What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%
UV AbsorberOctocrylene 10%
UV AbsorberWater
Skin ConditioningDiisopropyl Adipate
EmollientCyclomethicone
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPEG-100 Stearate
Polymethyl Methacrylate
Phenoxyethanol
PreservativeBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingDisodium EDTA
Triethanolamine
BufferingButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%, Octocrylene 10%, Water, Diisopropyl Adipate, Cyclomethicone, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Phenoxyethanol, Benzyl Alcohol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Tocopheryl Acetate, Carbomer, Disodium EDTA, Triethanolamine
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningWater
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientStearic Acid
CleansingSorbitan Sesquioleate
EmulsifyingStearyl Alcohol
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate Citrate
EmollientHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientMalus Domestica Fruit Cell Culture Extract
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantResveratrol
AntioxidantUbiquinone
AntioxidantMagnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate
AntioxidantGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingLaminaria Digitata Extract
Skin ProtectingChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
MaskingCalendula Officinalis Flower Extract
MaskingRosa Canina Fruit Oil
EmollientCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialPhenethyl Alcohol
MaskingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCitrus Tangerina Peel Oil
MaskingCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
MaskingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Water, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate, Stearic Acid, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Stearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Malus Domestica Fruit Cell Culture Extract, Panthenol, Allantoin, Tocopherol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Resveratrol, Ubiquinone, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Laminaria Digitata Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Phenethyl Alcohol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Citrus Tangerina Peel Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Glycerin (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 GlycerinGlyceryl Stearate is made by reacting glycerin with stearic acid (typically sourced from plant oils like palm or coconut). It's an emulsifier, emollient, and mild occlusive.
Emulsifiers help ingredients like oil and water stay mixed so your formula stays nicely blended and uniform in texture.
This ingredient is typically used in concentrations between 1-10%. Studies have found it to be non-sensitizing, non-phototoxic, and non-photoallergenic.
A close cousin of this ingredient is Glyceryl Stearate SE ("self-emulsifying"). This just has a small amount of sodium or potassium stearate added so it can emulsify without a co-emulsifier.
Since this ingredient is an ester of a C18 fatty acid, it may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast can potentially metabolize within the C11-C24 range.
Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.
Learn more about Glyceryl StearateWater. 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