What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Salicylate
UV Absorber
Dimethicone
Emollient
PEG-10 Glyceryl Stearate
Emulsifying
Homosalate
Skin Conditioning
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialGlycerin
Humectant
Polyhydroxystearic Acid
Emulsifying
Disodium Acetyl Glucosamine Phosphate
Skin ConditioningMethylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol
UV Filter
Silica
Abrasive
C13-14 Isoparaffin
Emollient
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
C20-22 Alkyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingNiacinamide
Smoothing
Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin Conditioning
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Caesalpinia Spinosa Gum
Skin ConditioningBHT
Antioxidant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Water, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Dimethicone, PEG-10 Glyceryl Stearate, Homosalate, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Glycerin, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Disodium Acetyl Glucosamine Phosphate, Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol, Silica, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, C20-22 Alkyl Phosphate, Niacinamide, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Caesalpinia Spinosa Gum, BHT, Citric Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV Absorber
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Benzophenone-3
UV Absorber
Phospholipids
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Propanediol
Solvent
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Zea Mays Starch
Absorbent
Citrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Oxothiazolidine
Skin ProtectingSodium Benzoate
Masking
Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol
UV Filter
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDiethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV Filter
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Silica
Abrasive
Fructooligosaccharides
Humectant
Beta Vulgaris Root Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Menthyl Lactate
Masking
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSorbitan Stearate
Emulsifying
Sucrose Cocoate
Emulsifying
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
Sodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Benzophenone-3, Phospholipids, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Propanediol, Cyclopentasiloxane, Zea Mays Starch, Citrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract, Oxothiazolidine, Sodium Benzoate, Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol, Decyl Glucoside, Propylene Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Titanium Dioxide, Silica, Fructooligosaccharides, Beta Vulgaris Root Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Tocopheryl Acetate, Menthyl Lactate, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Sorbitan Stearate, Sucrose Cocoate, Sodium Lactate, Sodium Gluconate, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin
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 GlycerinMethylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol (Tinosorb M) is a hybrid and broad-spectrum UV ingredient. It is both a UV absorber and filter.
UV absorbers are an agent that absorbs UV rays. They protect your skin by using chemical reactions to convert UV rays into heat and energy. UV filters physically reduce the amount of UV rays from reaching your skin.
Tinosorb M covers a range of 280-400 nm and is photostable. This ingredient is neither oil or water soluble.
Tinosorb M is not available in the US. However, it is available in the EU and Asia.
It's sister, Tinosorb S, is set to be approved in the US by late 2025 (fingers crossed!).
Learn more about Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl TetramethylbutylphenolSilica, 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 SilicaWater. 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
