What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDibutyl Adipate
EmollientDiethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV FilterPropanediol
SolventDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientEthylhexyl Triazone
UV AbsorberMethylpropanediol
SolventBis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin ConditioningPhenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid
UV AbsorberArginine
MaskingC20-22 Alkyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingC20-22 Alcohols
Emulsion StabilisingBenzotriazolyl Dodecyl P-Cresol
UV AbsorberPalmitoyl Grape Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientCaprylyl/Capryl Glucoside
CleansingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPotassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPhenylpropanol
MaskingO-Cymen-5-Ol
AntimicrobialSodium Benzoate
MaskingPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantPicea Abies Wood Extract
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantWater, Dibutyl Adipate, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Propanediol, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Methylpropanediol, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid, Arginine, C20-22 Alkyl Phosphate, C20-22 Alcohols, Benzotriazolyl Dodecyl P-Cresol, Palmitoyl Grape Seed Extract, Glycerin, Caprylyl Glycol, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Ethylhexylglycerin, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Xanthan Gum, Phenylpropanol, O-Cymen-5-Ol, Sodium Benzoate, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Tocopheryl Acetate, Picea Abies Wood Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Tocopherol
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%
UV AbsorberHomosalate 10%
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Salicylate 5%
UV AbsorberOctocrylene 8%
UV AbsorberWater
Skin ConditioningC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialTriacontanyl Pvp
HumectantEuphorbia Cerifera Wax
Silica
AbrasivePEG-15 Cocamine
EmulsifyingAcrylates/Steareth-20 Methacrylate Copolymer
PEG-40 Stearate
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Behenate
EmollientPanthenol
Skin ConditioningLavandula Angustifolia Oil
MaskingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientMentha Viridis Leaf Oil
AstringentAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
Glycerin
HumectantCitrus Limon Peel Oil
MaskingPersea Gratissima Oil
Skin ConditioningPrunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin ConditioningSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientGlycine Soja Oil
EmollientMethyl Glucose Sesquistearate
EmollientTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantDaucus Carota Sativa Root Extract
Skin ConditioningBeta-Carotene
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantLinalool
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingCitral
PerfumingButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%, Homosalate 10%, Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%, Octocrylene 8%, Water, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Triacontanyl Pvp, Euphorbia Cerifera Wax, Silica, PEG-15 Cocamine, Acrylates/Steareth-20 Methacrylate Copolymer, PEG-40 Stearate, Glyceryl Behenate, Panthenol, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Caprylyl Glycol, Mentha Viridis Leaf Oil, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Glycerin, Citrus Limon Peel Oil, Persea Gratissima Oil, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Glycine Soja Oil, Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Daucus Carota Sativa Root Extract, Beta-Carotene, Tocopherol, Linalool, Limonene, Citral
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caprylyl 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, 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 TocopherolTocopheryl 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 AcetateWater. 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