What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningIsododecane
EmollientPolyglyceryl-6 Polyricinoleate
Emulsifying
Propanediol
Solvent
Dimethicone
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Trimethylsiloxysilicate
Emollient
Butyloctyl Salicylate
Skin Conditioning
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Isoamyl Laurate
Emollient
Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate
EmollientPolyglyceryl-10 Dioleate
Emulsifying
Lecithin
Emollient
Polyhydroxystearic Acid
Emulsifying
Ectoin
Skin Conditioning
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
Polysilicone-11
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Propylene Carbonate
SolventAminomethyl Propanol
BufferingCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Masking
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Sclareolide
Masking
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Dimethiconol
Emollient
Linalool
Perfuming
Linalyl Acetate
Masking
Plankton Extract
Skin ConditioningLavandula Angustifolia Oil
Masking
Lavandula Hybrida Oil
Emollient
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Sodium Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Water, Isododecane, Polyglyceryl-6 Polyricinoleate, Propanediol, Dimethicone, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Isoamyl Laurate, Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate, Polyglyceryl-10 Dioleate, Lecithin, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Ectoin, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Polysilicone-11, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Glycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Propylene Carbonate, Aminomethyl Propanol, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Ethylhexylglycerin, Polysorbate 20, Sclareolide, Tocopheryl Acetate, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Dimethiconol, Linalool, Linalyl Acetate, Plankton Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Lavandula Hybrida Oil, Decyl Glucoside, Sodium Ascorbate, Caprylyl Glycol, Hexylene Glycol, Tocopherol
Zinc Oxide 24.5%
Cosmetic Colorant
C13-15 Alkane
SolventWater
Skin ConditioningEthyl Macadamiate
Skin Conditioning
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Polyhydroxystearic Acid
Emulsifying
Propanediol
Solvent
Polyglyceryl-4 Diisostearate/Polyhydroxystearate/Sebacate
Emulsifying
Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate
Emulsifying
Ectoin
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyectoin
Buffering
Isostearic Acid
Cleansing
Lecithin
Emollient
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Quaternium-90 Bentonite
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
Masking
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Masking
Triethyl Citrate
Masking
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Malic Acid
Buffering
Stearyl Triethoxysilane
Sodium Chloride
MaskingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
CI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantZinc Oxide 24.5%, C13-15 Alkane, Water, Ethyl Macadamiate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Propanediol, Polyglyceryl-4 Diisostearate/Polyhydroxystearate/Sebacate, Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate, Ectoin, Hydroxyectoin, Isostearic Acid, Lecithin, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Quaternium-90 Bentonite, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Triethyl Citrate, Tocopherol, Malic Acid, Stearyl Triethoxysilane, Sodium Chloride, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
This ingredient is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping the skin prevent moisture loss.
It helps thicken a product's formula and makes it easier to spread by dissolving clumping compounds.
Caprylic Triglyceride is made by combining glycerin with coconut oil, forming a clear liquid. Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. It is very stable, resistant to oxidation, and unlikely to go rancid. In practice, that translates to a long shelf life and a consistently elegant skin feel.
While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this. Be sure to patch test if you have concerns.
Fractionated coconut oil and MCT Oil are both listed as Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride according to INCI. This is because INCI names are based on the ingredient’s final chemical composition and not its marketing name or source.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil is oil from the peel of an orange fruit.
Limonene and linalool make up the majority of oils from citrus peels. Limonene has a "citrus" fragrance. Citrus peels also contain flavonoids, which have anti-inflammatory properties.
Citrus peel is also a rich source of flavonoids. Flavonoids are natural antioxidants and help protect your skin against damage. Flavonoids are a group of compounds naturally found in vegetables and fruits.
The term '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.
Learn more about Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel OilEctoin is a compound found naturally in some species of bacteria. It can be synthetically created for skincare use.
This ingredient is an osmolyte; Osmolytes help organisms survive osmotic shock (it protects them from extreme conditions). It does this by influencing the properties of biological fluids within cells.
When applied to the skin, ectoin helps bind water molecules to protect our skin. The water forms a sort of armor for the parts of our skin cells, enzymes, proteins, and more.
Besides this, ectoin has many uses in skincare:
A study from 2004 found ectoin to counteract the damage from UV-A exposure at different cell levels. It has also been shown to protect skin against both UV-A, UV-B rays, infrared light, and visible light.
Studies show ectoin to have dual-action pollution protection: first, it protects our skin from further pollution damage. Second, it helps repair damage from pollution.
In fact, ectoin has been shown to help with:
Fun fact: In the EU, ectoin is used in inhalation medication as an anti-pollution ingredient.
Ectoin is a highly stable ingredient. It has a wide pH range of 1-9. Light, oxygen, and temperature do not affect this ingredient.
The chemical name for this ingredient is Tetrahydromethylpyrimidine Carboxylic Acid.
Learn more about EctoinEthylhexylglycerin 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 EthylhexylglycerinLavandula Angustifolia Oil is more commonly known as lavender essential oil. It is considered a fragrancing ingredient.
Lavender imparts a famous scent. While the smell is lovely, this ingredient and may sensitize skin in topical products. This is because about 85% of the oil is made up of linalool and linalyl acetate.
When exposed to air, these two compounds become strong allergens. This ingredient exhibits cytotoxicity at low concentrations; amounts of 0.25% have been shown to damage skin cells.
A study from Japan found this ingredient caused lavender sensitivity after widespread exposure.
Lavender essential oil has some antimicrobial, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties. However, the cons of this ingredient may outweight the pros.
More research is needed to confirm lavender essential oil's effects when used in aromatherapy.
Lavandula Angustifolia is known as the English Lavender and famous for creating purple fields in Provence, France.
Learn more about Lavandula Angustifolia OilLecithin is a term for a group of substances found in the cell membranes of plants, animals, and humans. They are made up of phospholipids.
Thanks to its amphiphilic structure (water-loving head and oil-loving tail), it is a true multitasker:
It plays well with most ingredients and is typically used at 0.1-1%. However, concentrations up to 50% have been reported in moisturizers.
Depending on the source of this ingredient, lecithin may not be fungal acne safe. This is because some sources of lecithin come from soybean oil, which may feed the malassezia yeast that causes fungal acne.
We recommend reaching out to the brand you are purchasing from to inquire about the source of their lecithin.
Learn more about LecithinPhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Polyhydroxystearic Acid is a vegetable-derived soft wax made from castor oil. It's an emulsion stabilizer, thickener, and film former.
You'll likely see it in sunscreens because it helps disperse pigments and UV-reflecting minerals like titanium dioxide and zinc oxide evenly.
Depending on the concentration, it can drastically change the texture of a product from pasty solid (like lipstick) to sprayable liquid.
The CIR Expert Panel for Cosmetic Ingredient Safety has concluded this ingredient to be safe in cosmetics. The highest reported use concentration is 14.2% in lipsticks.
Learn more about Polyhydroxystearic AcidPropanediol 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 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
