What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDibutyl Adipate
EmollientOctocrylene
UV Absorber
Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol
UV Filter
Tetrabutyl Ethylidenebisphenol
Antioxidant
Propanediol
Solvent
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Glycerin
Humectant
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientBis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin Conditioning
Ascorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Corn Starch Modified
AbsorbentDicaprylyl Ether
Emollient
Silica
Abrasive
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
C20-22 Alkyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingC20-22 Alcohols
Emulsion Stabilising
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCoco-Glucoside
Cleansing
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSqualane
Emollient
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Citrate
Buffering1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Glycol
HumectantGlycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Citric Acid
Buffering
Ectoin
Skin Conditioning
Mannitol
Humectant
Xylitol
Humectant
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Rhamnose
HumectantPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Asiaticoside
Antioxidant
Madecassic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Asiatic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Fructooligosaccharides
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Laminaria Ochroleuca Extract
Skin Conditioning
Parfum
Masking
Water, Dibutyl Adipate, Octocrylene, Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol, Tetrabutyl Ethylidenebisphenol, Propanediol, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Glycerin, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Corn Starch Modified, Dicaprylyl Ether, Silica, Tocopherol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Decyl Glucoside, C20-22 Alkyl Phosphate, C20-22 Alcohols, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Coco-Glucoside, Pentylene Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Squalane, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Citrate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Glycol, Glycine Soja Oil, Citric Acid, Ectoin, Mannitol, Xylitol, Polysorbate 60, Rhamnose, Propylene Glycol, Asiaticoside, Madecassic Acid, Asiatic Acid, Sorbitan Isostearate, Fructooligosaccharides, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Laminaria Ochroleuca Extract, Parfum
Zinc Oxide 20%
Cosmetic Colorant
Water
Skin ConditioningCocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Butyloctyl Salicylate
Skin Conditioning
Diheptyl Succinate
EmollientMethyl Dihydroabietate
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer
Skin ConditioningSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Arachidyl Alcohol
Emollient
Coco-Glucoside
Cleansing
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Arachidyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingMicrocrystalline Cellulose
AbsorbentCellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Citric Acid
Buffering
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPolyhydroxystearic Acid
Emulsifying
Zinc Oxide 20%, Water, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Diheptyl Succinate, Methyl Dihydroabietate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Arachidyl Alcohol, Coco-Glucoside, Tocopherol, Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter, Cetyl Alcohol, Behenyl Alcohol, Bisabolol, Arachidyl Glucoside, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Cellulose Gum, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Gluconate, Phenoxyethanol, Citric Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Polyhydroxystearic Acid
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Cetearyl alcohol is a waxy mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is an emollient and emulsifier.
Despite having "alcohol" in its name, it has nothing to do with drying solvent alcohols; the FDA also allows "alcohol-free" products to contain fatty alcohols like this ingredient.
It plays several roles in a formula:
Typical use levels for this ingredient sit around 1-10% and the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has affirmed safety at concentrations up to 25% in leave-on products.
Multiple assessments have found it to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing to most people.
However, there have been some cases of allergic contact dermatitis in patients with chronically compromised skin barriers.
Cetearyl alcohol has a comedogenic rating of 2 and irritancy rating of 1. Both of these numbers come from the 1989 study that used rabbit ears; a "2" means mildly comedogenic and a "1" means low irritancy.
Here's the catch: rabbit skin is more sensitive than human skin and throws a lot of false positives. A 1996 reappraisal found that ingredients rated 1-2 in the rabbit ear tests are generally safe for humans.
Remember comedogenic ratings are unable to assess the entire formula of a product or how it will react on your skin. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure about certain ingredients.
This ingredient is not fungal acne safe. Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol with chain lengths that fall within the range that Malassezia can metabolize.
A 2019 study has also observed Malassezia growth in the presence of this ingredient, confirming it to be not-fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholCitric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidCoco-Glucoside is a surfactant, or a cleansing ingredient. It is made from glucose and coconut oil.
Surfactants help gather dirt, oil, and other pollutants from your skin to be rinsed away.
This ingredient is considered gentle and non-comedogenic. However, it may still be irritating for some.
Learn more about Coco-GlucosideTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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
