What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%
UV AbsorberHomosalate 5%
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Salicylate 4.5%
UV AbsorberOctocrylene 2.8%
UV AbsorberBenzophenone-3 3%
UV AbsorberWater
Skin ConditioningAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialButylene Glycol
HumectantTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialAnthemis Nobilis Flower Extract
MaskingAlgae Extract
EmollientTriticum Vulgare Germ Extract
Skin ConditioningLaminaria Ochroleuca Extract
Skin ConditioningPolygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract
AntioxidantSqualane
EmollientHordeum Vulgare Extract
EmollientLilium Tigrinum Extract
Skin ConditioningOpuntia Tuna Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCaffeine
Skin ConditioningAcrylates Copolymer
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientCholesterol
EmollientErgothioneine
AntioxidantGlycerin
HumectantSucrose
HumectantAlcaligenes Polysaccharides
EmollientThermus Thermophillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningSorbitan Sesquiisostearate
EmulsifyingTetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
AntioxidantHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingAcrylates/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Copolymer
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingDehydroxanthan Gum
Emulsion StabilisingDipropylene Glycol
HumectantCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPPG-8-Ceteth-20
EmulsifyingDextrin Palmitate
EmulsifyingCyclodextrin
AbsorbentAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSorbeth-30 Tetraisostearate
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPolymethylsilsesquioxane
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
BHT
AntioxidantEthylbisiminomethylguaiacol Manganese Chloride
AntioxidantDisodium EDTA
Phenoxyethanol
PreservativeButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%, Homosalate 5%, Ethylhexyl Salicylate 4.5%, Octocrylene 2.8%, Benzophenone-3 3%, Water, Alcohol Denat., Butylene Glycol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract, Algae Extract, Triticum Vulgare Germ Extract, Laminaria Ochroleuca Extract, Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract, Squalane, Hordeum Vulgare Extract, Lilium Tigrinum Extract, Opuntia Tuna Fruit Extract, Caffeine, Acrylates Copolymer, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Caprylyl Glycol, Cholesterol, Ergothioneine, Glycerin, Sucrose, Alcaligenes Polysaccharides, Thermus Thermophillus Ferment, Sorbitan Sesquiisostearate, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Hexylene Glycol, Acrylates/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Copolymer, Sodium Hydroxide, Dehydroxanthan Gum, Dipropylene Glycol, Carbomer, PPG-8-Ceteth-20, Dextrin Palmitate, Cyclodextrin, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Sorbeth-30 Tetraisostearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, BHT, Ethylbisiminomethylguaiacol Manganese Chloride, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol
Water
Skin ConditioningC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialCaprylyl Methicone
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningSodium Acrylates Copolymer
Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol
UV FilterBis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Triazone
UV AbsorberDiethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV FilterGlycerin
HumectantDimethicone
EmollientAcrylates/C12-22 Alkyl Methacrylate Copolymer
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic ColorantZinc Oxide
Cosmetic ColorantBiosaccharide Gum-4
Skin ConditioningCitrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingVaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract
Skin ProtectingCitrus Paradisi Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningLaminaria Digitata Extract
Skin ProtectingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantCeramide EOP
Skin ConditioningCeramide Ns
Skin ConditioningCeramide Ng
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCeramide As
Skin ConditioningCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningXylitylglucoside
HumectantAnhydroxylitol
HumectantXylitol
HumectantArginine
MaskingTrehalose
HumectantAllantoin
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingCetyl-Pg Hydroxyethyl Palmitamide
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
HumectantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeLecithin
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientTriethoxycaprylylsilane
Silica
AbrasiveGlyceryl Glucoside
HumectantCoco-Glucoside
CleansingDisodium Lauryl Sulfosuccinate
CleansingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDecyl Glucoside
CleansingCitric Acid
BufferingWater, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Caprylyl Methicone, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Acrylates/C12-22 Alkyl Methacrylate Copolymer, Titanium Dioxide, Zinc Oxide, Biosaccharide Gum-4, Citrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract, Niacinamide, Vaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract, Citrus Paradisi Fruit Extract, Laminaria Digitata Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ceramide EOP, Ceramide Ns, Ceramide Ng, Ceramide NP, Ceramide As, Ceramide AP, Xylitylglucoside, Anhydroxylitol, Xylitol, Arginine, Trehalose, Allantoin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Xanthan Gum, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Cetyl-Pg Hydroxyethyl Palmitamide, Propylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Lecithin, Glyceryl Stearate, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Silica, Glyceryl Glucoside, Coco-Glucoside, Disodium Lauryl Sulfosuccinate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Decyl Glucoside, Citric Acid
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 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 StearatePhenoxyethanol 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.
Sodium 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 AcetateWater. 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