What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Zinc Oxide 12%
Cosmetic ColorantEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate 7.5%
UV AbsorberWater
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientNiacinamide
SmoothingOleth-3 Phosphate
SurfactantOctyldodecyl Neopentanoate
EmollientHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingGlycerin
HumectantPolygonum Aviculare Extract
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTriethoxysilylethyl Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Hexyl Dimethicone
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-3 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone
Skin ConditioningPEG-7 Trimethylolpropane Coconut Ether
EmulsifyingPolyisobutene
Triethoxycaprylylsilane
Disodium EDTA
Iron Oxides
Phenoxyethanol
PreservativeZinc Oxide 12%, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate 7.5%, Water, Cyclopentasiloxane, Niacinamide, Oleth-3 Phosphate, Octyldodecyl Neopentanoate, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Glycerin, Polygonum Aviculare Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Triethoxysilylethyl Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Hexyl Dimethicone, Polyglyceryl-3 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, PEG-7 Trimethylolpropane Coconut Ether, Polyisobutene, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Disodium EDTA, Iron Oxides, Phenoxyethanol
Salicylic Acid 2%
MaskingWater
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantIsononyl Isononanoate
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantKaolin
AbrasiveZinc Sulfate
AntimicrobialBifida Ferment Lysate
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium Benzoate
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeAscorbyl Glucoside
AntioxidantHydrolyzed Algin
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Biosaccharide Gum-1
HumectantAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingParfum
MaskingSalicylic Acid 2%, Water, Glycerin, Isononyl Isononanoate, Butylene Glycol, Kaolin, Zinc Sulfate, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Polyacrylate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Hydrolyzed Algin, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Parfum
Reviews
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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol 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.
Sodium 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 Water