What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Hydrogenated Coconut Oil
Emollient
Cera Alba
Emollient
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV Absorber
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Canola Oil
Emollient
Jojoba Esters
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Isopropyl Myristate
Emollient
Vanillin
Masking
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Saccharin
MaskingAlumina
Abrasive
Polyhydroxystearic Acid
Emulsifying
Silica
Abrasive
BHT
Antioxidant
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantHydrogenated Coconut Oil, Cera Alba, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Canola Oil, Jojoba Esters, Tocopheryl Acetate, Dimethicone, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Isopropyl Myristate, Vanillin, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Saccharin, Alumina, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Silica, BHT, CI 77891
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%
UV Absorber
Dimethicone 2%
Emollient
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate 6.6%
UV Absorber
Ethylhexyl Salicylate 4.4%
UV Absorber
Atelocollagen
Skin Conditioning
Beeswax
Emulsion Stabilising
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Dipalmitoyl Hydroxyproline
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Aroma
Jojoba Esters
Emollient
Lanolin Alcohol
Emollient
Microcrystalline Wax
Emulsion StabilisingOctyldodecanol
Emollient
Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate
Emollient
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Petrolatum
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Polybutene
Ricinus Communis Seed Oil
Masking
Saccharin
MaskingSilica Dimethyl Silylate
EmollientSodium Chondroitin Sulfate
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sorbic Acid
Preservative
Squalane
Emollient
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Ubiquinone
Antioxidant
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%, Dimethicone 2%, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate 6.6%, Ethylhexyl Salicylate 4.4%, Atelocollagen, Beeswax, Butylene Glycol, Dipalmitoyl Hydroxyproline, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Aroma, Jojoba Esters, Lanolin Alcohol, Microcrystalline Wax, Octyldodecanol, Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate, Pentylene Glycol, Petrolatum, Phenoxyethanol, Polybutene, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Saccharin, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Sodium Chondroitin Sulfate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sorbic Acid, Squalane, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ubiquinone
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Dimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeThis ingredient is also known as Octinoxate and is one of the oldest and most widely used chemical UV filters in skincare.
It has a simple job: soap up UVB radiation (290-320 nm), the wavelengths responsible for sunburn and a big chunk of long-term sun damage.
In formulas, it's always paired with a separate UVA filter because octinoxate solely protects skin from UVB.
Because it's an oil-soluble liquid, it's easy to blend into the oil phase of lotions/creams and gives a cosmetically elegant feel.
The one quirk about formulating this ingredient is photostability; the molecule slowly changes shape into a less effective version when sunlight hits it. So the longer you're in the sun, the weaker its protection gets. The drop can be more than 30% in some formulas.
It also doesn't play nice with Avobenzone (the common UVA filter) since avobenzone destabilizes octinoxate and the two degrade each other. But don't worry: brands have solved this issue by adding photostabilizers like Tinosorb S to prevent degradation and keep SPF stable under heavy UV exposure.
The maximum allowed level is 10% in the EU and Australia, 7.5% in the US and Canada, and 20% in Japan.
The Cosmetic Ingredient Review Panel has concluded this ingredient to be safe in cosmetics up to 10%.
One last thing worth knowing for context:
Octinoxate has been the subject of ongoing review in Europe where the Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety's (SCCS) 2025 final opinion is that this ingredient is an endocrine-active substance.
Lab and animal studies suggest it can act a bit like a hormone in the body (mildly mimicking estrogen and slightly blocking male hormones). It's important to know this hasn't really been shown to happen in everyday human use.
This ingredient is also banned in Hawaii over coral reef concerns.
Learn more about Ethylhexyl MethoxycinnamateJojoba Esters is a wax created from Jojoba oil. It is an emollient and film-forming ingredient. In bead form, it is an exfoliator.
This ingredient has high oxidative stability, meaning it doesn't break down when exposed to oxygen.
Its similarity to our skin's natural oils makes it a great emollient. Emollients help soften and soothe our skin by creating a barrier on top. This barrier helps trap moisture in, keeping skin hydrated.
It is created using either the hydrogenation or transesterification processes on jojoba oil.
Learn more about Jojoba EstersPhenoxyethanol 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 PhenoxyethanolWe don't have a description for Saccharin yet.
Tocopheryl Acetate is a stable, shelf-friendly form of vitamin E.
Formulators love it because plain vitamin E oxidizes quickly once it hits air. This acetate version stays stable and resists going off, helping to extend a product's shelf life.
It's actually inactive on its own and works like a slow-release "storage" form; the enzymes in your skin called esterases gradually convert it into active vitamin E over time.
One in vivo study showed 5% of the acetate in the living layer of the epidermis converted to vitamin E after 5 days of application. This study also found the skin gained protection against UV damage even though the conversion was slow and small.
Once converted, vitamin E acts as a skin's main fat-soluble antioxidant that fights free radicals to protect skin from damage.
Topical vitamin E generally boosts the skin's photoprotection, and it reduced UV-damage in animal models.
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.
Overall, it has a pretty solid safety profile and has been found to be non-irritating and non-comedogenic. Allergic reactions may happen but stay rare due to how widely the ingredient gets used.
The concentration will vary depending on the formula; industry data shows 0.1% in baby lotions, 3% in lipsticks, and 5% in foot powders. You can also find this ingredient at 100% in a pure vitamin E oil.
Most leave-on skincare keeps it at the lower end, often between 0.5-1%.
Learn more about Tocopheryl Acetate
