What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningHomosalate
Skin ConditioningBenzophenone-3
UV AbsorberEthylhexyl Salicylate
UV AbsorberButylene Glycol
HumectantButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV AbsorberPPG-3 Benzyl Ether Ethylhexanoate
EmollientNylon-12
Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate
AbsorbentArachidyl Alcohol
EmollientStearic Acid
CleansingPolysorbate 80
EmulsifyingLeuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
AntimicrobialCarthamus Tinctorius Oleosomes
EmollientCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialCitrus Grandis Fruit Extract
AstringentAesculus Hippocastanum Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningAmmonium Glycyrrhizate
MaskingEnantia Chlorantha Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningZinc Gluconate
Skin ConditioningCaffeine
Skin ConditioningBiotin
AntiseborrhoeicOleanolic Acid
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantYeast Extract
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingVinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingIsohexadecane
EmollientPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientArachidyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSorbitan Stearate
EmulsifyingCetyl Alcohol
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate Se
EmulsifyingGluconic Acid
Propylene Glycol
HumectantSodium Benzoate
MaskingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeDisodium EDTA
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingLimonene
PerfumingCitral
PerfumingWater, Homosalate, Benzophenone-3, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Butylene Glycol, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, PPG-3 Benzyl Ether Ethylhexanoate, Nylon-12, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Arachidyl Alcohol, Stearic Acid, Polysorbate 80, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Carthamus Tinctorius Oleosomes, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Citrus Grandis Fruit Extract, Aesculus Hippocastanum Seed Extract, Ammonium Glycyrrhizate, Enantia Chlorantha Bark Extract, Panthenol, Zinc Gluconate, Caffeine, Biotin, Oleanolic Acid, Tocopheryl Acetate, Yeast Extract, Niacinamide, Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Isohexadecane, Polysorbate 60, Behenyl Alcohol, Arachidyl Glucoside, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Xanthan Gum, Sorbitan Stearate, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Gluconic Acid, Propylene Glycol, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hydroxide, Limonene, Citral
Homosalate 10%
Skin ConditioningMenthyl Anthranilate 5%
UV AbsorberEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate 5%
UV AbsorberOctocrylene 2%
UV AbsorberZinc Oxide 6.3%
Cosmetic ColorantWater
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingGlycerin
HumectantCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientBehentrimonium Methosulfate
Dimethicone
EmollientBHT
AntioxidantCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningCeramide EOP
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTriethoxycaprylylsilane
Methylparaben
PreservativeSodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingCholesterol
EmollientAluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate
AbsorbentDisodium EDTA
Propylparaben
PreservativeHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantPhytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingHomosalate 10%, Menthyl Anthranilate 5%, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate 5%, Octocrylene 2%, Zinc Oxide 6.3%, Water, Niacinamide, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Dimethicone, BHT, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Carbomer, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Methylparaben, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Cholesterol, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Disodium EDTA, Propylparaben, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Phytosphingosine, Xanthan Gum
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate is a synthetic powder used as an absorbent, thickener, and anti-caking agent.
As an absorbent, it is great at mattifying skin by soaking up the oil. This is why you'll find it in a range of products from makeup to moisturizers.
This ingredient is considered a modified starch. Starch can also be found naturally in plants.
One study from 1991 found that 5% of this ingredient enhanced titanium dioxide SPF by as much as 40%. The study found 1% titanium dioxide had a 5.6 SPF and adding 5% of aluminum starch octenylsuccinate boosted it to an SPF of 8.1
Although “aluminum” in an ingredient name can raise red flags for some consumers, the form and usage context matter significantly. For typical topical applications, there is no substantial evidence of health risks - such as cancer, neurotoxicity, or systemic “aluminum overload.”
Learn more about Aluminum Starch OctenylsuccinateDisodium 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 EDTAHomosalate is a chemical sunscreen filter that provides protection in the UV-B range (280nm - 320 nm), with a peak protection at 306 nm. It is internationally approved for use in sunscreens.
Homosalate is not photo-stable, meaning it's strength as a UV filter degrades over time with exposure to the sun. Because of this, it's often used in combination with other chemical sunscreen filters as avobenzone (which protects from the UV-A range). Homosalate also helps act as a solvent for harder-to-dissolve UV filters.
(Part of the reason that sunscreens need to be frequently re-applied is due to the photo instability of many chemical sunscreen filters)
Currently, homosalate is approved in concentrations up to 10% in the EU and 15% in the US. The FDA is currently doing further research on the effects of homosalate, and it is possible that these approved concentrations will change in the future.
Learn more about HomosalateNiacinamide is a multitasking form of vitamin B3 that strengthens the skin barrier, reduces pores and dark spots, regulates oil, and improves signs of aging.
And the best part? It's gentle and well-tolerated by most skin types, including sensitive and reactive skin.
You might have heard of "niacin flush", or the reddening of skin that causes itchiness. Niacinamide has not been found to cause this.
In very rare cases, some individuals may not be able to tolerate niacinamide at all or experience an allergic reaction to it.
If you are experiencing flaking, irritation, and dryness with this ingredient, be sure to double check all your products as this ingredient can be found in all categories of skincare.
When incorporating niacinamide into your routine, look out for concentration amounts. Typically, 5% niacinamide provides benefits such as fading dark spots. However, if you have sensitive skin, it is better to begin with a smaller concentration.
When you apply niacinamide to your skin, your body converts it into nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD). NAD is an essential coenzyme that is already found in your cells as "fuel" and powers countless biological processes.
In your skin, NAD helps repair cell damage, produce new healthy cells, support collagen production, strengthen the skin barrier, and fight environmental stressors (like UV and pollution).
Our natural NAD levels start to decline with age, leading to slower skin repair, visible aging, and a weaker skin barrier. By providing your skin niacinamide, you're recharging your skin's NAD levels. This leads to stronger, healthier, and younger looking skin.
Another name for vitamin B3 is nicotinamide. This vitamin is water-soluble and our bodies don't store it. We obtain Vitamin B3 from either food or skincare. Meat, fish, wheat, yeast, and leafy greens contain vitamin B3.
The type of niacinamide used in skincare is synthetically created.
Learn more about NiacinamideWater. 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