What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%
UV Absorber
Homosalate 9%
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%
UV Absorber
Octocrylene 7%
UV Absorber
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Polyglyceryl-3 Distearate
Emulsifying
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate
Absorbent
Trehalose
Humectant
Stearyl Heptanoate
Emollient
Silica
Abrasive
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Squalane
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Cetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate Citrate
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Acrylates/Polytrimethylsiloxymethacrylate Copolymer
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Polyacrylate-13
Polyisobutene
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingParfum
Masking
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningGeraniol
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%, Homosalate 9%, Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%, Octocrylene 7%, Water, Glycerin, Polyglyceryl-3 Distearate, Niacinamide, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Trehalose, Stearyl Heptanoate, Silica, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Panthenol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Squalane, Butylene Glycol, Stearic Acid, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Dimethicone, Acrylates/Polytrimethylsiloxymethacrylate Copolymer, Disodium EDTA, Polyacrylate-13, Polyisobutene, Polysorbate 20, Carbomer, Parfum, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Geraniol, Linalool
Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid 2%
UV Absorber
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate 7.5%
UV Absorber
Ethylhexyl Salicylate 4.5%
UV Absorber
Titanium Dioxide 2.4%
Cosmetic Colorant
Zinc Oxide 4.8%
Cosmetic Colorant
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialDimethicone
Emollient
Cyclomethicone
Emollient
Methylpropanediol
SolventCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Ceteareth-20
CleansingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Glyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
Lactic Acid
Buffering
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Coco-Glycerides
Emollient
Vp/Hexadecene Copolymer
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPEG-40
HumectantRicinus Communis Seed Oil
Masking
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingTrisodium EDTA
Alumina
Abrasive
Sodium Cetearyl Sulfate
Cleansing
Triethoxycaprylylsilane
Simethicone
Emollient
Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid 2%, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate 7.5%, Ethylhexyl Salicylate 4.5%, Titanium Dioxide 2.4%, Zinc Oxide 4.8%, Water, Glycerin, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Dimethicone, Cyclomethicone, Methylpropanediol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Ceteareth-20, Phenoxyethanol, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Sodium Lactate, Lactic Acid, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydrogenated Coco-Glycerides, Vp/Hexadecene Copolymer, Xanthan Gum, PEG-40, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Sodium Hydroxide, Trisodium EDTA, Alumina, Sodium Cetearyl Sulfate, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Simethicone
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Cetearyl alcohol is a waxy mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is an emollient and emulsifier.
Despite having "alcohol" in its name, it has nothing to do with drying solvent alcohols; the FDA also allows "alcohol-free" products to contain fatty alcohols like this ingredient.
It plays several roles in a formula:
Typical use levels for this ingredient sit around 1-10% and the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has affirmed safety at concentrations up to 25% in leave-on products.
Multiple assessments have found it to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing to most people.
However, there have been some cases of allergic contact dermatitis in patients with chronically compromised skin barriers.
Cetearyl alcohol has a comedogenic rating of 2 and irritancy rating of 1. Both of these numbers come from the 1989 study that used rabbit ears; a "2" means mildly comedogenic and a "1" means low irritancy.
Here's the catch: rabbit skin is more sensitive than human skin and throws a lot of false positives. A 1996 reappraisal found that ingredients rated 1-2 in the rabbit ear tests are generally safe for humans.
Remember comedogenic ratings are unable to assess the entire formula of a product or how it will react on your skin. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure about certain ingredients.
This ingredient is not fungal acne safe. Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol with chain lengths that fall within the range that Malassezia can metabolize.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholDimethicone 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 DimethiconeEthylhexyl Salicylate is an organic compound used to block UV rays. It primarily absorbs UVB rays but offers a small amount of UVA protection as well.
Commonly found in sunscreens, Ethylhexyl Salicylate is created from salicylic acid and 2-ethylhexanol. You might know salicylic acid as the effective acne fighter ingredient and BHA.
The ethylhexanol in this ingredient is a fatty alcohol and helps hydrate your skin, similar to oils. It is an emollient, which means it traps moisture into the skin.
According to manufacturers, Ethylhexyl Salicylate absorbs UV wavelength of 295-315 nm, with a peak absorption at 307-310 nm. UVA rays are linked to long term skin damage, such as hyperpigmentation. UVB rays emit more energy and are capable of damaging our DNA. UVB rays cause sunburn.
Learn more about Ethylhexyl SalicylateGlycerin (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.
Water. 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
