What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientZinc Oxide
Cosmetic ColorantPropanediol
SolventTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic ColorantButylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate
EmollientLauryl Polyglyceryl-3 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone
Skin ConditioningMethyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Butyloctyl Salicylate
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Methicone
Skin ConditioningCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Oil
MaskingCitrus Nobilis Peel Oil
MaskingLitsea Cubeba Fruit Oil
Masking1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningDisteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingMagnesium Sulfate
Stearic Acid
CleansingAluminum Hydroxide
EmollientPolyglyceryl-3 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone
Skin ConditioningTriethoxycaprylylsilane
Sorbitan Caprylate
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantWater, Cyclopentasiloxane, Zinc Oxide, Propanediol, Titanium Dioxide, Butylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Lauryl Polyglyceryl-3 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Caprylyl Methicone, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Oil, Citrus Nobilis Peel Oil, Litsea Cubeba Fruit Oil, 1,2-Hexanediol, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Magnesium Sulfate, Stearic Acid, Aluminum Hydroxide, Polyglyceryl-3 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Sorbitan Caprylate, Glyceryl Caprylate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tocopherol
Dimethicone
EmollientVinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer
Polyethylene
AbrasiveCetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientHomosalate
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV AbsorberHydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin)
EmollientDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientEthylhexyl Salicylate
UV AbsorberTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantOzokerite
Emulsion StabilisingDiethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV FilterBisabolol
AntioxidantLauryl PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone
Skin ConditioningCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Oil
MaskingCitrus Nobilis Peel Oil
MaskingDehydroacetic Acid
PreservativeLitsea Cubeba Fruit Oil
MaskingWater
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
EmollientSea Water
HumectantLavandula Angustifolia Flower Water
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil Unsaponifiables
EmollientCocos Nucifera Oil
MaskingOpuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantTocopherol
AntioxidantDipropylene Glycol
HumectantPropanediol
SolventXylitylglucoside
HumectantAnhydroxylitol
HumectantPseudoalteromonas Ferment Extract
HumectantCapryloyl Glycine
CleansingSodium Palmitoyl Proline
Skin ConditioningHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingXylitol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningSarcosine
Skin ConditioningNymphaea Alba Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningEpilobium Fleischeri Extract
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningCalendula Officinalis Flower Extract
MaskingOryza Sativa Bran Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialDioscorea Japonica Root Extract
Skin ConditioningCinnamomum Zeylanicum Bark Extract
AntimicrobialTremella Fuciformis Extract
HumectantCamellia Japonica Flower Extract
EmollientVanilla Tahitensis Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientNephelium Lappaceum Branch/Fruit/Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningLitchi Chinensis Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningGarcinia Mangostana Peel Extract
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
EmollientCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract
MaskingCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingSalix Alba Bark Extract
AstringentOriganum Vulgare Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningChamaecyparis Obtusa Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningScutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
AstringentPortulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin ConditioningCinnamomum Cassia Bark Extract
MaskingGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientGardenia Taitensis Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningOxygen
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientDimethicone, Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer, Polyethylene, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Homosalate, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin), Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ozokerite, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Bisabolol, Lauryl PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Oil, Citrus Nobilis Peel Oil, Dehydroacetic Acid, Litsea Cubeba Fruit Oil, Water, Butylene Glycol, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Sea Water, Lavandula Angustifolia Flower Water, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil Unsaponifiables, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract, Glycerin, Tocopherol, Dipropylene Glycol, Propanediol, Xylitylglucoside, Anhydroxylitol, Pseudoalteromonas Ferment Extract, Capryloyl Glycine, Sodium Palmitoyl Proline, Hexylene Glycol, Xylitol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sarcosine, Nymphaea Alba Flower Extract, Epilobium Fleischeri Extract, Lactobacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Dioscorea Japonica Root Extract, Cinnamomum Zeylanicum Bark Extract, Tremella Fuciformis Extract, Camellia Japonica Flower Extract, Vanilla Tahitensis Fruit Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, Nephelium Lappaceum Branch/Fruit/Leaf Extract, Litchi Chinensis Fruit Extract, Garcinia Mangostana Peel Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Origanum Vulgare Leaf Extract, Chamaecyparis Obtusa Leaf Extract, Citric Acid, Pentylene Glycol, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Cinnamomum Cassia Bark Extract, Glyceryl Caprylate, Gardenia Taitensis Flower Extract, Potassium Sorbate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Oxygen, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Oil comes from the bitter orange, an orange native to Southeast Asia.
This orange is commonly used in cosmetics and food. It is a common ingredient for marmalade.
Citrus peels are often made up of mainly limonene, a fragrance with a citrus scent. They also contain flavonoids, which have anti-inflammatory properties.
Learn more about Citrus Aurantium Dulcis OilMandarin peel oil is an essential oil made by distilling the peel of mandarin oranges. It is primarily used for fragrance but has some secondary skin conditioning effects.
This ingredient is rich in limonene and is generally considered milder than some other citrus oils (like lemon or bergamot). It is not strongly phototoxic because it contains little to no furocoumarins when properly produced.
Like other essential oils, this ingredient can be a fragrance allergen.
Learn more about Citrus Nobilis Peel OilEthylhexylglycerin 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 EthylhexylglycerinGlyceryl Caprylate comes from glycerin and caprylic acid. It is an emollient, co-emulsifier, and preservative booster.
Its short C8 fatty acid chain makes it behave differently from its longer-chain emollient cousins like Glyceryl Stearate. It feels more lightweight, fast-absorbing, and silky instead of rich and waxy.
As a co-emulsifier, its "head" and "tail" sit at the oil-water interface. But overall, the short C8 tail and not being water soluble means it doesn't really have the muscle to emulsify a formula on its own. That's why you'll often see it paired with a primary emulsifier like Cetearyl Glucoside.
Interestingly, Glyceryl Caprylate acts as a preservative booster. This is because its fatty-acid backbone disrupts microbial lipid membranes. It shows excellent activity against bacteria and yeast but is weaker against mold.
Typical concentrations range from 0.5-1% and this ingredient is generally non-irritating.
Because this ingredient has a C8 fatty acid chain, it is outside the range that the Malassezia yeast metabolizes (making it fungal acne safe).
Learn more about Glyceryl CaprylateLitsea Cubeba Fruit Oil is also known as May Chang essential oil. It is mostly used as a fragrance ingredient and has a bright, sweet, and lemony scent.
The main fragrance compounds in this ingredient are citral (~70-85%) and limonene.
Citral has documented antimicrobial activity against acne bacteria (which is where the marketing claims about it being good for acne-prone skin originate), but real formulas use it at fragrance-level concentrations under 1%.
The main thing worth knowing is that citral is a known EU fragrance allergen so people with known fragrance sensitivities may want to skip it.
Unlike citrus oils, May Chang doesn't contain furocoumarins and therefore isn't phototoxic.
Learn more about Litsea Cubeba Fruit OilPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.
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