What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Zinc Oxide 17.68%
Cosmetic Colorant
Water
Skin ConditioningDicaprylyl Ether
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
C13-15 Alkane
SolventPolyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate
Emulsifying
Glyceryl Citrate/Lactate/Linoleate/Oleate
Emulsifying
Coco-Caprylate
Emollient
Squalane
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Ectoin
Skin Conditioning
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Hedychium Coronarium Root Extract
MaskingVaccinium Macrocarpon Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Xylitol
Humectant
Anhydroxylitol
Humectant
Xylitylglucoside
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Glucose
Humectant
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingHectorite
AbsorbentIsostearic Acid
Cleansing
Lecithin
Emollient
Polyhydroxystearic Acid
Emulsifying
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Zinc Oxide 17.68%, Water, Dicaprylyl Ether, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, C13-15 Alkane, Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate, Glyceryl Citrate/Lactate/Linoleate/Oleate, Coco-Caprylate, Squalane, Glycerin, Ectoin, Bisabolol, Cetyl Alcohol, Hedychium Coronarium Root Extract, Vaccinium Macrocarpon Seed Oil, Xylitol, Anhydroxylitol, Xylitylglucoside, Tocopherol, Glucose, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Hectorite, Isostearic Acid, Lecithin, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Sorbitan Isostearate
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%
UV Absorber
Homosalate 7%
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%
UV Absorber
Octocrylene 9%
UV Absorber
Water
Skin ConditioningButyloctyl Salicylate
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientDiisopropyl Adipate
EmollientSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingCocoglycerides
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Microcrystalline Cellulose
AbsorbentTocopherol
Antioxidant
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ethyl Ferulate
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Glyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
Methylheptylglycerin
HumectantSodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPhospholipids
Skin Conditioning
Cellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingCitric Acid
Buffering
Glycolipids
Skin ConditioningOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Phosphatidylserine
Emulsion StabilisingAstaxanthin
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Cholesterol
Emollient
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Oleic Acid
Emollient
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Haematococcus Pluvialis Extract
Antioxidant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%, Homosalate 7%, Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%, Octocrylene 9%, Water, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Glycerin, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Diisopropyl Adipate, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Cocoglycerides, Propanediol, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Tocopherol, Bisabolol, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethyl Ferulate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Methylheptylglycerin, Sodium Gluconate, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Xanthan Gum, Phospholipids, Cellulose Gum, Citric Acid, Glycolipids, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Phosphatidylserine, Astaxanthin, Ceramide NP, Cholesterol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Oleic Acid, Phytosphingosine, Haematococcus Pluvialis Extract, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Stearic Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Beta-Glucan, Lactic 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.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives
Bisabolol is a gentle skin conditioner, antioxidant, and soothing ingredient.
It's primary claim to fame is soothing and research shows topically applied bisabolol can quiet the chemical messengers that cause your skin to become inflamed, helping to sooth any irritation.
A clinical study found that applying 0.5% bisabolol daily for 8 weeks produced an average 9% decrease in skin pigmentation. Researchers found it can also suppress the process that leads to excess melanin production in skin.
In vitro studies found that bisabolol combined with propylene glycol significantly increased skin permeability by increasing lipid fluidity in the stratum corneum.
You'll likely see use concentrations quite low, usually 0.1-0.2%.
Overall, this is a well-tolerated ingredient that works well in formulas designed for sensitive, reactive, or post-procedure skin.
Learn more about BisabololThis ingredient is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping the skin prevent moisture loss.
It helps thicken a product's formula and makes it easier to spread by dissolving clumping compounds.
Caprylic Triglyceride is made by combining glycerin with coconut oil, forming a clear liquid. Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. 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. Be sure to 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.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideCaprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl 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 GlycerinTocopherol 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
