What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningZinc Oxide
Cosmetic ColorantDibutyl Adipate
EmollientCyclohexasiloxane
EmollientPropanediol
SolventButyloctyl Salicylate
Skin ConditioningDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientPolyglyceryl-4 Diisostearate/Polyhydroxystearate/Sebacate
EmulsifyingDisiloxane
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingCaprylyl Methicone
Skin ConditioningTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic ColorantDiethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV FilterBis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Triazone
UV AbsorberPhenyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningSaussurea Involucrata Extract
HumectantSolidago Virgaurea Extract
Skin ConditioningEugenia Caryophyllus Bud Extract
PerfumingLaminaria Japonica Extract
Skin ProtectingUlmus Davidiana Root Extract
Skin ConditioningStellaria Media Extract
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
EmollientViola Mandshurica Flower Extract
AntioxidantDioscorea Japonica Root Extract
Skin ConditioningMentha Viridis Extract
MaskingMentha Suaveolens Leaf Extract
AstringentMentha Aquatica Extract
TonicSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingSoluble Collagen
HumectantPolyglyceryl-3 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone
Skin ConditioningDisteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingMagnesium Sulfate
Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Triethoxycaprylylsilane
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantPoly C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate
Emulsion StabilisingGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientMica
Cosmetic ColorantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin ConditioningAluminum Hydroxide
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantPolyglyceryl-10 Stearate
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningBiosaccharide Gum-1
HumectantSodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
AntioxidantSucrose
HumectantTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningSaccharomyces Ferment Filtrate
HumectantRetinyl Palmitate
Skin ConditioningBiotin
AntiseborrhoeicCyanocobalamin
Skin ConditioningThiamine Hcl
MaskingFolic Acid
Skin ConditioningPyridoxine
Skin ConditioningParfum
MaskingCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Zinc Oxide, Dibutyl Adipate, Cyclohexasiloxane, Propanediol, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Polyglyceryl-4 Diisostearate/Polyhydroxystearate/Sebacate, Disiloxane, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Caprylyl Methicone, Titanium Dioxide, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Phenyl Trimethicone, Saussurea Involucrata Extract, Solidago Virgaurea Extract, Eugenia Caryophyllus Bud Extract, Laminaria Japonica Extract, Ulmus Davidiana Root Extract, Stellaria Media Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Viola Mandshurica Flower Extract, Dioscorea Japonica Root Extract, Mentha Viridis Extract, Mentha Suaveolens Leaf Extract, Mentha Aquatica Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Soluble Collagen, Polyglyceryl-3 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Magnesium Sulfate, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, 1,2-Hexanediol, Butylene Glycol, Poly C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate, Glyceryl Caprylate, Caprylyl Glycol, Mica, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adenosine, Aluminum Hydroxide, Tocopherol, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Lactobacillus Ferment, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Sucrose, Tocopheryl Acetate, Panthenol, Saccharomyces Ferment Filtrate, Retinyl Palmitate, Biotin, Cyanocobalamin, Thiamine Hcl, Folic Acid, Pyridoxine, Parfum, CI 77491, CI 77492
Water
Skin ConditioningDibutyl Adipate
EmollientPropanediol
SolventDiethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV FilterPolymethylsilsesquioxane
Ethylhexyl Triazone
UV AbsorberNiacinamide
SmoothingMethylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol
UV FilterCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
EmollientCaprylyl Methicone
Skin ConditioningDiethylhexyl Butamido Triazone
UV AbsorberGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantHippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningDaucus Carota Sativa Root Extract
Skin ConditioningRosa Canina Fruit Extract
AstringentMalus Domestica Fruit Extract
AntioxidantAloe Ferox Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningArtemisia Capillaris Extract
Prunus Armeniaca Juice
MoisturisingHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientPoly C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate
Emulsion StabilisingPolyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
EmulsifyingDecyl Glucoside
CleansingTromethamine
BufferingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTocopherol
AntioxidantAscorbic Acid
AntioxidantMoringa Oleifera Seed Oil
EmollientCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningPhytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningParfum
MaskingWater, Dibutyl Adipate, Propanediol, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Niacinamide, Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Caprylyl Methicone, Diethylhexyl Butamido Triazone, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Extract, Daucus Carota Sativa Root Extract, Rosa Canina Fruit Extract, Malus Domestica Fruit Extract, Aloe Ferox Leaf Extract, Artemisia Capillaris Extract, Prunus Armeniaca Juice, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Pentylene Glycol, Behenyl Alcohol, Poly C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Decyl Glucoside, Tromethamine, Carbomer, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adenosine, Xanthan Gum, Tocopherol, Ascorbic Acid, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Ceramide NP, Phytosphingosine, Parfum
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Adenosine is in every living organism. It is one of four components in nucleic acids that helps store our DNA.
Adenosine has many benefits when used. These benefits include hydrating the skin, smoothing skin, and reducing wrinkles. Once applied, adenosine increases collagen production. It also helps with improving firmness and tissue repair.
Studies have found adenosine may also help with wound healing.
In skincare products, Adenosine is usually derived from yeast.
Learn more about AdenosineButylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolCaprylyl Methicone is a synthetic and lightweight silicone fluid. It gives products a silky, dry-touch finish without the heaviness of pure oils.
Though the EU CosIng Database lists this ingredient as a skin conditioner, it is also used for sensory reasons. It spreads easily, cuts greasiness, and reduces tackiness.
This ingredient is volatile which means it will mostly evaporate (but it evaporates slower than older cyclomethicones, like Cyclotetrasiloxane).
Typical concentration ranges from 1-30% depending on if it's being used to tweak the feel of a product or acting as the main emollient.
Learn more about Caprylyl MethiconeDibutyl Adipate is an emollient and solvent. It is created from butyl alcohol and adipic acid.
As a solvent, Dibutyl Adipate helps mix and disperse ingredients evenly.
Dibutyl Adipate is soluble in water and organic solvents. It does not absorb UV rays.
Learn more about Dibutyl AdipateDiethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate (DHHB) is a chemical UV-A absorber. It is formulated for high UVA protection (320-400 nm).
DHHB is well-liked for:
DHHB has been approved by the EU, Japan, Taiwan, and South America for use up to 10%. Unfortunately, it has not been approved for use in the US or Canada due to slow regulatory processes.
This ingredient is soluble in oils, fats, and lipids.
Learn more about Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl BenzoateEthylhexyl Triazone is a modern chemical sunscreen that protects from UV-B radiation.
It is the most effective of existing UV-B filters, as it provides the highest level of photo-stable absorption. It protects from the entire UV-B range (280 to 320nm), with it's highest level of protection at 314nm.
Ethylhexyl Triazone is oil soluble, oderless and colorless, which mean it is able to be incorporated into a variety of different formulations.
It is not currently available within the United States due to slow changing FDA regulations. Outside of the US, it is used in formulations at concentrations up to 5%.
Learn more about Ethylhexyl TriazoneEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 GlycerinHydrogenated Lecithin is a more stable version of lecithin.
It's made by taking lecithin (a phospholipid commonly found in soybeans and egg yolks) and hydrogenating it. This just means the unsaturated fatty acids are turned into saturated ones so they don't go bad as easily.
This ingredient is an emollient, emulsifier, and penetration enhancer. As an emollient, it helps soften and hydrate skin by trapping moisture within. As an emulsifier, it prevents oil and water ingredients from separating.
Hydrogenated Lecithin can form tiny spherical structures made of phospholipid bilayers called liposomes. These liposomes are able to capture compounds inside their structure and deliver them through the skin barrier.
Because phospholipids are a natural component of our cell membranes, this ingredient is inherently compatible with skin.
A 2021 study found lecithin-based surfactants were less harsh and more tolerable comared to Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS).
Learn more about Hydrogenated LecithinNiacinamide 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 NiacinamideParfum is a catch-all term for an ingredient or more that is used to give a scent to products.
Also called "fragrance", this ingredient can be a blend of hundreds of chemicals or plant oils. This means every product with "fragrance" or "parfum" in the ingredients list is a different mixture.
For instance, Habanolide is a proprietary trade name for a specific aroma chemical. When used as a fragrance ingredient in cosmetics, most aroma chemicals fall under the broad labeling category of âFRAGRANCEâ or âPARFUMâ according to EU and US regulations.
The term 'parfum' or 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term.
For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance by INCI standards.
One example is Calendula flower extract. Calendula is an essential oil that still imparts a scent or 'fragrance'.
Depending on the blend, the ingredients in the mixture can cause allergies and sensitivities on the skin. Some ingredients that are known EU allergens include linalool and citronellol.
Parfum can also be used to mask or cover an unpleasant scent.
The bottom line is: not all fragrances/parfum/ingredients are created equally. If you are worried about fragrances, we recommend taking a closer look at an ingredient. And of course, we always recommend speaking with a professional.
Learn more about ParfumThis ingredient is a polymer made from acrylic acid esters and long-chain (C10âC30) alcohols.
It is used as an emulsion stabilizer and viscosity controlling agent. This helps products maintain a smooth and uniform texture.
Propanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
Itâs 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 PropanediolTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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