What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Zinc Oxide 24.08%
Cosmetic Colorant
Water
Skin ConditioningC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialIsopropyl Palmitate
Emollient
Butyloctyl Salicylate
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexyl Isononanoate
EmollientCetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Bis-Octyldodecyl Dimer Dilinoleate/Propanediol Copolymer
EmollientDimethicone
Emollient
Ethylhexyl Methoxycrylene
Skin Conditioning
Polyester-27
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Macrocystis Pyrifera Extract
Skin Conditioning
Nelumbo Nucifera Extract
Skin ConditioningTriethoxycaprylylsilane
Beeswax
Emulsion Stabilising
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
PEG-12 Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsifying
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Sodium Chloride
MaskingZinc Oxide 24.08%, Water, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Isopropyl Palmitate, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Ethylhexyl Isononanoate, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Propylene Glycol, Cyclopentasiloxane, Bis-Octyldodecyl Dimer Dilinoleate/Propanediol Copolymer, Dimethicone, Ethylhexyl Methoxycrylene, Polyester-27, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Macrocystis Pyrifera Extract, Nelumbo Nucifera Extract, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Beeswax, Hydroxyacetophenone, PEG-12 Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Tocopherol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Chloride
Water
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate
EmollientCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Ethylhexyl Salicylate
UV Absorber
Ethylhexyl Triazone
UV Absorber
Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin Conditioning
Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV Filter
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol
UV Filter
C15-19 Alkane
SolventPotassium Azeloyl Diglycinate
Skin Conditioning
Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide
Cleansing
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-6 Stearate
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
4-T-Butylcyclohexanol
Masking
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Hesperidin Methyl Chalcone
Antioxidant
Sphingomonas Ferment Extract
Skin Conditioning
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantTetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Citric Acid
Buffering
Polyglyceryl-6 Behenate
Emulsion Stabilising
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Acrylates/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Copolymer
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTin Oxide
Abrasive
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Water, Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Niacinamide, Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol, C15-19 Alkane, Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Pentylene Glycol, Polyglyceryl-6 Stearate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Tocopheryl Acetate, 4-T-Butylcyclohexanol, Polysorbate 60, Decyl Glucoside, Hydroxyacetophenone, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Hesperidin Methyl Chalcone, Sphingomonas Ferment Extract, CI 77891, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Citric Acid, Polyglyceryl-6 Behenate, Mica, Propylene Glycol, Acrylates/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Copolymer, Xanthan Gum, Tin Oxide, Tocopherol
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives
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 GlycolHydroxyacetophenone is a small phenolic molecule that earns its place in a formulas as an antioxidant and preservative booster.
As a phenol, it is able to neutralize free radicals to protect both the product and the skin from oxidative stress.
Though it can't kill microbes on its own, it works as a good supporting agent when combined with other preservatives like Phenoxyethanol or 1,2-Hexanediol.
This ingredient naturally occurs as piceol in Norwegian spruce needles (~0.4-1.1% dry weight and in cloudberries). Though the cosmetic-grade material is synthesized for purity and consistency.
You'll usually see it used at low levels and suppliers recommend up to 1% added to a water phase.
Safety testing was done at concentrations like 0.05% in SPF products and 0.5% in a Human Repeated Insult Patch Test. The safety evidence is assuring; this ingredient is safe for cosmetics in current use and also holds safety status as a food flavoring as well.
An honest caveat: the "soothing" and "anti-inflammatory" claims come mostly from supplier marketing rather than published clinical trials. The Cosmetic Ingredient Review's own literature search found no useful efficacy studies on this ingredient.
So the antioxidant and preservative-boosting roles are the well supported ones while the calming benefit is plausible but thinly evidenced.
Overall, this is a well-tolerated, low-irritation multitasker that quietly helps a formula stay fresh and stable.
Learn more about HydroxyacetophenonePropylene Glycol is a synthetic, colorless, odorless liquid that has been a staple in cosmetics for decades. It is a skin conditioning agent, humectant, and solvent.
As a humectant, it draw water to the skin to reduce flaking and restore suppleness. It's also a solvent that helps dissolve other actives and keeps formulas stable across temperature changes.
The CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be nontoxic and clinical studies show no sensitization at cosmetic use concentrations.
True allergic reactions are quite rare: a 15-year retrospective study of 6,751 patients found only 0.31% had a positive reaction (and less than half were considered clinically relevant).
It seemed that when sensitization does occur, it's most commonly linked to topical medication (like corticosteroids) and not cosmetics. Allergic contact dermatitis also appears largely limited to individuals with underlying skin conditions.
Overall, propylene glycol is a well-studied ingredient that most people can tolerate without issue.
Learn more about Propylene GlycolTocopherol 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 Water
