What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialPolymethyl Methacrylate
Butyloctyl Salicylate
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV Absorber
Homosalate
Skin Conditioning
Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol
UV Filter
Octocrylene
UV Absorber
Methyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Dimethicone
Emollient
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Ectoin
Skin Conditioning
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Pongamia Pinnata Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningStearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Capsicum Annuum Fruit Extract
Antimicrobial
Polyacrylate-13
Arachidyl Alcohol
Emollient
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Polyester-7
Skin ConditioningBisabolol
Antioxidant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingBehenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Polyisobutene
Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSilica
Abrasive
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Arachidyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingCitric Acid
Buffering
Disodium EDTA
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Sodium Salicylate
Preservative
Water, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Homosalate, Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol, Octocrylene, Methyl Trimethicone, Dimethicone, Titanium Dioxide, Ectoin, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Pongamia Pinnata Seed Extract, Stearyl Alcohol, Capsicum Annuum Fruit Extract, Polyacrylate-13, Arachidyl Alcohol, Decyl Glucoside, Polyester-7, Bisabolol, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Behenyl Alcohol, Polyisobutene, Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate, Xanthan Gum, Silica, Chlorphenesin, Arachidyl Glucoside, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Citric Acid, Disodium EDTA, Polysorbate 20, Propylene Glycol, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Salicylate
Zinc Oxide
Cosmetic Colorant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialButyloctyl Salicylate
Skin Conditioning
C9-11 Isoparaffin
Solvent
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Caprylyl Methicone
Skin Conditioning
Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingSilica
Abrasive
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientDimethicone/Methicone Copolymer
Dimethicone
Emollient
Disodium EDTA
Ethylhexyl Methoxycrylene
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Isostearic Acid
Cleansing
Isostearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Lauryl Methicone
Skin Conditioning
Magnesium Sulfate
PEG-30 Dipolyhydroxystearate
Emulsifying
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Polyhydroxystearic Acid
Emulsifying
Propylene Carbonate
SolventWater
Skin ConditioningStearalkonium Hectorite
Gel FormingStyrene/Acrylates Copolymer
Triacontanyl Pvp
HumectantCera Alba
Emollient
Zinc Oxide, 1,2-Hexanediol, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Butyloctyl Salicylate, C9-11 Isoparaffin, Caprylyl Glycol, Caprylyl Methicone, Cetyl Phosphate, Silica, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Dimethicone/Methicone Copolymer, Dimethicone, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexyl Methoxycrylene, Glycerin, Isostearic Acid, Isostearyl Alcohol, Lauryl Methicone, Magnesium Sulfate, PEG-30 Dipolyhydroxystearate, Pentylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Propylene Carbonate, Water, Stearalkonium Hectorite, Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer, Triacontanyl Pvp, Cera Alba
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Butyloctyl Salicylate is a chemical UV filter structurally similar to octisalate. It is a photostabilizer, SPF booster, emollient and solvent. This ingredient helps evenly spread out ingredients.
According to a manufacturer, it is suitable for pairing with micro Titanium Dioxide, Zinc Oxide, and pigments.
Photostabilizers help stabilize UV-filters and prevents them from degrading quickly.
Learn more about Butyloctyl SalicylateC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate is made up of Benzoic Acid and long chain alcohols. It has a low molecular weight.
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate is an emollient and texture enhancer. Due to its solubility, it is often used in sunscreens to help evenly distribute active ingredients.
As an emollient, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate helps soften and hydrate your skin. Emollients create a film on your skin that traps moisture within.
This ingredient has been reported to cause eye irritation.
Learn more about C12-15 Alkyl BenzoateDimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAGlycerin (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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol 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.
Silica, also known as silicon dioxide, is a naturally occurring mineral. It is used as a fine, spherical, and porous powder in cosmetics.
Though it has exfoliant properties, the function of silica varies depending on the product.
The unique structure of silica enhances the spreadability and adds smoothness, making it a great texture enhancer.
It is also used as an active carrier, emulsifier, and mattifier due to its ability to absorb excess oil.
In some products, tiny microneedles called spicules are made from silica or hydrolyzed sponge. When you rub them in, they lightly polish away dead skin layers and enhance the penetration of active ingredients.
Learn more about SilicaWater. 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
