What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Dihydroxyacetone
Skin ConditioningAlcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
PPG-26-Buteth-26
Skin ConditioningPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Biosaccharide Gum-1
Humectant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingImidazolidinyl Urea
Preservative
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
DMDM Hydantoin
Preservative
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Troxerutin
Skin Conditioning
Ethylparaben
Preservative
Methylparaben
Preservative
Benzophenone-4
UV Absorber
Tetrasodium EDTA
Propylparaben
Preservative
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Arachis Hypogaea Oil
Skin Conditioning
Juglans Regia Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Zea Mays Germ Oil
Emollient
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
BHT
Antioxidant
Propyl Gallate
Antioxidant
CI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantCI 28440
Cosmetic ColorantCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantCI 16035
Cosmetic ColorantAlpha-Isomethyl Ionone
Perfuming
Benzyl Salicylate
Perfuming
Butylphenyl Methylpropional
Perfuming
Coumarin
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Water, Glycerin, Propylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Dihydroxyacetone, Alcohol Denat., Phenoxyethanol, PPG-26-Buteth-26, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Xanthan Gum, Imidazolidinyl Urea, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, DMDM Hydantoin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Troxerutin, Ethylparaben, Methylparaben, Benzophenone-4, Tetrasodium EDTA, Propylparaben, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Arachis Hypogaea Oil, Juglans Regia Seed Oil, Zea Mays Germ Oil, Maltodextrin, BHT, Propyl Gallate, CI 42090, CI 28440, CI 19140, CI 16035, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Benzyl Salicylate, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Coumarin, Geraniol, Hexyl Cinnamal, Limonene, Linalool
Water
Skin ConditioningDihydroxyacetone
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Polysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Biosaccharide Gum-1
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Azelaic Acid
Buffering
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Glucosamine
Lecithin
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Bacillus
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Metabisulfite
Antioxidant
Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Triethylene Glycol
Masking
Water, Dihydroxyacetone, Glycerin, Polysorbate 80, Maltodextrin, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Niacinamide, Azelaic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hyaluronic Acid, Glucosamine, Lecithin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Bacillus, Tocopheryl Acetate, Butylene Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Metabisulfite, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Phenoxyethanol, Triethylene Glycol
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Biosaccharide Gum-1 is a sugar created by fermenting sorbitol (which usually comes from potato starch!). It is known for its soothing and moisturizing properties.
Manufacturer tests show this ingredient helped reduce irritation from lactic acid by almost half and kept skin hydrated long-term as a humectant
Beyond hydration, Biosaccharide Gum-1 gives formulas a silky, non-sticky feel.
This ingredient is gentle, versatile, and suitable for all skin types.
Fun fact: Similar sugars can be found naturally in fruits like apples and pears.
Learn more about Biosaccharide Gum-1Butylene 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 GlycolDihydroxyacetone, or DHA, is the active ingredient in self-tanners.
It's a simply sugar that reacts with the free amino acids in your outermost layer of skin to produce brown-colored compounds called melanoidins.
DHA does not penetrate living skin cells, does not interact with melanocytes, and does not affect actualy melanin production.
There's a "safety controversy" that largely stems from misinterpreted studies:
Once concern is that DHA can generate unstable molecules that can damage cells (free radicals) when exposed to sunlight. This only happens in the outermost layer of dead skin cells and wearing SPF on top takes care of it.
The DNA damage claim comes from lab studies that doused living skin cells in much higher concentrations of DHA than you'd ever find in a self-tanner. That's not really a meaningful comparison to putting self-tanning lotion on your skin.
Regulatory bodies around the world, including the EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) and the U.S. FDA consider it safe for use in cosmetics when applied topically (maximum 10%, and most self-tanners contain between 3-5%).
Learn more about DihydroxyacetoneGlycerin (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 GlycerinMaltodextrin is a polysaccharide. It is derived from starch such as rice, corn, wheat, or potato starch.
In food, Maltodextrin is used to improve the texture and thicken a product. Due to its structure, it can help create a gel texture. As an emulsion stabilizer, it helps keep the ingredients in a product together.
As a polysaccharide, Maltodextrin has moisturizing properties. Polysaccharides are a type of carbohydrate. The top layer of skin uses polysaccharides to retain water, keeping the skin hydrated.
Maltodextrin is water soluble and has a sweet taste.
Learn more about MaltodextrinPhenoxyethanol 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.
Tocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
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 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
