What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningNovemer Ec-2
Emulsion StabilisingGlycerin
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic ColorantC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialArbutin
AntioxidantSalicylic Acid
Masking3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract
PerfumingNiacinamide
SmoothingGlutathione
Parfum
MaskingCI 15985
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Novemer Ec-2, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Titanium Dioxide, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Arbutin, Salicylic Acid, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Tocopheryl Acetate, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract, Niacinamide, Glutathione, Parfum, CI 15985
Water
Skin ConditioningButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV AbsorberCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic ColorantGlycerin
HumectantCetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientCera Alba
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningPotassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingMethylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol
UV FilterPEG-20 Stearate
EmulsifyingNiacinamide
SmoothingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeButylene Glycol
HumectantCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingMethylparaben
PreservativeAllantoin
Skin ConditioningCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantTriethanolamine
BufferingDecyl Glucoside
CleansingArctostaphylos Uva-Ursi Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningAlumina
AbrasiveCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantMorus Alba Fruit Extract
Antioxidant3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin ConditioningSorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingCetearyl Olivate
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
HumectantZinc Oxide
Cosmetic ColorantAlpha-Arbutin
AntioxidantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSaururus Chinensis Leaf/Root Extract
AntimicrobialTaraxacum Officinale Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantFructose
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantStephania Tetrandra Root Extract
Skin ConditioningPhosphatidylcholine
EmulsifyingTocopherol
AntioxidantCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-10 Oleate
Skin ConditioningGlycyrrhiza Uralensis Root Extract
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
EmollientPortulaca Oleracea Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
AntioxidantSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingAnthemis Nobilis Flower Extract
MaskingPelargonium Graveolens Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
MaskingGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientWater, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Cetearyl Alcohol, Titanium Dioxide, Glycerin, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Cera Alba, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol, PEG-20 Stearate, Niacinamide, Phenoxyethanol, Butylene Glycol, Carbomer, Methylparaben, Allantoin, CI 77492, Triethanolamine, Decyl Glucoside, Arctostaphylos Uva-Ursi Leaf Extract, Alumina, CI 77491, Morus Alba Fruit Extract, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Sorbitan Olivate, Cetearyl Olivate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Propylene Glycol, Zinc Oxide, Alpha-Arbutin, Xanthan Gum, Saururus Chinensis Leaf/Root Extract, Taraxacum Officinale Leaf Extract, Hydroxyacetophenone, Fructose, Sodium Hyaluronate, Stephania Tetrandra Root Extract, Phosphatidylcholine, Tocopherol, Ceramide NP, Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate, Glycyrrhiza Uralensis Root Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Glyceryl Caprylate
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
You might know this ingredient as Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, a more stable version of ascorbic acid.
Like other types of vitamin C, this ingredient has many benefits including reducing wrinkles, skin soothing, dark spot fading, and fighting against free radicals.
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid interferes with the process of skin darkening, helping to reduce hyperpigmentation. It also encourages the skin to produce more collagen.
Once applied, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid is converted to Vitamin C deeper in the skin's layers. This process is slow but makes this ingredient more tolerable for skin.
The optimum pH range for this ingredient is 4 - 5.5
Learn more about 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic AcidGlycerin (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 GlycerinNiacinamide is a multitasking form of vitamin B3 that strengthens the skin barrier, reduces pores and dark spots, regulates oil, and improves signs of aging.
And the best part? It's gentle and well-tolerated by most skin types, including sensitive and reactive skin.
You might have heard of "niacin flush", or the reddening of skin that causes itchiness. Niacinamide has not been found to cause this.
In very rare cases, some individuals may not be able to tolerate niacinamide at all or experience an allergic reaction to it.
If you are experiencing flaking, irritation, and dryness with this ingredient, be sure to double check all your products as this ingredient can be found in all categories of skincare.
When incorporating niacinamide into your routine, look out for concentration amounts. Typically, 5% niacinamide provides benefits such as fading dark spots. However, if you have sensitive skin, it is better to begin with a smaller concentration.
When you apply niacinamide to your skin, your body converts it into nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD). NAD is an essential coenzyme that is already found in your cells as "fuel" and powers countless biological processes.
In your skin, NAD helps repair cell damage, produce new healthy cells, support collagen production, strengthen the skin barrier, and fight environmental stressors (like UV and pollution).
Our natural NAD levels start to decline with age, leading to slower skin repair, visible aging, and a weaker skin barrier. By providing your skin niacinamide, you're recharging your skin's NAD levels. This leads to stronger, healthier, and younger looking skin.
Another name for vitamin B3 is nicotinamide. This vitamin is water-soluble and our bodies don't store it. We obtain Vitamin B3 from either food or skincare. Meat, fish, wheat, yeast, and leafy greens contain vitamin B3.
The type of niacinamide used in skincare is synthetically created.
Learn more about NiacinamidePhenoxyethanol 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 DioxideWater. 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