What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningHomosalate
Skin Conditioning
Octocrylene
UV Absorber
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Ethylhexyl Salicylate
UV Absorber
Silica
Abrasive
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialButyloctyl Salicylate
Skin Conditioning
Vp/Eicosene Copolymer
Polyglyceryl-2 Distearate
Emulsifying
Saccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Tapioca Starch
Coriandrum Sativum Fruit Oil
Masking
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Salix Alba Bark Extract
Astringent
Terpineol
Masking
Thymol
AntimicrobialCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Masking
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingArachidyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingArachidyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingGlycerin
Humectant
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Propanediol
Solvent
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Linalool
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Water, Homosalate, Octocrylene, Butylene Glycol, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Silica, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Vp/Eicosene Copolymer, Polyglyceryl-2 Distearate, Saccharide Isomerate, Tapioca Starch, Coriandrum Sativum Fruit Oil, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Terpineol, Thymol, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Arachidyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Behenyl Alcohol, Xanthan Gum, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Arachidyl Glucoside, Ethylhexylglycerin, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Hydroxide, Glycerin, Bisabolol, Pentylene Glycol, Propanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Caprylyl Glycol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Linalool, Limonene, Geraniol, Citronellol
Water
Skin ConditioningC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialDiisopropyl Adipate
EmollientBis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin Conditioning
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Propanediol
Solvent
Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate
Absorbent
Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol
UV Filter
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Glycerin
Humectant
C10-18 Triglycerides
Emollient
Diethylhexyl Butamido Triazone
UV Absorber
Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid
UV Absorber
Trimethoxybenzylidene Pentanedione
Antioxidant
Silica
Abrasive
Ethylhexyl Triazone
UV Absorber
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingPotassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingDecyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Carnosine
Skin Conditioning
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Boron Nitride
Absorbent
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingChlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Glyceryl Behenate
Emollient
Cannabis Sativa Seed Oil
Emollient
Lecithin
Emollient
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTheobroma Cacao Seed Butter
Emollient
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientGlyceryl Undecylenate
Emollient
Cannabidiol - Synthetically Produced
Antioxidant
Water, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Diisopropyl Adipate, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Propanediol, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol, Sodium Polyacrylate, Glycerin, C10-18 Triglycerides, Diethylhexyl Butamido Triazone, Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid, Trimethoxybenzylidene Pentanedione, Silica, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Sodium Hydroxide, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Decyl Glucoside, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum, Tocopherol, Carnosine, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Boron Nitride, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Chlorphenesin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glyceryl Behenate, Cannabis Sativa Seed Oil, Lecithin, Propylene Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter, Benzyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Caprylate, Glyceryl Undecylenate, Cannabidiol - Synthetically Produced
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer is a synthetic polymer. It is used to thicken, emulsify, and improve the texture of products.
As an emulsifier, it helps stabilize oil-in-water emulsions to give products an elegant feel when applied.
It can also form a thin protective film on skin. One study found that a formula using this polymer helped slow down how quickly other ingredients (like DEET) were absorbed through skin.
A 2024 study of over 1,300 patients confirmed that sensitization to this ingredient is rare. It is also non-mutagenic and has a clean track record.
Learn more about Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate CrosspolymerAlso known as Avobenzone, this ingredient is an oil-soluble used to absorb the full spectrum of UVA rays (peak 357 nm).
It's one of the most effective UVA filters available but has a major caveat of photostability: avobenzone is susceptible to photodegradation.
This means it can lose efficacy when exposed to sunlight without the help of a stabilizing agent.
Studies show antioxidants (like vitamin E or vitamin C) and some UV filters (like octocrylene and Tinosorb S) can meaningfully improve its stability in a formulation.
The maximum allowable concentration according to regulation is 3% in the US + Canada, and 5% in the EU, Australia, China, Korea, and ASEAN countries.
It has a well-support safety profile: a comprehensive 2025 review found minimal toxicity with no evidence of carcinogenicity.
Overall, avobenzone is a safe and regulated ingredient used in sunscreen for over 40 years.
Learn more about Butyl MethoxydibenzoylmethaneC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate is a lightweight emollient made by combinig benzoic acid with fatty alcohols that are 12-15 carbons long.
In cosmetics, it plays several roles:
The Cosmetic Review Expert Panel has concluded the alkyl benzoate group to be safe as used in cosmetics; it wasn't found to be a skin irritant and unlikely to be absorbed due to its low water solubility.
This report recorded almost 1000 reported uses with concentrations up to 59% in leave-on products but your cosmetics will typically use 0.5-15% depending on the product.
It's often called a "SPF booster": this is because it keeps UV filters properly dissolved and evenly distributed to support a sunscreen's performance. It doesn't actually raise SPF on its own.
Overall, this ingredient is well tolerated.
This ingredient is fungal acne safe because it is an ester of benzoic acid.
Think of this ingredient as two parts stuck together: an oily part and an acid part. Malassezia only gets a meal when it can snip off a fatty acid to eat. With C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, the acid part is benzoic acid, which isn't a fatty acid and which the yeast can't use as food.
Benzoic acid is actually used as a preservative to stop yeast from growing.
The oily part is a blend of C12-15 fatty alcohols but fatty alcohols in this size range can support only a little Malassezia growth (mostly for one species of Malassezia as well).
In the ingredient, those alcohols stay locked inside the molecule. The yeast can only reach them by snipping the benzoate bond, and that type of bond is harder for it to cut than a normal fatty bond.
So not much gets released. And whatever does get snipped comes packaged with benzoic acid, which discourages yeast growth.
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 GlycerinGlyceryl Stearate is made by reacting glycerin with stearic acid (typically sourced from plant oils like palm or coconut). It's an emulsifier, emollient, and mild occlusive.
Emulsifiers help ingredients like oil and water stay mixed so your formula stays nicely blended and uniform in texture.
This ingredient is typically used in concentrations between 1-10%. Studies have found it to be non-sensitizing, non-phototoxic, and non-photoallergenic.
A close cousin of this ingredient is Glyceryl Stearate SE ("self-emulsifying"). This just has a small amount of sodium or potassium stearate added so it can emulsify without a co-emulsifier.
Since this ingredient is an ester of a C18 fatty acid, it may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast can potentially metabolize within the C11-C24 range.
Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.
Learn more about Glyceryl StearatePeg-100 Stearate is an emollient and emulsifier. As an emollient, it helps keep skin soft by trapping moisture in. On the other hand, emulsifiers help prevent oil and water from separating in a product.
PEGS are a hydrophilic polyether compound . There are 100 ethylene oxide monomers in Peg-100 Stearate. Peg-100 Stearate is polyethylene glycol ester of stearic acid.
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate is the potassium salt of a mixture. This mixture consists of the esters from phosphoricacid and cetyl alcohol.
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate is an emulsifier and cleansing agent. Emulsifiers help stabilize a product. It does this by preventing certain ingredients from separating.
As a cleansing agent, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate helps gather oils, dirts, and pollutants from your skin. This makes it easier to rinse them away with water.
Learn more about Potassium Cetyl PhosphatePropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolSilica, 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 SilicaSodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideWater. 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
