Azarine Cicamide Barrier Sunscreen Moisturiser SPF 35 PA+++ Versus Npure Licorice Light Up Brightening Pad
This chemical sunscreen covers most of the UV range, lighter on the deep UVA that drives aging.
This brightening exfoliating pad uses a pre-saturated pad with Niacinamide and Gluconolactone to brighten dull-looking skin and fade the look of dark spots.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV Absorber
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Ceteareth-25
CleansingCentella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Acrylates Crosspolymer
AbsorbentInulin Lauryl Carbamate
Emulsion StabilisingCetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Behenic Acid
Cleansing
Ethylhexyl Triazone
UV Absorber
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Squalane
Emollient
Cholesterol
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide Ns
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide Eos
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Ectoin
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Caprooyl Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Caprooyl Sphingosine
Skin ConditioningOctocrylene
UV Absorber
Sodium Surfactin
CleansingWater, Glycerin, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Ceteareth-25, Centella Asiatica Extract, Acrylates Crosspolymer, Inulin Lauryl Carbamate, Cetyl Alcohol, Behenic Acid, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Chlorphenesin, Squalane, Cholesterol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ceramide NP, Ceramide Ns, Ceramide Eos, Ceramide EOP, Ceramide AP, Ectoin, Phenoxyethanol, Caprooyl Phytosphingosine, Caprooyl Sphingosine, Octocrylene, Sodium Surfactin
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Methylpropanediol
Solvent1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Sodium Citrate
BufferingOctyldodeceth-16
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCitrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
Masking
Citric Acid
Buffering
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Masking
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Acetyl Glucosamine
Skin Conditioning
Salix Alba Bark Extract
Astringent
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-10
Skin Conditioning
Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate
Humectant
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Glycyrrhiza Uralensis Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Cetyl Palmitate
Emollient
Sorbitan Stearate
Emulsifying
Polysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Water, Butylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Methylpropanediol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caffeine, Phenoxyethanol, Hydroxyacetophenone, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Sodium Citrate, Octyldodeceth-16, Disodium EDTA, Allantoin, Xanthan Gum, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Citric Acid, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Tocopherol, Gluconolactone, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Acetyl Glucosamine, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-10, Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate, Lactic Acid, Glycyrrhiza Uralensis Root Extract, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetyl Palmitate, Sorbitan Stearate, Polysorbate 80, Sodium Benzoate, Hydrogenated Lecithin
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Phenoxyethanol is one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.
Learn more about PhenoxyethanolWater. 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
