What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningOctocrylene
UV AbsorberHomosalate
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantEthylhexyl Salicylate
UV AbsorberButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV AbsorberPropylene Glycol
HumectantEthylhexyl Palmitate
EmollientPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingSorbitan Stearate
EmulsifyingBis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientStearyl Alcohol
EmollientCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTriethanolamine
BufferingHydroxypropyl Tetrahydropyrantriol
Skin ConditioningMenthyl Lactate
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeAllantoin
Skin ConditioningCetyl Alcohol
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantChrysanthemum Indicum Extract
AntioxidantMentha Arvensis Leaf Extract
MaskingPortulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin ConditioningPelargonium Graveolens Extract
MaskingCeramide Ns
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCeramide Ng
Skin ConditioningCeramide Eos
Skin ConditioningCeramide EOP
Skin ConditioningCeramide As
Skin ConditioningCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningResveratrol
AntioxidantBisabolol
AntioxidantTremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract
AntioxidantAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
EmollientMyristyl Alcohol
EmollientArachidyl Alcohol
EmollientCitrus Reticulata Fruit Extract
Skin ProtectingCitrus Medica Limonum Peel Extract
EmollientSophora Angustifolia Root Extract
Skin ConditioningWater, Octocrylene, Homosalate, Glycerin, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Propylene Glycol, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan Stearate, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Dimethicone, Glyceryl Stearate, Stearyl Alcohol, Carbomer, Triethanolamine, Hydroxypropyl Tetrahydropyrantriol, Menthyl Lactate, Phenoxyethanol, Allantoin, Cetyl Alcohol, Xanthan Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Butylene Glycol, Chrysanthemum Indicum Extract, Mentha Arvensis Leaf Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Pelargonium Graveolens Extract, Ceramide Ns, Ceramide NP, Ceramide Ng, Ceramide Eos, Ceramide EOP, Ceramide As, Ceramide AP, Resveratrol, Bisabolol, Tremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Myristyl Alcohol, Arachidyl Alcohol, Citrus Reticulata Fruit Extract, Citrus Medica Limonum Peel Extract, Sophora Angustifolia Root Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantPropanediol
SolventEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV AbsorberButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV AbsorberAloe Barbadensis Extract
Skin ConditioningPortulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingCucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
EmollientCamellia Sinensis Extract
AntioxidantPunica Granatum Fruit Extract
AntioxidantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeOctocrylene
UV AbsorberButylene Glycol
HumectantSodium Acrylates Copolymer
Propolis Wax
EmollientPicea Abies Extract
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Chitin
AbrasiveWater, Glycerin, Propanediol, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Aloe Barbadensis Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Niacinamide, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Camellia Sinensis Extract, Punica Granatum Fruit Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Octocrylene, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Propolis Wax, Picea Abies Extract, Allantoin, Xanthan Gum, Panthenol, Disodium EDTA, Chitin
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Allantoin is a soothing ingredient known for its protective and moisturizing properties; it's basically a quiet workhorse ingredient you can find in a huge range of cosmetics.
Though it can be derived from the comfrey plant, allantoin is produced synthetically for cosmetic products to ensure purity.
Research shows it can encourage your skin cells to turn over and renew by stimulating keratinocyte and fibroblast proliferation.
It also has mild keratolytic properties to help loosen and shed dead skin cells without being harsh.
Studies also suggest allantoin can help calm inflammation by dialing down some of the chemical signals your skin sends out when it is irritated.
This ingredient is typically used in the 0.1-0.5% range, and the FDA recognizes it as a skin protectant in OTC products up to 2%.
Overall, allantoin is a wonderful addition to most routines; it is stable across a wide pH range (~4-8), works well with other ingredients, and is considered non-sensitizing/non-irritating.
Fun fact: Allantoin is naturally occurring in comfrey root, beets, chamomile, and wheat sprouts. Our bodies even produce it as a byproduct of uric acid metabolism.
Learn more about AllantoinAlso 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 MethoxydibenzoylmethaneButylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolGlycerin (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 GlycerinOctocrylene protects skin from sun damage. It absorbs UV-B with peak absorption of 304 nm. It is a common sunscreen ingredient and often paired with avobenzone, a UVA filter. This is because octocrylene stabilizes other sunscreen ingredients by protecting them from degradation when exposed to sunlight. Octocrylene is a photostable ingredient and loses about 10% of SPF in 95 minutes.
Octocrylene also acts as an emollient, meaning it helps skin retain moisture and softens skin. It is oil-soluble and hydrophobic, enhancing water-resistant properties in a product.
Those who are using ketoprofen, a topical anti-inflammatory drug, may experience an allergic reaction when using octocrylene. It is best to speak with a healthcare professional about using sunscreens with octocrylene.
The EU allows a maximum of these concentrations:
Learn more about OctocrylenePhenoxyethanol 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.
This extract comes from Purslane, a succulent. It has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and hydrating properties.
Purslane is very nutritious. It contains omega-3 fatty acids, NMFs, many vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. The vitamins found in purslane include: Vitamin C, Vitamin A, and Vitamin E.
Fun fact: Purslane is a succulent with an extensive habitat. It is used in traditional Korean medicine to treat irritated skin.
Nowadays, purslane is becoming a superfood due to its highly nutritious content.
Learn more about Portulaca Oleracea ExtractWater. 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum