What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialIsohexadecane
EmollientTrilaureth-4 Phosphate
EmulsifyingMethylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol
UV Filter
Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin Conditioning
Curcuma Longa Root Extract
Masking
Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV Filter
Ethylhexyl Triazone
UV Absorber
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Trehalose
Humectant
Biosaccharide Gum-4
Skin Conditioning
Xylitylglucoside
Humectant
Anhydroxylitol
Humectant
Xylitol
Humectant
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Silica
Abrasive
Lecithin
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingLaureth-23
Cleansing
Caprylyl Methicone
Skin Conditioning
Dimethicone
Emollient
Acrylates/C12-22 Alkyl Methacrylate Copolymer
Sodium Acrylates Copolymer
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Water, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Isohexadecane, Trilaureth-4 Phosphate, Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glycerin, Titanium Dioxide, Trehalose, Biosaccharide Gum-4, Xylitylglucoside, Anhydroxylitol, Xylitol, Propylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Silica, Lecithin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Laureth-23, Caprylyl Methicone, Dimethicone, Acrylates/C12-22 Alkyl Methacrylate Copolymer, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Decyl Glucoside, Xanthan Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Citric Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV Absorber
Zinc Oxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid
UV Absorber
Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion Stabilising
Potassium Chloride
PEG-10 Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Parfum
Masking
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingMagnesium Sulfate
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingSucrose Distearate
Emollient
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Benzoic Acid
Masking
Disodium EDTA
PEG-4 Laurate
Emulsifying
PEG-4 Dilaurate
Emulsifying
Sorbic Acid
Preservative
PEG-4
HumectantIodopropynyl Butylcarbamate
Preservative
BHT
Antioxidant
Aluminum Hydroxide
EmollientDimethicone
Emollient
Cucumis Sativus Extract
Skin Conditioning
Cymbopogon Citratus Extract
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Phenethyl Alcohol
MaskingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Calcium Gluconate
HumectantAlpha-Isomethyl Ionone
Perfuming
Benzyl Benzoate
Antimicrobial
Benzyl Salicylate
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Water, Cyclopentasiloxane, Glycerin, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Zinc Oxide, Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Potassium Chloride, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Niacinamide, Parfum, Benzyl Alcohol, Sodium Hydroxide, Magnesium Sulfate, Titanium Dioxide, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Sucrose Distearate, Allantoin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Benzoic Acid, Disodium EDTA, PEG-4 Laurate, PEG-4 Dilaurate, Sorbic Acid, PEG-4, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, BHT, Aluminum Hydroxide, Dimethicone, Cucumis Sativus Extract, Cymbopogon Citratus Extract, Propylene Glycol, Gluconolactone, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Phenethyl Alcohol, Caprylyl Glycol, Calcium Gluconate, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Benzyl Benzoate, Benzyl Salicylate, Citronellol, Geraniol, Hexyl Cinnamal, Limonene, Linalool
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Dimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeGlycerin (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 GlycerinPropylene Glycol is a synthetic, colorless, odorless liquid that has been a staple in cosmetics for decades. It is a skin conditioning agent, humectant, and solvent.
As a humectant, it draw water to the skin to reduce flaking and restore suppleness. It's also a solvent that helps dissolve other actives and keeps formulas stable across temperature changes.
The CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be nontoxic and clinical studies show no sensitization at cosmetic use concentrations.
True allergic reactions are quite rare: a 15-year retrospective study of 6,751 patients found only 0.31% had a positive reaction (and less than half were considered clinically relevant).
It seemed that when sensitization does occur, it's most commonly linked to topical medication (like corticosteroids) and not cosmetics. Allergic contact dermatitis also appears largely limited to individuals with underlying skin conditions.
Overall, propylene glycol is a well-studied ingredient that most people can tolerate without issue.
Learn more about Propylene GlycolTitanium dioxide is a mineral UV filter widely used in sunscreens and cosmetics.
It is one of only two UV filters officially classified as “mineral” by regulatory agencies, the other being zinc oxide.
Titanium dioxide provides broad-spectrum protection mostly in the UVB and UVAII range, with some protection in the UVAI range.
While its UVA protection isn’t as strong as zinc oxide’s, the difference is minor.
A common myth is that mineral UV filters reflect UV light. However, modern research shows titanium dioxide absorbs UV radiation like chemical filters (~95% absorption & 5% reflection).
Thanks to its non-irritating nature, titanium dioxide is suitable for sensitive, acne-prone, or redness-prone skin. It is unlikely to cause "eye sting" like other sunscreen ingredients.
A major drawback of this ingredient is its white cast and thick texture. This is why mineral sunscreens often leave a white cast and are less cosmetically elegant than chemical/hybrid sunscreens.
To improve white cast and spreadability, micronized or nano-sized titanium dioxide is often used.
There are ongoing concerns surrounding nano-titanium oxide's impact on marine ecosystems.
There is no conclusive evidence that any form of titanium oxide (or any other sunscreen ingredients) will cause harm to marine ecosystems or coral reefs. The science is still developing but many consumers are keeping a close eye on this issue.
Please note, many destinations have reef-safety sunscreen rules. For instance, the U.S. Virgin Islands advises all visitors to use non-nano mineral sunscreens.
Nano mineral sunscreens once raised safety concerns about absorption into skin.
Extensive research has shown that they do not penetrate healthy or damaged skin; they remain safely on the surface and the top layer of dead skin (stratum corneum).
You'll likely find titanium dioxide bundled with alumina, silica, or dimethicone. These ingredients help make titanium dioxide highly photostable; this prevents it from interacting with other formula components under UV light.
Learn more about Titanium DioxideTocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
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 Water
