What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Propanediol
Solvent
Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate
EmollientMica
Cosmetic ColorantEthylhexyl Olivate
Skin Conditioning
C9-12 Alkane
SolventCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil
Humectant
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Diglucosyl Gallic Acid
Squalane
Emollient
Sorbitan Sesquiisostearate
Emulsifying
Plukenetia Volubilis Seed Oil
Emollient
Morus Alba Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCalcium Chloride
AstringentSea Salt
Abrasive
Sodium Stearate
CleansingHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Quercetin
Antioxidant
PPG-8-Ceteth-20
EmulsifyingSodium Carrageenan
Emulsion StabilisingGlyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Metabisulfite
Antioxidant
Ubiquinone
Antioxidant
Acrylates/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Copolymer
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialCitric Acid
Buffering
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Sodium Citrate
BufferingCeteareth-20
CleansingDipropylene Glycol
HumectantTocopherol
Antioxidant
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingSorbeth-30 Tetraisostearate
Emulsifying
CI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Propanediol, Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate, Mica, Ethylhexyl Olivate, C9-12 Alkane, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil, Cetearyl Alcohol, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Diglucosyl Gallic Acid, Squalane, Sorbitan Sesquiisostearate, Plukenetia Volubilis Seed Oil, Morus Alba Leaf Extract, Calcium Chloride, Sea Salt, Sodium Stearate, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Tocopheryl Acetate, Quercetin, PPG-8-Ceteth-20, Sodium Carrageenan, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Xanthan Gum, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Metabisulfite, Ubiquinone, Acrylates/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Copolymer, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Citric Acid, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Sodium Citrate, Ceteareth-20, Dipropylene Glycol, Tocopherol, Sorbitan Isostearate, Polysorbate 60, Sodium Hydroxide, Sorbeth-30 Tetraisostearate, CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77891
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialDihydroxyacetone
Skin ConditioningAlcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Cyclohexasiloxane
Emollient
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV Absorber
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingHoney
Humectant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Tri-C14-15 Alkyl Citrate
EmollientTocopherol
Antioxidant
Methylparaben
Preservative
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingEthylparaben
Preservative
Disodium EDTA
Polysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Linalool
Perfuming
Benzyl Salicylate
Perfuming
Butylphenyl Methylpropional
Perfuming
Sorbitan Oleate
Emulsifying
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Hydroxycitronellal
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone
Perfuming
Coumarin
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Parfum
Masking
Water, Glycerin, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Dihydroxyacetone, Alcohol Denat., Propylene Glycol, Cyclohexasiloxane, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Cetyl Alcohol, PEG-100 Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Honey, Dimethicone, Tri-C14-15 Alkyl Citrate, Tocopherol, Methylparaben, Xanthan Gum, Ethylparaben, Disodium EDTA, Polysorbate 80, Linalool, Benzyl Salicylate, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Sorbitan Oleate, Hexyl Cinnamal, Hydroxycitronellal, Citronellol, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Coumarin, Limonene, Parfum
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate is made up of Benzoic Acid and long chain alcohols. It has a low molecular weight.
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate is an emollient and texture enhancer. Due to its solubility, it is often used in sunscreens to help evenly distribute active ingredients.
As an emollient, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate helps soften and hydrate your skin. Emollients create a film on your skin that traps moisture within.
This ingredient has been reported to cause eye irritation.
Learn more about C12-15 Alkyl BenzoateGlycerin (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.
Tocopherol 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 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
