What's inside

What's inside

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

Show highlights for:

Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%

UV Absorber
UV Protection IconChemical UV Filter Icon

Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%

UV Absorber
0 / 0 UV Protection IconChemical UV Filter IconNon-Reef-Safe Icon

Water

Skin Conditioning

Dimethicone

Emollient
1 / 0 Silicon IconGood for Scar Healing Icon

Butyloctyl Salicylate

Skin Conditioning
Non-Reef-Safe Icon

Butylene Glycol

Humectant
1 / 0 Helps hydrate Dry Skin IconGood for Barrier Repair Icon

Polyester-8

Skin Conditioning
Non-Reef-Safe Icon

Cetyl Ricinoleate

Emollient
Not safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Steareth-21

Cleansing

Steareth-2

Emulsifying
2 / 2

Di-C12-15 Alkyl Fumarate

Emollient

Caprylic/Capric/Myristic/Stearic Triglyceride

Emollient

Polysilicone-11

Silicon IconGood for Oily Skin Icon

Psidium Guajava Fruit Extract

Astringent

Gentiana Lutea Root Extract

Skin Conditioning

Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract

Antioxidant
Antioxidant Icon

Stearyl Alcohol

Emollient
2 / 2 Fatty Alcohol IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Hordeum Vulgare Extract

Emollient

Laminaria Ochroleuca Extract

Skin Conditioning
Helps hydrate Dry Skin IconHelps reduce irritation IconHelps reduce Skin Redness Icon

Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract

Antimicrobial

Triticum Vulgare Germ Extract

Skin Conditioning

Artemia Extract

Skin Conditioning

Caffeine

Skin Conditioning
Helps with Anti-Aging IconHelps reduce irritation Icon

Pentylene Glycol

Skin Conditioning
Good for Barrier Repair Icon

Hydrolyzed Rice Extract

Skin Conditioning
Helps hydrate Dry Skin IconGood for Dark Spots Icon

Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract

Antimicrobial
Antioxidant IconHelps reduce irritation IconHelps reduce Skin Redness Icon

Hydrolyzed Rice Bran Extract

Skin Conditioning

Lauryl PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone

Skin Conditioning
Silicon Icon

Thermus Thermophillus Ferment

Skin Conditioning

Behenyl Alcohol

Emollient
Fatty Alcohol Icon

Acrylic Acid/Vp Crosspolymer

Surfactant

Triacontanyl Pvp

Humectant

Glycerin

Humectant
0 / 0 Helps hydrate Dry Skin IconGood for Scar Healing IconGood for Barrier Repair Icon

C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate

Antimicrobial

Linoleic Acid

Cleansing
Helps hydrate Dry Skin IconHelps reduce irritation IconGood for Scar Healing IconGood for Dark Spots IconGood for Barrier Repair IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Cholesterol

Emollient
0 / 0 Helps hydrate Dry Skin IconGood for Barrier Repair Icon

Squalane

Emollient
1 / 0 Helps with Anti-Aging IconHelps hydrate Dry Skin IconGood for Barrier Repair Icon

Sodium PCA

Humectant
0 / 0 Helps hydrate Dry Skin IconHelps reduce irritation IconGood for Barrier Repair Icon

1,2-Hexanediol

Skin Conditioning
Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Urea

Buffering
Urea IconHelps hydrate Dry Skin IconGood for Skin Texture IconGood for Barrier Repair Icon

Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride

Masking
Coconut Derived IconHelps hydrate Dry Skin IconGood for Barrier Repair Icon

Dipropylene Glycol Dibenzoate

Emollient

Tocopheryl Acetate

Antioxidant
0 / 0 Vitamin E IconAntioxidant IconHelps brighten skin Icon

Acrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer

Emulsion Stabilising

Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate

Antioxidant
Vitamin C IconAntioxidant IconHelps brighten skin IconGood for Minimizing Pores IconHelps reduce Skin Redness IconGood for Scar Healing IconGood for Skin Texture Icon

Sodium Hyaluronate

Humectant
0 / 0 Hyaluronic Acid IconHelps with Anti-Aging IconHelps hydrate Dry Skin IconHelps reduce Skin Redness IconGood for Barrier Repair Icon

Ergothioneine

Antioxidant
Antioxidant IconHelps reduce irritation IconHelps reduce Skin Redness IconGood for Dark Spots Icon

Isohexadecane

Emollient

PPG-15 Stearyl Ether Benzoate

Emollient

Glycyrrhetinic Acid

Skin Conditioning
Helps reduce Skin Redness Icon

Trehalose

Humectant
Helps with Anti-Aging IconHelps hydrate Dry Skin IconGood for Barrier Repair Icon

Polyquaternium-51

Skin Conditioning
Helps hydrate Dry Skin IconGood for Barrier Repair Icon

Polysorbate 80

Emulsifying
0 / 0 Not safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Potassium Sorbate

Preservative
Preservative Icon

Lecithin

Emollient
Helps hydrate Dry Skin IconGood for Barrier Repair Icon

Hydrogenated Lecithin

Emulsifying
Helps hydrate Dry Skin IconGood for Barrier Repair Icon

Glucose

Humectant
Helps hydrate Dry Skin IconGood for Barrier Repair Icon

Palmitoyl Hydroxypropyltrimonium Amylopectin/Glycerin Crosspolymer

Skin Conditioning

Caprylyl Glycol

Emollient
Fatty Alcohol Icon

Cyclodextrin

Absorbent

Sodium Hydroxide

Buffering

Nordihydroguaiaretic Acid

Antioxidant
Antioxidant Icon

Sodium Chloride

Masking

Triacetin

Antimicrobial
0 / 0

Ascorbyl Tocopheryl Maleate

Antioxidant
Vitamin C IconAntioxidant Icon

Parfum

Masking
Synthetic Fragrance IconFragrance IconMay worsen Eczema IconMay worsen Rosacea Icon

Citric Acid

Buffering
AHA IconHelps brighten skin IconMay worsen Rosacea Icon

Ethylbisiminomethylguaiacol Manganese Chloride

Antioxidant
Antioxidant IconHelps with Anti-Aging IconHelps reduce Skin Redness IconGood for Dark Spots Icon

Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate

Antioxidant
Antioxidant Icon

Disodium EDTA

BHT

Antioxidant
Antioxidant Icon

Chlorphenesin

Antimicrobial
Preservative Icon

Sodium Dehydroacetate

Preservative
Preservative Icon

Phenoxyethanol

Preservative
Preservative Icon

CI 42090

Cosmetic Colorant

CI 19140

Cosmetic Colorant

CI 77289

Cosmetic Colorant

Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%, Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%, Water, Dimethicone, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Butylene Glycol, Polyester-8, Cetyl Ricinoleate, Steareth-21, Steareth-2, Di-C12-15 Alkyl Fumarate, Caprylic/Capric/Myristic/Stearic Triglyceride, Polysilicone-11, Psidium Guajava Fruit Extract, Gentiana Lutea Root Extract, Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract, Stearyl Alcohol, Hordeum Vulgare Extract, Laminaria Ochroleuca Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Triticum Vulgare Germ Extract, Artemia Extract, Caffeine, Pentylene Glycol, Hydrolyzed Rice Extract, Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract, Hydrolyzed Rice Bran Extract, Lauryl PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Thermus Thermophillus Ferment, Behenyl Alcohol, Acrylic Acid/Vp Crosspolymer, Triacontanyl Pvp, Glycerin, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Linoleic Acid, Cholesterol, Squalane, Sodium PCA, 1,2-Hexanediol, Urea, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Dipropylene Glycol Dibenzoate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Acrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ergothioneine, Isohexadecane, PPG-15 Stearyl Ether Benzoate, Glycyrrhetinic Acid, Trehalose, Polyquaternium-51, Polysorbate 80, Potassium Sorbate, Lecithin, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Glucose, Palmitoyl Hydroxypropyltrimonium Amylopectin/Glycerin Crosspolymer, Caprylyl Glycol, Cyclodextrin, Sodium Hydroxide, Nordihydroguaiaretic Acid, Sodium Chloride, Triacetin, Ascorbyl Tocopheryl Maleate, Parfum, Citric Acid, Ethylbisiminomethylguaiacol Manganese Chloride, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Disodium EDTA, BHT, Chlorphenesin, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Phenoxyethanol, CI 42090, CI 19140, CI 77289

Reviews

3.00
Overall rating
5
4
3
2
1
What people say
Expensive 100% Oily 100%
2.00
Overall rating
5
4
3
2
1
What people say
Expensive 100% Heavy 100% Irritating 100%

Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.

Emollient, Emulsion Stabilising

Behenyl Alcohol is a type of fatty alcohol (these are different from the drying, solvent alcohols).

Fatty Alcohols have hydrating properties and are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product. They are usually derived from natural fats and oils; behenyl alcohol is derived from the fats of vegetable oils.

Emollients help keep your skin soft and hydrated by creating a film that traps moisture in.

In 2000, Behenyl Alcohol was approved by the US as medicine to reduce the duration of cold sores.

Learn more about Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient, Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting

Dimethicone 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 Dimethicone

Disodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.

This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:

On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.

One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).

Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.

You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.

Learn more about Disodium EDTA
UV Absorber, UV Filter

Ethylhexyl 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 Salicylate
Humectant, Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting

Glycerin (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 Glycerin
Emollient, Emulsifying, Skin Conditioning

Lecithin is a term for a group of substances found in the cell membranes of plants, animals, and humans. They are made up of phospholipids.

Thanks to its amphiphilic structure (water-loving head and oil-loving tail), it is a true multitasker:

It plays well with most ingredients and is typically used at 0.1-1%. However, concentrations up to 50% have been reported in moisturizers.

Depending on the source of this ingredient, lecithin may not be fungal acne safe. This is because some sources of lecithin come from soybean oil, which may feed the malassezia yeast that causes fungal acne.

We recommend reaching out to the brand you are purchasing from to inquire about the source of their lecithin.

Learn more about Lecithin
Masking, Perfuming

Parfum is a catch-all term for an ingredient or more that is used to give a scent to products.

Also called "fragrance", this ingredient can be a blend of hundreds of chemicals or plant oils. This means every product with "fragrance" or "parfum" in the ingredients list is a different mixture.

For instance, Habanolide is a proprietary trade name for a specific aroma chemical. When used as a fragrance ingredient in cosmetics, most aroma chemicals fall under the broad labeling category of “FRAGRANCE” or “PARFUM” according to EU and US regulations.

The term 'parfum' or 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term.

For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance by INCI standards.

One example is Calendula flower extract. Calendula is an essential oil that still imparts a scent or 'fragrance'.

Depending on the blend, the ingredients in the mixture can cause allergies and sensitivities on the skin. Some ingredients that are known EU allergens include linalool and citronellol.

Parfum can also be used to mask or cover an unpleasant scent.

The bottom line is: not all fragrances/parfum/ingredients are created equally. If you are worried about fragrances, we recommend taking a closer look at an ingredient. And of course, we always recommend speaking with a professional.

Learn more about Parfum
Preservative

Phenoxyethanol 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.

Preservative

Potassium Sorbate is a preservative used to prevent yeast and mold in products. It is commonly found in both cosmetic and food products.

This ingredient comes from potassium salt derived from sorbic acid. Sorbic acid is a natural antibiotic and effective against fungus.

Both potassium sorbate and sorbic acid can be found in baked goods, cheeses, dried meats, dried fruit, ice cream, pickles, wine, yogurt, and more.

You'll often find this ingredient used with other preservatives.

Learn more about Potassium Sorbate
Skin Conditioning, Solvent

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

Similar Comparisons