What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningZinc Oxide
Cosmetic ColorantC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialIsostearic Acid
CleansingPolyhydroxystearic Acid
EmulsifyingCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientPEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Methicone
Skin ConditioningPEG-12 Dimethicone/PPG-20 Crosspolymer
Silica
AbrasiveGlycerin
HumectantDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningCetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone
EmulsifyingSodium Chloride
MaskingPolymethylsilsesquioxane
Caprylyl Glycol
EmollientMethylpropanediol
SolventDidecyldimonium Chloride
EmulsifyingPolyquaternium-80
CleansingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingMagnesium Aluminum Silicate
AbsorbentWater, Zinc Oxide, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Isostearic Acid, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Cyclopentasiloxane, PEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone, Caprylyl Methicone, PEG-12 Dimethicone/PPG-20 Crosspolymer, Silica, Glycerin, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Sodium Chloride, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Caprylyl Glycol, Methylpropanediol, Didecyldimonium Chloride, Polyquaternium-80, Xanthan Gum, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate
Water
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV AbsorberButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV AbsorberBenzophenone-3
UV AbsorberPhospholipids
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantIsododecane
EmollientDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic ColorantSilica
AbrasiveDimethicone
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingGlyceryl Citrate/Lactate/Linoleate/Oleate
EmulsifyingPropanediol
SolventNiacinamide
SmoothingAscorbyl Glucoside
AntioxidantTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantFructooligosaccharides
HumectantBeta Vulgaris Root Extract
Skin ConditioningTerminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract
AntioxidantCitrus Sinensis Fruit Extract
AntioxidantSodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingPolyacrylate-13
Polyisobutene
Polysorbate 20
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeEthylhexylglycerin
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
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Glycerin (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 GlycerinSilica, also known as silicon dioxide, is a naturally occurring mineral. It is used as a fine, spherical, and porous powder in cosmetics.
Though it has exfoliant properties, the function of silica varies depending on the product.
The unique structure of silica enhances the spreadability and adds smoothness, making it a great texture enhancer.
It is also used as an active carrier, emulsifier, and mattifier due to its ability to absorb excess oil.
In some products, tiny microneedles called spicules are made from silica or hydrolyzed sponge. When you rub them in, they lightly polish away dead skin layers and enhance the penetration of active ingredients.
Learn more about SilicaWater. 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