What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientDiisopropyl Adipate
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantMethylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol
UV FilterBis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin ConditioningDiethylhexyl Butamido Triazone
UV AbsorberPolymethyl Methacrylate
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV AbsorberButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningMethyl Gluceth-20
HumectantIsocetyl Stearoyl Stearate
EmollientTriethylhexanoin
MaskingHydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate
HumectantC10-18 Triglycerides
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPEG-100 Stearate
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingBenzoic Acid
MaskingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientDecyl Glucoside
CleansingDisodium EDTA
Parfum
MaskingGlyceryl Behenate
EmollientGlyceryl Dibehenate
EmollientPhytosterols
Skin ConditioningPolyacrylate-13
Polyisobutene
Polysorbate 20
EmulsifyingPropylene Glycol
HumectantSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingStearyl Alcohol
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantTocopheryl Glucoside
EmollientTribehenin
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingWater, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Diisopropyl Adipate, Glycerin, Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Diethylhexyl Butamido Triazone, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Methyl Gluceth-20, Isocetyl Stearoyl Stearate, Triethylhexanoin, Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate, C10-18 Triglycerides, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Benzoic Acid, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Caprylyl Glycol, Decyl Glucoside, Disodium EDTA, Parfum, Glyceryl Behenate, Glyceryl Dibehenate, Phytosterols, Polyacrylate-13, Polyisobutene, Polysorbate 20, Propylene Glycol, Sorbitan Isostearate, Stearyl Alcohol, Tocopherol, Tocopheryl Glucoside, Tribehenin, Xanthan Gum
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%
UV AbsorberOctocrylene 10%
UV AbsorberWater
Skin ConditioningDiisopropyl Adipate
EmollientCyclomethicone
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPEG-100 Stearate
Polymethyl Methacrylate
Phenoxyethanol
PreservativeBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingDisodium EDTA
Triethanolamine
BufferingButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%, Octocrylene 10%, Water, Diisopropyl Adipate, Cyclomethicone, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Phenoxyethanol, Benzyl Alcohol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Tocopheryl Acetate, Carbomer, Disodium EDTA, Triethanolamine
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 MethoxydibenzoylmethaneDiisopropyl Adipate comes from isopropyl alcohol and Adipic Acid.
It is a solvent and emollient. As a solvent, it is used to help other ingredients dissolve into the solution. It is also often used to soften hard ingredients.
Emollients help hydrate the skin by creating a thin barrier. This thin barrier prevents moisture from escaping.
Learn more about Diisopropyl AdipateDisodium 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 StearatePeg-100 Stearate is an emollient and emulsifier. As an emollient, it helps keep skin soft by trapping moisture in. On the other hand, emulsifiers help prevent oil and water from separating in a product.
PEGS are a hydrophilic polyether compound . There are 100 ethylene oxide monomers in Peg-100 Stearate. Peg-100 Stearate is polyethylene glycol ester of stearic acid.
This ingredient is also known as PMMA. It is a polymer microsphere, composed of tiny, perfectly spherical particles formed from repeating units.
In cosmetics, PMMA is mainly used to give a soft or blurring effect. The transparent particles are able to scatter light and help reduce the appearance of fine-lines and imperfections.
PMMA is also able to enhance the texture of products by add a smooth feel.
Learn more about Polymethyl MethacrylateWater. 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