What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 1.5%
UV Absorber
Homosalate 5%
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexyl Salicylate 4%
UV Absorber
Octocrylene 6%
UV Absorber
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Methicone
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Glycine Soja Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Parfum
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Polyacrylate-13
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Steareth-21
CleansingPolyisobutene
Disodium EDTA
Silica
Abrasive
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 1.5%, Homosalate 5%, Ethylhexyl Salicylate 4%, Octocrylene 6%, Water, Caprylyl Methicone, Glycerin, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Glycine Soja Seed Extract, Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Crosspolymer, Pentylene Glycol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Parfum, Phenoxyethanol, Glyceryl Stearate, Polyacrylate-13, Chlorphenesin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Steareth-21, Polyisobutene, Disodium EDTA, Silica, Polysorbate 20, Sodium Hydroxide, Titanium Dioxide, Mica
Titanium Dioxide 5.8%
Cosmetic Colorant
Zinc Oxide 12.5%
Cosmetic Colorant
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Ethylhexyl Methoxycrylene
Skin Conditioning
Dimethicone
Emollient
Triacontanyl Pvp
HumectantGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Calcium Sodium Borosilicate
PEG-100 Stearate
Polyhydroxystearic Acid
Emulsifying
Vp/Hexadecene Copolymer
Avena Sativa Kernel Extract
Abrasive
Chrysanthemum Parthenium Flower/Leaf/Stem Juice
Antioxidant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Triethoxycaprylylsilane
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Chloride
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Disodium EDTA
Aluminum Hydroxide
EmollientIron Oxides
Titanium Dioxide 5.8%, Zinc Oxide 12.5%, Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Ethylhexyl Methoxycrylene, Dimethicone, Triacontanyl Pvp, Glyceryl Stearate, Calcium Sodium Borosilicate, PEG-100 Stearate, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Vp/Hexadecene Copolymer, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Chrysanthemum Parthenium Flower/Leaf/Stem Juice, Tocopheryl Acetate, Xanthan Gum, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Stearic Acid, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Chloride, Phenoxyethanol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Chlorphenesin, Disodium EDTA, Aluminum Hydroxide, Iron Oxides
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Chlorphenesin is a synthetic preservative. It helps protect a product against bacteria in order to extend shelf life. In most cases, Chlorphenesin is paired with other preservatives such as phenoxyethanol and caprylyl glycol.
Chlorphenesin is a biocide. This means it is able to help fight the microorganisms on our skin. It is also able to fight odor-releasing bacteria.
Chlorphenesin is soluble in both water and glycerin.
Studies show Chlorphenesin is easily absorbed by our skin. You should speak with a skincare professional if you have concerns about using Chlorphenesin.
Learn more about ChlorphenesinDisodium 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 EDTAGlycerin (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 GlycerinGlyceryl Stearate is made by reacting glycerin with stearic acid (typically sourced from plant oils like palm or coconut). It's an emulsifier, emollient, and mild occlusive.
Emulsifiers help ingredients like oil and water stay mixed so your formula stays nicely blended and uniform in texture.
This ingredient is typically used in concentrations between 1-10%. Studies have found it to be non-sensitizing, non-phototoxic, and non-photoallergenic.
A close cousin of this ingredient is Glyceryl Stearate SE ("self-emulsifying"). This just has a small amount of sodium or potassium stearate added so it can emulsify without a co-emulsifier.
Since this ingredient is an ester of a C18 fatty acid, it may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast can potentially metabolize within the C11-C24 range.
Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.
Learn more about Glyceryl StearatePhenoxyethanol 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.
Titanium dioxide is a mineral UV filter widely used in sunscreens and cosmetics.
It is one of only two UV filters officially classified as “mineral” by regulatory agencies, the other being zinc oxide.
Titanium dioxide provides broad-spectrum protection mostly in the UVB and UVAII range, with some protection in the UVAI range.
While its UVA protection isn’t as strong as zinc oxide’s, the difference is minor.
A common myth is that mineral UV filters reflect UV light. However, modern research shows titanium dioxide absorbs UV radiation like chemical filters (~95% absorption & 5% reflection).
Thanks to its non-irritating nature, titanium dioxide is suitable for sensitive, acne-prone, or redness-prone skin. It is unlikely to cause "eye sting" like other sunscreen ingredients.
A major drawback of this ingredient is its white cast and thick texture. This is why mineral sunscreens often leave a white cast and are less cosmetically elegant than chemical/hybrid sunscreens.
To improve white cast and spreadability, micronized or nano-sized titanium dioxide is often used.
There are ongoing concerns surrounding nano-titanium oxide's impact on marine ecosystems.
There is no conclusive evidence that any form of titanium oxide (or any other sunscreen ingredients) will cause harm to marine ecosystems or coral reefs. The science is still developing but many consumers are keeping a close eye on this issue.
Please note, many destinations have reef-safety sunscreen rules. For instance, the U.S. Virgin Islands advises all visitors to use non-nano mineral sunscreens.
Nano mineral sunscreens once raised safety concerns about absorption into skin.
Extensive research has shown that they do not penetrate healthy or damaged skin; they remain safely on the surface and the top layer of dead skin (stratum corneum).
You'll likely find titanium dioxide bundled with alumina, silica, or dimethicone. These ingredients help make titanium dioxide highly photostable; this prevents it from interacting with other formula components under UV light.
Learn more about Titanium DioxideTocopheryl 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
