What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Zinc Oxide 12.9%
Cosmetic ColorantWater
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientButyloctyl Salicylate
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingEthylhexyl Methoxycrylene
Skin ConditioningOctyldodecyl Neopentanoate
EmollientTaurine
BufferingHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingButylene Glycol
HumectantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientArginine
MaskingTriethoxycaprylylsilane
Oleth-3 Phosphate
SurfactantOleth-20
CleansingCoco-Glucoside
CleansingPolyisobutene
Polyhydroxystearic Acid
EmulsifyingPEG-7 Trimethylolpropane Coconut Ether
EmulsifyingSalicyloyl Phytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantGlycerin
HumectantTocopherol
AntioxidantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPongamia Pinnata Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycine
BufferingLactic Acid
BufferingPolyglyceryl-10 Stearate
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningTriethyl Citrate
MaskingPolyglyceryl-6 Behenate
Emulsion StabilisingBehenic Acid
CleansingCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCholesterol
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientCeramide Ns
Skin ConditioningCeramide EOP
Skin ConditioningCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningSodium Cetearyl Sulfate
CleansingCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantCI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantZinc Oxide 12.9%, Water, Dimethicone, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Ethylhexyl Methoxycrylene, Octyldodecyl Neopentanoate, Taurine, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Butylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Arginine, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Oleth-3 Phosphate, Oleth-20, Coco-Glucoside, Polyisobutene, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, PEG-7 Trimethylolpropane Coconut Ether, Salicyloyl Phytosphingosine, Tocopheryl Acetate, Glycerin, Tocopherol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Pongamia Pinnata Seed Extract, Glycine, Lactic Acid, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Triethyl Citrate, Polyglyceryl-6 Behenate, Behenic Acid, Ceramide NP, Cholesterol, Glyceryl Stearate, Ceramide Ns, Ceramide EOP, Ceramide AP, Sodium Cetearyl Sulfate, CI 19140, CI 42090
Water
Skin ConditioningIsohexadecane
EmollientCetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone
EmulsifyingGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantDilinoleic Acid/Propanediol Copolymer
EmollientTrimethylsiloxysilicate
EmollientMangifera Indica Seed Butter
Skin ConditioningSqualane
EmollientTridecyl Trimellitate
EmollientNiacinamide
SmoothingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingXylitylglucoside
HumectantTriethoxycaprylylsilane
Anhydroxylitol
HumectantGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientDisteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantTropolone
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantArnica Montana Flower Extract
MaskingLaminaria Ochroleuca Extract
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientPropylene Glycol Stearate
Skin ConditioningCaffeine
Skin ConditioningMagnesium Sulfate
Sodium Chloride
MaskingMagnesium Stearate
Cosmetic ColorantXylitol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCellulose Acetate
Propylene Carbonate
SolventAcrylates/Ammonium Methacrylate Copolymer
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic ColorantIron Oxides
Blue 1 Lake
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Isohexadecane, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Dilinoleic Acid/Propanediol Copolymer, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Mangifera Indica Seed Butter, Squalane, Tridecyl Trimellitate, Niacinamide, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Xylitylglucoside, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Anhydroxylitol, Glyceryl Stearate, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Tocopheryl Acetate, Tropolone, Tocopherol, Arnica Montana Flower Extract, Laminaria Ochroleuca Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, Propylene Glycol Stearate, Caffeine, Magnesium Sulfate, Sodium Chloride, Magnesium Stearate, Xylitol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Cellulose Acetate, Propylene Carbonate, Acrylates/Ammonium Methacrylate Copolymer, Mica, Titanium Dioxide, Iron Oxides, Blue 1 Lake
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride (aka MCT Oil) is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping to prevent moisture loss.
Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. One perk of this ingredient is that it is very stable, resistant to oxidation, and unlikely to go rancid.
In practice, that translates to a long shelf life and a consistently elegant skin feel.
While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this. Just patch test if you have concerns.
Fractionated coconut oil and MCT Oil are both listed as Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride according to INCI. This is because INCI names are based on the ingredient’s final chemical composition and not its marketing name or source.
This ingredient is treated as the gold standard fungal acne safe oil. Even though it is coconut derived, the problematic lauric acid is stripped out.
This leaves just caprylic (C8) and capric (C10) acid. These chain lengths actually trend antifungal; a 2020 study found caprylic acid was enough to disrupt Malassezia furfur cell membrane, with a caprylic acid derivative damaging membrane structures at concentrations as low as 0.2%.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideGlycerin (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 GlycerinGlyceryl Stearate is made by reacting glycerin with stearic acid (typically sourced from plant oils like palm or coconut). It's an emulsifier, emollient, and mild occlusive.
Emulsifiers help ingredients like oil and water stay mixed so your formula stays nicely blended and uniform in texture.
This ingredient is typically used in concentrations between 1-10%. Studies have found it to be non-sensitizing, non-phototoxic, and non-photoallergenic.
A close cousin of this ingredient is Glyceryl Stearate SE ("self-emulsifying"). This just has a small amount of sodium or potassium stearate added so it can emulsify without a co-emulsifier.
Since this ingredient is an ester of a C18 fatty acid, it may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast can potentially metabolize within the C11-C24 range.
Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.
Learn more about Glyceryl StearateTocopherol 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 TocopherolTocopheryl 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 AcetateTriethoxycaprylylsilane is a silicon-based surface modifier that makes sunscreens feel silky and makeup stay put.
Its main job is to coat mineral particles like titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, and color pigments in a thin, oily layer so they spread smoothly, don't clump, and stick to skin better.
This ingredient is typically used at low levels (up to 2.5% in eyeshadow and 1% in lipstick).
Learn more about TriethoxycaprylylsilaneWater. 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