What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Zinc Oxide 12%
Cosmetic ColorantWater
Skin ConditioningC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialJojoba Esters
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingPropanediol
SolventPolyglyceryl-4 Diisostearate/Polyhydroxystearate/Sebacate
EmulsifyingTridecyl Salicylate
Skin ConditioningNylon-12
Niacinamide
SmoothingMethylpropanediol
SolventSilica
AbrasiveGlycerin
HumectantSodium Chloride
MaskingCoco-Caprylate
EmollientPolyglyceryl-2 Dipolyhydroxystearate
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientBisabolol
AntioxidantAllantoin
Skin ConditioningOryza Sativa Bran Extract
Skin ConditioningStearalkonium Hectorite
Gel FormingLecithin
EmollientPolyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate
EmulsifyingPhenylpropane
SolventHelianthus Annuus Extract
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialTetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingZinc Oxide 12%, Water, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Jojoba Esters, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Propanediol, Polyglyceryl-4 Diisostearate/Polyhydroxystearate/Sebacate, Tridecyl Salicylate, Nylon-12, Niacinamide, Methylpropanediol, Silica, Glycerin, Sodium Chloride, Coco-Caprylate, Polyglyceryl-2 Dipolyhydroxystearate, Caprylyl Glycol, Bisabolol, Allantoin, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Stearalkonium Hectorite, Lecithin, Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate, Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate, Phenylpropane, Helianthus Annuus Extract, Tocopherol, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Sodium Hydroxide
Water
Skin ConditioningC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialDiisopropyl Adipate
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantDiethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV FilterMethylpropanediol
SolventDiethylhexyl Butamido Triazone
UV AbsorberBis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin ConditioningVp/Eicosene Copolymer
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingHydrogenated Phosphatidylcholine
EmulsifyingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningSodium Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonate
UV AbsorberButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningSqualane
EmollientSclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingT-Butyl Alcohol
PerfumingWater, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Diisopropyl Adipate, Glycerin, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Methylpropanediol, Diethylhexyl Butamido Triazone, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Vp/Eicosene Copolymer, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hydrogenated Phosphatidylcholine, Pentylene Glycol, Sodium Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Glyceryl Caprylate, Ceramide NP, Squalane, Sclerotium Gum, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Hydroxyethylcellulose, T-Butyl Alcohol
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate is made up of Benzoic Acid and long chain alcohols. It has a low molecular weight.
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate is an emollient and texture enhancer. Due to its solubility, it is often used in sunscreens to help evenly distribute active ingredients.
As an emollient, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate helps soften and hydrate your skin. Emollients create a film on your skin that traps moisture within.
This ingredient has been reported to cause eye irritation.
Learn more about C12-15 Alkyl BenzoateCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride (aka MCT Oil) is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping to prevent moisture loss.
Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. One perk of this ingredient is that it is very stable, resistant to oxidation, and unlikely to go rancid.
In practice, that translates to a long shelf life and a consistently elegant skin feel.
While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this. Just patch test if you have concerns.
Fractionated coconut oil and MCT Oil are both listed as Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride according to INCI. This is because INCI names are based on the ingredient’s final chemical composition and not its marketing name or source.
This ingredient is treated as the gold standard fungal acne safe oil. Even though it is coconut derived, the problematic lauric acid is stripped out.
This leaves just caprylic (C8) and capric (C10) acid. These chain lengths actually trend antifungal; a 2020 study found caprylic acid was enough to disrupt Malassezia furfur cell membrane, with a caprylic acid derivative damaging membrane structures at concentrations as low as 0.2%.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideGlycerin (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 GlycerinMethylpropanediol is a synthetic solvent and humectant.
As a solvent, it helps dissolve other ingredients, helping to evenly distribute ingredients throughout the product. This ingredient has also been shown to have antimicrobial properties which makes it a preservative booster.
Methylpropanediol is able to add a bit of moisture to the skin. It also helps other ingredients be better absorbed into the skin, such as salicylic acid.
Learn more about MethylpropanediolWater. 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