What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Zinc Oxide 21.1%
Cosmetic ColorantWater
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingButyloctyl Salicylate
Skin ConditioningCalcium Sodium Borosilicate
Erythritol
HumectantLauryl Laurate
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventCarthamus Tinctorius Oleosomes
EmollientBentonite
AbsorbentNiacinamide
SmoothingPalmitoyl Grapevine Shoot Extract
AntioxidantCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientEthyl Ferulate
AntioxidantSucrose Polystearate
EmollientHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientSucrose Stearate
EmollientCoco-Glucoside
CleansingBisabolol
AntioxidantCitric Acid
BufferingCaramel
Cosmetic ColorantPolyhydroxystearic Acid
EmulsifyingPongamia Pinnata Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Glycerin
HumectantTocopherol
AntioxidantMicrocrystalline Cellulose
AbsorbentBeta-Sitosterol
Emulsion StabilisingGluconolactone
Skin ConditioningSqualene
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder
Skin ConditioningSodium Benzoate
MaskingZinc Oxide 21.1%, Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Calcium Sodium Borosilicate, Erythritol, Lauryl Laurate, Propanediol, Carthamus Tinctorius Oleosomes, Bentonite, Niacinamide, Palmitoyl Grapevine Shoot Extract, Cetearyl Alcohol, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethyl Ferulate, Sucrose Polystearate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Sucrose Stearate, Coco-Glucoside, Bisabolol, Citric Acid, Caramel, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Pongamia Pinnata Seed Extract, Sodium Gluconate, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Glycerin, Tocopherol, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Beta-Sitosterol, Gluconolactone, Squalene, Xanthan Gum, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Sodium Benzoate
Water
Skin ConditioningDibutyl Adipate
EmollientDiethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV FilterPropanediol
SolventDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientMethylpropanediol
SolventPhenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid
UV AbsorberArginine
MaskingBis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Triazone
UV AbsorberC20-22 Alkyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingC20-22 Alcohols
Emulsion StabilisingBenzotriazolyl Dodecyl P-Cresol
UV AbsorberPalmitoyl Grape Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientCaprylyl/Capryl Glucoside
CleansingPotassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPhenylpropanol
MaskingPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingO-Cymen-5-Ol
AntimicrobialTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantPicea Abies Wood Extract
Linalool
PerfumingHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientGeraniol
PerfumingTocopherol
AntioxidantParfum
MaskingCitronellol
PerfumingWater, Dibutyl Adipate, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Propanediol, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Methylpropanediol, Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid, Arginine, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Ethylhexyl Triazone, C20-22 Alkyl Phosphate, C20-22 Alcohols, Benzotriazolyl Dodecyl P-Cresol, Palmitoyl Grape Seed Extract, Glycerin, Caprylyl Glycol, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Xanthan Gum, Phenylpropanol, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, O-Cymen-5-Ol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Picea Abies Wood Extract, Linalool, Hexyl Cinnamal, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Geraniol, Tocopherol, Parfum, Citronellol
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 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 GlycerinHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil is a plant oil derived from the seeds of a sunflower.
It is rich in fatty acids, primarily linoleic acid and oleic acid. This gives it emollient and skin conditioning properties.
The reason this ingredient is so effective is because it forms a thin film on the skin that reduces transepidermal water loss (TEWL) while supplying linoleic acid to the stratum corneum to improve barrier strength.
The high linoleic acid content is particularly noteworthy for acne-prone skin.
Research suggests that acne-prone skin tends to be deficient in linoleic acid in sebum. Topical application may help replenish this to support a healthier follicular environment and less comedone-promoting sebum.
One randomized study found sunflower seed oil preserved skin barrier integrity in adult volunteers with and without atopic dermatitis (outperforming olive oil).
This ingredient is well-studied, gentle, and an effective emollient suitable for most skin types.
On fungal acne: This ingredient may not be Fungal acne (Malassezia folliculitis) safe. This is because it contains fatty acids with carbon chain lengths in the C11-C24 range.
Learn more about Helianthus Annuus Seed OilPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolTocopherol 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 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