What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningHomosalate
Skin ConditioningPolymethylsilsesquioxane
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV AbsorberEthylhexyl Salicylate
UV AbsorberOctocrylene
UV AbsorberAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialTapioca Starch
Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid
UV AbsorberCyclomethicone
EmollientBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientMethylpropanediol
SolventSilica Dimethyl Silylate
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantCarnitine
CleansingGlycyrrhetinic Acid
Skin ConditioningGlycyrrhiza Inflata Root Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Chloride
MaskingTrisodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeWater, Homosalate, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Octocrylene, Alcohol Denat., Tapioca Starch, Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid, Cyclomethicone, Behenyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Methylpropanediol, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Glycerin, Carnitine, Glycyrrhetinic Acid, Glycyrrhiza Inflata Root Extract, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Carbomer, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Chloride, Trisodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol
Water
Skin ConditioningDibutyl Adipate
EmollientC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialMethylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol
UV FilterDiethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV FilterGlycerin
HumectantPropanediol
SolventEthylhexyl Triazone
UV AbsorberPotassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingSilica
AbrasiveMica
Cosmetic ColorantBis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin ConditioningAcrylates/C12-22 Alkyl Methacrylate Copolymer
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantInulin
Skin ConditioningPiroctone Olamine
PreservativeAlpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide
CleansingLens Esculenta Seed Extract
Skin ProtectingDecyl Glucoside
CleansingHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantTriethanolamine
BufferingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingArginine
MaskingCitric Acid
BufferingCoco-Glucoside
CleansingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantDisodium Lauryl Sulfosuccinate
CleansingPropylene Glycol
HumectantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeWater, Dibutyl Adipate, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Glycerin, Propanediol, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Silica, Mica, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Acrylates/C12-22 Alkyl Methacrylate Copolymer, CI 77891, Inulin, Piroctone Olamine, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Lens Esculenta Seed Extract, Decyl Glucoside, Hydroxyacetophenone, Triethanolamine, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Arginine, Citric Acid, Coco-Glucoside, Xanthan Gum, Carbomer, Tocopheryl Acetate, Disodium Lauryl Sulfosuccinate, Propylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer is a synthetic polymer. It is used to thicken, emulsify, and improve the texture of products.
As an emulsifier, it helps stabilize oil-in-water emulsions to give products an elegant feel when applied.
It can also form a thin protective film on skin. One study found that a formula using this polymer helped slow down how quickly other ingredients (like DEET) were absorbed through skin.
A 2024 study of over 1,300 patients confirmed that sensitization to this ingredient is rare. It is also non-mutagenic and has a clean track record.
Learn more about Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate CrosspolymerCarbomer is a high-molecular weight polymer of acrylic acid. It is used to form gels and thicken formulas.
Due to its large molecular size, carbomer has minimal skin penetration and is considered an inert ingredient.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Learn more about CarbomerEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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.
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 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