ecamsule.
Learn more about Drometrizole TrisiloxaneGlycerin (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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol 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.
Water. 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