What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDibutyl Adipate
EmollientPropanediol
SolventEthylhexyl Triazone
UV AbsorberPolymethylsilsesquioxane
Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV FilterMethylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol
UV FilterNiacinamide
SmoothingDrometrizole Trisiloxane
UV AbsorberCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
EmollientCaprylyl Methicone
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientPoly C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate
Emulsion StabilisingVp/Eicosene Copolymer
Polyglyceryl-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 ConditioningDioscorea Japonica Root Extract
Skin ConditioningViola Mandshurica Flower Extract
AntioxidantLaminaria Japonica Extract
Skin ProtectingUlmus Davidiana Root Extract
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingT-Butyl Alcohol
PerfumingInositol
HumectantTocopherol
AntioxidantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingGlyceryl Glucoside
HumectantSaccharide Isomerate
HumectantDipropylene Glycol
HumectantSalicornia Herbacea Extract
Skin ConditioningAdansonia Digitata Fruit Extract
EmollientBambusa Vulgaris Water
Skin ConditioningBambusa Vulgaris Shoot Extract
AntioxidantBambusa Vulgaris Leaf/Stem Extract
HumectantCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingHibiscus Esculentus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningAngelica Keiskei Extract
AntioxidantCorchorus Olitorius Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningNelumbo Nucifera Root Extract
Skin ConditioningAnastatica Hierochuntica Extract
AstringentTremella Fuciformis Polysaccharide
Emulsion StabilisingMentha Aquatica Extract
TonicCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Citrate
BufferingWater, Dibutyl Adipate, Propanediol, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol, Niacinamide, Drometrizole Trisiloxane, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Caprylyl Methicone, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Behenyl Alcohol, Poly C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate, Vp/Eicosene Copolymer, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Decyl Glucoside, Tromethamine, Carbomer, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adenosine, Dioscorea Japonica Root Extract, Viola Mandshurica Flower Extract, Laminaria Japonica Extract, Ulmus Davidiana Root Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Xanthan Gum, T-Butyl Alcohol, Inositol, Tocopherol, Panthenol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glyceryl Glucoside, Saccharide Isomerate, Dipropylene Glycol, Salicornia Herbacea Extract, Adansonia Digitata Fruit Extract, Bambusa Vulgaris Water, Bambusa Vulgaris Shoot Extract, Bambusa Vulgaris Leaf/Stem Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Hibiscus Esculentus Fruit Extract, Angelica Keiskei Extract, Corchorus Olitorius Leaf Extract, Nelumbo Nucifera Root Extract, Anastatica Hierochuntica Extract, Tremella Fuciformis Polysaccharide, Mentha Aquatica Extract, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate
Water
Skin ConditioningZinc Oxide
Cosmetic ColorantAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialDiisopropyl Sebacate
EmollientIsononyl Isononanoate
EmollientC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialEthylhexyl Triazone
UV AbsorberGlycerin
HumectantDimethicone
EmollientDrometrizole Trisiloxane
UV AbsorberSodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingBis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantIsohexadecane
EmollientTriethoxycaprylylsilane
Poly C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate
Emulsion StabilisingAcrylates/Polytrimethylsiloxymethacrylate Copolymer
Skin ConditioningPEG-400
Emulsion StabilisingPolysorbate 80
EmulsifyingC30-45 Alkyl Methicone
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingC30-45 Olefin
Skin ConditioningSorbitan Oleate
EmulsifyingPolysilicone-9
Disodium EDTA
Sodium Hyaluronate
HumectantWater, Zinc Oxide, Alcohol Denat., Diisopropyl Sebacate, Isononyl Isononanoate, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Drometrizole Trisiloxane, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Butylene Glycol, Isohexadecane, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Poly C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate, Acrylates/Polytrimethylsiloxymethacrylate Copolymer, PEG-400, Polysorbate 80, C30-45 Alkyl Methicone, Xanthan Gum, C30-45 Olefin, Sorbitan Oleate, Polysilicone-9, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hyaluronate
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Butylene 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 GlycolDrometrizole Trisiloxane is an oil-soluble organic UV filter that L'oreal patented back in 1989.
Its offers broad-spectrum protection against UVB and UVA with two peaks: 303nm in the UVB range and 344 nm in the UVA range.
The standout trait is photostability. Unlike other UV filters, this one doesn't break down when exposed to sunlight.
You'll likely see it paired with Mexoryl SX (Ecamsule) because the two filters show a synergistic effect where the combined protection is greater than the sum of the individual filters.
Because it is oil soluble, it's great for water-resistant/sport/beach sunscreens.
Concentration-wise, the EU permits up to 15% but formulas use it well below that ceiling and almost never as a solo active.
It has a pretty solid safety record: allergic reactions are considered rare, its large molecule size means little to no absorption through skin, and toxicology reviews found no significant toxicity.
Just so you know, there were a handful of isolated allergic contact dermatitis case reports (which is true of every UV filter), but most people will not react to it.
This ingredient is available in the EU, Canada, Australia, and Japan, but not the US. This is just because the manufacturer hasn't pushed the data through the FDA's OTC ingredient pathway.
Learn more about Drometrizole TrisiloxaneEthylhexyl Triazone (aka Octyl Triazone) is an oil-soluble organic UVB filter. It has peak absorption around 314 nm, right in the middle of the UVB range.
This ingredient is described as one of the most effective UVB filters available and small concentrations are enough to deliver a high SPF thanks to its strong UV absorbing power.
Formulators love it for its stability; its ability to filter UV stays practically unchanged even under intense radiation and it can also help boost the photostability of less stable filters like avobenzone.
It's also a great pick for water resistant products because it's insoluble in water and has a good affinity for keratin.
Because it's a big, heavy molecule, the European Scientific Committee has found to to have very low dermal penetration and negative results for allergenicity.
In vitro testing also showed a low absorption rate and clean results on irritation.
Typical use levels are 1-5% with 5% being the maximum in the EU, Japan, and other markets that allow it. However, this ingredient is not approved yet in the US or Canada.
Learn more about Ethylhexyl TriazoneGlycerin (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 GlycerinPoly C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate is a synthetic polymer. It's a long chain built from acrylic acid units and each unit carries a fatty "tail" derived form a C10-30 alcohol.
Those oil-loving tails allow this ingredient to thicken oil phases, hold emulsions together, and cuts the tacky/greasy feel of heavy formulas.
Typical use levels sit around 0.1-3%, with 0.3-3% more common in leave-on emulsions.
This ingredient was reviewed as part of a group of 126 acrylates and concluded to be safe by the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel.
Though acrylate contact allergy is real and well-documented, allergy risk is quite low. The cases of documented contact allergy are caused by unreacted monomers (more commonly found in gel nails, dental resins, and adhesives).
Learn more about Poly C10-30 Alkyl AcrylateSodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateWater. 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