What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV Absorber
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Benzophenone-3
UV Absorber
Phospholipids
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Isododecane
EmollientDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientGlycerin
Humectant
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Silica
Abrasive
Dimethicone
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Glyceryl Citrate/Lactate/Linoleate/Oleate
Emulsifying
Propanediol
Solvent
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Ascorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Fructooligosaccharides
Humectant
Beta Vulgaris Root Extract
Skin ConditioningTerminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Citrus Sinensis Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Sodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingPolyacrylate-13
Polyisobutene
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningOctenidine Hcl
AntimicrobialWater, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Benzophenone-3, Phospholipids, Butylene Glycol, Isododecane, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Glycerin, Titanium Dioxide, Silica, Dimethicone, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glyceryl Citrate/Lactate/Linoleate/Oleate, Propanediol, Niacinamide, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Tocopheryl Acetate, Fructooligosaccharides, Beta Vulgaris Root Extract, Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract, Citrus Sinensis Fruit Extract, Sodium Gluconate, Xanthan Gum, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Polyacrylate-13, Polyisobutene, Polysorbate 20, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Octenidine Hcl
Water
Skin ConditioningCocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Glycerin
Humectant
Disodium Cocoyl Glutamate
Cleansing
Triethanolamine
BufferingSodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Citrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
Emollient
Aloe Barbadensis Extract
Skin Conditioning
Mentha Piperita Oil
Masking
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Menthol
Masking
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Disodium EDTA
CI 16185
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Decyl Glucoside, Glycerin, Disodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Triethanolamine, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Citric Acid, Citrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Extract, Mentha Piperita Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Menthol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Xanthan Gum, Panthenol, Benzyl Alcohol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tocopherol, Disodium EDTA, CI 16185
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ethylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinTocopheryl Acetate is a stable, shelf-friendly form of vitamin E.
Formulators love it because plain vitamin E oxidizes quickly once it hits air. This acetate version stays stable and resists going off, helping to extend a product's shelf life.
It's actually inactive on its own and works like a slow-release "storage" form; the enzymes in your skin called esterases gradually convert it into active vitamin E over time.
One in vivo study showed 5% of the acetate in the living layer of the epidermis converted to vitamin E after 5 days of application. This study also found the skin gained protection against UV damage even though the conversion was slow and small.
Once converted, vitamin E acts as a skin's main fat-soluble antioxidant that fights free radicals to protect skin from damage.
Topical vitamin E generally boosts the skin's photoprotection, and it reduced UV-damage in animal models.
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.
Overall, it has a pretty solid safety profile and has been found to be non-irritating and non-comedogenic. Allergic reactions may happen but stay rare due to how widely the ingredient gets used.
The concentration will vary depending on the formula; industry data shows 0.1% in baby lotions, 3% in lipsticks, and 5% in foot powders. You can also find this ingredient at 100% in a pure vitamin E oil.
Most leave-on skincare keeps it at the lower end, often between 0.5-1%.
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 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
