What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAlcohol
AntimicrobialPropylene Glycol
HumectantButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV AbsorberEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV AbsorberDimethicone
EmollientStyrene/Acrylates Copolymer
Butylene Glycol
HumectantDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningOctocrylene
UV AbsorberPolymethyl Methacrylate
Phenoxyethanol
PreservativeTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantDimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer
Pentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningAminomethyl Propanol
BufferingBisabolol
AntioxidantSodium Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingDisodium EDTA
Lecithin
EmollientSilica
AbrasiveGlycerin
HumectantDipropylene Glycol
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantDMDM Hydantoin
PreservativeTocopherol
AntioxidantWater, Alcohol, Propylene Glycol, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Dimethicone, Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer, Butylene Glycol, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Octocrylene, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Phenoxyethanol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Dimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer, Pentylene Glycol, Aminomethyl Propanol, Bisabolol, Sodium Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Disodium EDTA, Lecithin, Silica, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Sodium Hyaluronate, DMDM Hydantoin, Tocopherol
Water
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
HumectantDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientDimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSteareth-2
EmulsifyingCeteareth-12
EmulsifyingEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV AbsorberBis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin ConditioningMethylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol
UV FilterCeteareth-20
CleansingDistearyl Ether
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeRetinyl Palmitate
Skin ConditioningCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Hydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingButylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate
EmollientMethyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate
AbsorbentTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantDarutoside
Skin ConditioningOridonin
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV FilterNiacinamide
SmoothingSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingCetyl Alcohol
EmollientAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Stearyl Alcohol
EmollientCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantWater, Propylene Glycol, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Steareth-2, Ceteareth-12, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol, Ceteareth-20, Distearyl Ether, Phenoxyethanol, Retinyl Palmitate, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Butylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Darutoside, Oridonin, Xanthan Gum, Disodium EDTA, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Niacinamide, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Cetyl Alcohol, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Stearyl Alcohol, Caprylyl Glycol, Glycerin
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Disodium 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 EDTAEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate is an organic compound that provides UVB protection. It often goes by the more common name of octinoxate. It is created from methoxycinnamic acid and 2-ethylhexanol.
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate absorbs UVB rays with wavelengths between 280-320 nm. UV absorbers protect your skin by using chemical reactions to convert UV rays into heat and energy.
UVB (290-320 nm) rays emit more energy than UVA rays. They are capable of damaging DNA, causing sunburns and are thought to be linked to skin cancer.
The state of Hawaii has banned sunscreens containing octinoxate due to its potential impact on coral reefs. More research is needed to bridge gaps in this research. The European Union allows higher levels of octinoxate in sunscreens than the US and Australia.
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate is oil soluble. It is not stable and may lose efficacy when exposed to sunlight.
Learn more about Ethylhexyl MethoxycinnamateGlycerin (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 GlycolTocopheryl 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 Water