What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialDiethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV FilterEthylhexyl Triazone
UV AbsorberBis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin ConditioningPhospholipids
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 80
EmulsifyingButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantMethylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol
UV FilterDecyl Glucoside
CleansingPropylene Glycol
HumectantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingEthylhexyl Salicylate
UV AbsorberCetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
EmollientPolyglyceryl-2 Isostearate/Dimer Dilinoleate Copolymer
EmollientSqualane
EmollientButyloctyl Salicylate
Skin ConditioningSodium Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingGlyceryl Dibehenate
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHydrated Silica
AbrasiveSodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningDehydroxanthan Gum
Emulsion StabilisingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTriethanolamine
BufferingWater, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Phospholipids, Polysorbate 80, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol, Decyl Glucoside, Propylene Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Polyglyceryl-2 Isostearate/Dimer Dilinoleate Copolymer, Squalane, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Sodium Carbomer, Glyceryl Dibehenate, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hydrated Silica, Sodium Gluconate, Dehydroxanthan Gum, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Triethanolamine
Water
Skin ConditioningOctocrylene
UV AbsorberEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV AbsorberStearic Acid
CleansingButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV AbsorberC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialGlycerin
HumectantBetaine
HumectantCoco-Caprylate
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientCetyl Alcohol
EmollientZinc Oxide
Cosmetic ColorantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic ColorantSodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentIron Oxides
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantGardenia Taitensis Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Caesalpinia Spinosa Fruit Extract
Skin ProtectingPropylene Glycol
HumectantSodium Benzoate
MaskingWater, Octocrylene, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Stearic Acid, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Glycerin, Betaine, Coco-Caprylate, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetyl Alcohol, Zinc Oxide, Phenoxyethanol, Titanium Dioxide, Sodium Polyacrylate, Iron Oxides, Xanthan Gum, Tocopheryl Acetate, Gardenia Taitensis Flower Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Sodium Hydroxide, Disodium EDTA, Caesalpinia Spinosa Fruit Extract, Propylene Glycol, Sodium Benzoate
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
C12-15 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 BenzoateGlycerin (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.
Propylene 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 GlycolWater. 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