What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Octocrylene
UV Absorber
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV Absorber
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantC14-22 Alcohols
Emulsion Stabilising
Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPotassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingCeteareth-2
EmulsifyingCeteareth-21
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Isohexadecane
EmollientC12-20 Alkyl Glucoside
Emulsifying3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Silica
Abrasive
Polysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Triethoxycaprylylsilane
Alumina
Abrasive
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSorbitan Oleate
Emulsifying
Disodium EDTA
CI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantCentella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Theobroma Cacao Seed Extract
Antioxidant
Water, Glycerin, Octocrylene, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Butylene Glycol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, CI 77891, C14-22 Alcohols, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Ceteareth-2, Ceteareth-21, Phenoxyethanol, Isohexadecane, C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Silica, Polysorbate 80, Niacinamide, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Alumina, Xanthan Gum, Sorbitan Oleate, Disodium EDTA, CI 19140, Centella Asiatica Extract, Theobroma Cacao Seed Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV Absorber
Propanediol
Solvent
Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV Filter
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Silica
Abrasive
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Aminomethyl Propanol
BufferingSorbitan Stearate
Emulsifying
Magnesium Aluminum Silicate
Absorbent
Dihydroxypropyl Arginine Hcl
HumectantHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
PEG-9 Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Methicone
Skin Conditioning
Tridecane
Perfuming
Undecane
EmollientCaprylyl Methicone
Skin Conditioning
Steareth-21
CleansingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Parfum
Masking
Disodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Surfactin
CleansingPhytosterols
Skin Conditioning
Sucrose Cocoate
Emulsifying
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Zinc PCA
Humectant
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Ectoin
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Glucosylrutin
Antioxidant
Polyester-7
Skin ConditioningPEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate
EmollientZea Mays Starch
Absorbent
Portulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin Conditioning
Cocamidopropyl Dimethylamine
Emulsifying
Hydrolyzed Corn Starch
HumectantHydrolyzed Corn Starch Octenylsuccinate
AbsorbentIsoquercitrin
Antioxidant
Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
Astringent
O-Cymen-5-Ol
Antimicrobial
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Hamamelis Virginiana Extract
Antiseborrhoeic
Buddleja Officinalis Flower Extract
UV FilterPhenylethyl Resorcinol
Antioxidant
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Lactic Acid
Buffering
10-Hydroxydecanoic Acid
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingHydrated Silica
Abrasive
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin Conditioning
Madecassoside
Antioxidant
Asiaticoside
Antioxidant
Ceramide As
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide Ns
Skin Conditioning
Glucose
Humectant
Asiatic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Madecassic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Chondrus Crispus Extract
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Potassium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningCeramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Water, Propylene Glycol, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Propanediol, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Butylene Glycol, Silica, Phenoxyethanol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Hydroxyacetophenone, Aminomethyl Propanol, Sorbitan Stearate, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Dihydroxypropyl Arginine Hcl, Hydrogenated Lecithin, PEG-9 Dimethicone, Cetearyl Methicone, Tridecane, Undecane, Caprylyl Methicone, Steareth-21, Caprylyl Glycol, Parfum, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Surfactin, Phytosterols, Sucrose Cocoate, Sodium Benzoate, Zinc PCA, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Ectoin, Glycerin, Glucosylrutin, Polyester-7, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate, Zea Mays Starch, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Cocamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Hydrolyzed Corn Starch, Hydrolyzed Corn Starch Octenylsuccinate, Isoquercitrin, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, O-Cymen-5-Ol, Salicylic Acid, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Hamamelis Virginiana Extract, Buddleja Officinalis Flower Extract, Phenylethyl Resorcinol, Ceramide NP, 1,2-Hexanediol, Lactic Acid, 10-Hydroxydecanoic Acid, Xanthan Gum, Hydrated Silica, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Madecassoside, Asiaticoside, Ceramide As, Ceramide Ns, Glucose, Asiatic Acid, Madecassic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Potassium Hyaluronate, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Butylene 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 GlycolDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAThis 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 MethoxycinnamateGlycerin (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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol 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.
Silica, also known as silicon dioxide, is a naturally occurring mineral. It is used as a fine, spherical, and porous powder in cosmetics.
Though it has exfoliant properties, the function of silica varies depending on the product.
The unique structure of silica enhances the spreadability and adds smoothness, making it a great texture enhancer.
It is also used as an active carrier, emulsifier, and mattifier due to its ability to absorb excess oil.
In some products, tiny microneedles called spicules are made from silica or hydrolyzed sponge. When you rub them in, they lightly polish away dead skin layers and enhance the penetration of active ingredients.
Learn more about SilicaWater. 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
