What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Zinc Oxide 10%
Cosmetic Colorant
Polyisobutene
Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate
Emollient
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialOctyldodecanol
Emollient
Microcrystalline Wax
Emulsion StabilisingButyloctyl Salicylate
Skin Conditioning
Tridecyl Trimellitate
EmollientSilica Dimethyl Silylate
EmollientOryzanol
Skin ConditioningCamellia Oleifera Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Triethoxycaprylylsilane
Parfum
Masking
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPolyhydroxystearic Acid
Emulsifying
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Vp/Hexadecene Copolymer
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Ricinus Communis Seed Oil
Masking
Isostearic Acid
Cleansing
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate
Emulsifying
Lecithin
Emollient
Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
CI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantCI 15850
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantZinc Oxide 10%, Polyisobutene, Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Octyldodecanol, Microcrystalline Wax, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Tridecyl Trimellitate, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Oryzanol, Camellia Oleifera Seed Oil, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Parfum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Vp/Hexadecene Copolymer, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Isostearic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate, Lecithin, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Tocopherol, CI 77491, CI 77499, CI 15850, CI 77492, CI 42090, CI 77891
Octocrylene 9%
UV Absorber
Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%
UV Absorber
Homosalate 4.5%
Skin Conditioning
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%
UV Absorber
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Butylene/Ethylene/Styrene Copolymer
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialEthylene/Propylene/Styrene Copolymer
Ethylhexyl Olivate
Skin Conditioning
Aroma
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientGlyceryl Undecylenate
Emollient
Isohexadecane
EmollientPersea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Polyamide-3
Polybutene
Silica Cetyl Silylate
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Stevia Rebaudiana Leaf Extract
EmollientTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingOctocrylene 9%, Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%, Homosalate 4.5%, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%, Benzyl Alcohol, Butylene/Ethylene/Styrene Copolymer, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Ethylene/Propylene/Styrene Copolymer, Ethylhexyl Olivate, Aroma, Glyceryl Caprylate, Glyceryl Undecylenate, Isohexadecane, Persea Gratissima Oil, Polyamide-3, Polybutene, Silica Cetyl Silylate, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Stevia Rebaudiana Leaf Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Tripeptide-1, Xanthan Gum
Reviews
Alternatives
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 a lightweight emollient made by combinig benzoic acid with fatty alcohols that are 12-15 carbons long.
In cosmetics, it plays several roles:
The Cosmetic Review Expert Panel has concluded the alkyl benzoate group to be safe as used in cosmetics; it wasn't found to be a skin irritant and unlikely to be absorbed due to its low water solubility.
This report recorded almost 1000 reported uses with concentrations up to 59% in leave-on products but your cosmetics will typically use 0.5-15% depending on the product.
It's often called a "SPF booster": this is because it keeps UV filters properly dissolved and evenly distributed to support a sunscreen's performance. It doesn't actually raise SPF on its own.
Overall, this ingredient is well tolerated.
This ingredient is fungal acne safe because it is an ester of benzoic acid.
Think of this ingredient as two parts stuck together: an oily part and an acid part. Malassezia only gets a meal when it can snip off a fatty acid to eat. With C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, the acid part is benzoic acid, which isn't a fatty acid and which the yeast can't use as food.
Benzoic acid is actually used as a preservative to stop yeast from growing.
The oily part is a blend of C12-15 fatty alcohols but fatty alcohols in this size range can support only a little Malassezia growth (mostly for one species of Malassezia as well).
In the ingredient, those alcohols stay locked inside the molecule. The yeast can only reach them by snipping the benzoate bond, and that type of bond is harder for it to cut than a normal fatty bond.
So not much gets released. And whatever does get snipped comes packaged with benzoic acid, which discourages yeast growth.
Learn more about C12-15 Alkyl BenzoateSodium 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 HyaluronateTocopheryl 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 Acetate
