What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDibutyl Adipate
EmollientDiethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV FilterEthylhexyl Salicylate
UV AbsorberBis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethyl Caprylate
Ethylhexyl Triazone
UV AbsorberC12-13 Alkyl Lactate
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantPhenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid
UV AbsorberDiethylhexyl Butamido Triazone
UV AbsorberCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientPropanediol
SolventButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningSqualane
EmollientTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Dimethicone
EmollientVp/Eicosene Copolymer
Caprylyl Glycol
EmollientPotassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAcrylates/C12-22 Alkyl Methacrylate Copolymer
PEG-100 Stearate
Arginine
MaskingCoco-Glucoside
CleansingDisodium Lauryl Sulfosuccinate
CleansingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeWater, Dibutyl Adipate, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Phenoxyethyl Caprylate, Ethylhexyl Triazone, C12-13 Alkyl Lactate, Glycerin, Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid, Diethylhexyl Butamido Triazone, Cetearyl Alcohol, Propanediol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Squalane, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Dimethicone, Vp/Eicosene Copolymer, Caprylyl Glycol, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Xanthan Gum, Acrylates/C12-22 Alkyl Methacrylate Copolymer, PEG-100 Stearate, Arginine, Coco-Glucoside, Disodium Lauryl Sulfosuccinate, Sodium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol
Water
Skin ConditioningOctocrylene
UV AbsorberCaprylyl Methicone
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Salicylate
UV AbsorberDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV AbsorberGlycerin
HumectantPhenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid
UV AbsorberEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV AbsorberTriethanolamine
BufferingSilica
AbrasiveNiacinamide
SmoothingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientCetyl Alcohol
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientLysine Carboxymethyl Cysteinate
Skin ConditioningPEG-75 Stearate
Gluconolactone
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Steareth-20
CleansingCeteth-20
CleansingGlutathione
BHT
AntioxidantTocopherol
AntioxidantWater, Octocrylene, Caprylyl Methicone, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Glycerin, Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Triethanolamine, Silica, Niacinamide, Phenoxyethanol, Xanthan Gum, Caprylyl Glycol, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Lysine Carboxymethyl Cysteinate, PEG-75 Stearate, Gluconolactone, Disodium EDTA, Steareth-20, Ceteth-20, Glutathione, BHT, Tocopherol
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolEthylhexyl 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.
This ingredient is more commonly known as Ensulizole, a chemical sunscreen ingredient.
Ensulizole mainly protects UV-B (290-340 nm) but offers a little UV-A (320-400 nm) protection. It is often paired with less photo-stable sunscreen ingredients due to its photo-stability.
Due to it being water-soluble, Ensulizole helps give sunscreens a light and non-oily texture.
Ensulizole is approved worldwide:
Learn more about Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic AcidWater. 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