What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDiethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV FilterC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialGlycerin
HumectantBis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate
EmollientPhenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid
UV AbsorberDibutyl Adipate
EmollientDistarch Phosphate
AbsorbentEthylhexyl Triazone
UV AbsorberTapioca Starch
Polyglyceryl-6 Stearate
EmollientBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientGlycyrrhetinic Acid
Skin ConditioningGlycyrrhiza Inflata Root Extract
Skin ConditioningCopernicia Cerifera Cera
EmollientPolyglyceryl-6 Behenate
Emulsion StabilisingCarrageenan
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingHydroxypropyl Methylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingSilica
AbrasiveTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingWater, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Alcohol Denat., Glycerin, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Butylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid, Dibutyl Adipate, Distarch Phosphate, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Tapioca Starch, Polyglyceryl-6 Stearate, Behenyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycyrrhetinic Acid, Glycyrrhiza Inflata Root Extract, Copernicia Cerifera Cera, Polyglyceryl-6 Behenate, Carrageenan, Xanthan Gum, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Silica, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Sodium Hydroxide, Hydroxyacetophenone, Ethylhexylglycerin, Benzyl Alcohol
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%
UV AbsorberHomosalate 10%
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Salicylate 5%
UV AbsorberOctocrylene 10%
UV AbsorberWater
Skin ConditioningAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialButyloctyl Salicylate
Skin ConditioningSilica
AbrasiveC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialPolyglyceryl-6 Stearate
EmollientSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingDiisostearoyl Polyglyceryl-3 Dimer Dilinoleate
EmollientBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientButylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientCopernicia Cerifera Wax
Dibutyl Adipate
EmollientCarnitine
CleansingGlycyrrhiza Inflata Root Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycyrrhetinic Acid
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantDimethicone
EmollientSilica Dimethyl Silylate
EmollientDiethylhexyl Syringylidenemalonate
Skin ProtectingEthylcellulose
Glyceryl Behenate
EmollientPolyglyceryl-6 Octastearate
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeGlycerin
HumectantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Hydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantPolyglyceryl-6 Behenate
Emulsion StabilisingCetyl Alcohol
EmollientSodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
AntioxidantButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%, Homosalate 10%, Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%, Octocrylene 10%, Water, Alcohol Denat., Butyloctyl Salicylate, Silica, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Polyglyceryl-6 Stearate, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Diisostearoyl Polyglyceryl-3 Dimer Dilinoleate, Behenyl Alcohol, Butylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Copernicia Cerifera Wax, Dibutyl Adipate, Carnitine, Glycyrrhiza Inflata Root Extract, Glycyrrhetinic Acid, Tocopherol, Dimethicone, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Diethylhexyl Syringylidenemalonate, Ethylcellulose, Glyceryl Behenate, Polyglyceryl-6 Octastearate, Phenoxyethanol, Glycerin, Xanthan Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, Hydroxyacetophenone, Polyglyceryl-6 Behenate, Cetyl Alcohol, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Alcohol Denat. is an alcohol with a denaturant property. It is created by mixing ethanol with other additives.
This ingredient gets a bad rep because it is irritating and drying - mostly due to its astringent property. Astringents draw out natural oils in tissue, constricting pores and leaving your skin dried out.
However, alcohol denat. is not all that bad.
Due to its low molecular weight, alcohol denat. tends to evaporate quickly. One study on pig skin found half of applied alcohol evaporated in 10 seconds and less than 3% stayed on skin.
This also helps other ingredients become better absorbed upon application.
Studies are conflicted about whether this ingredient causes skin dehydration. One study from 2005 found adding emollients to propanol-based sanitizer decreased skin dryness and irritation. Another study found irritation only occurs if your skin is already damaged.
Small amounts of alcohol are generally tolerated by oily skin or people who live in humid environments.
The rule of thumb is if this alcohol is near the end of an ingredients list, it will probably not affect your skin much.
Also...
This ingredient has antimicrobial and solvent properties.
The antimicrobial property helps preserve products and increase their shelf life. As a solvent, it helps dissolve other ingredients.
Other types of astringent alcohols include:
Learn more about Alcohol Denat.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 AlcoholWe don't have a description for Butylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate yet.
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate is made up of Benzoic Acid and long chain alcohols. It has a low molecular weight.
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate is an emollient and texture enhancer. Due to its solubility, it is often used in sunscreens to help evenly distribute active ingredients.
As an emollient, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate helps soften and hydrate your skin. Emollients create a film on your skin that traps moisture within.
This ingredient has been reported to cause eye irritation.
Learn more about C12-15 Alkyl BenzoateCetearyl alcohol is a mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is mainly used as an emulsifier. Emulsifiers help prevent the separation of oils and products. Due to its composition, it can also be used to thicken a product or help create foam.
Cetearyl alcohol is an emollient. Emollients help soothe and hydrate the skin by trapping moisture.
Studies show Cetearyl alcohol is non-toxic and non-irritating. The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
This ingredient is usually derived from plant oils such as palm, vegetable, or coconut oils. There is debate on whether this ingredient will cause acne.
Due to the fatty acid base, this ingredient may not be Malassezia folliculitis safe.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholDibutyl Adipate is an emollient and solvent. It is created from butyl alcohol and adipic acid.
As a solvent, Dibutyl Adipate helps mix and disperse ingredients evenly.
Dibutyl Adipate is soluble in water and organic solvents. It does not absorb UV rays.
Learn more about Dibutyl AdipateEthylhexylglycerin (we can't pronounce this either) is commonly used as a preservative and skin softener. It is derived from glyceryl.
You might see Ethylhexylglycerin often paired with other preservatives such as phenoxyethanol. Ethylhexylglycerin has been found to increase the effectiveness of these other preservatives.
Glycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.
A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.
As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.
Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.
Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.
In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.
This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinGlycyrrhetinic acid is a compound found in licorice. It has skin conditioning, skin soothing, antibacterial, and antioxidant properties.
Not only is this a great ingredient for soothing inflammation, studies show this compound is effective at protecting skin against UV-B induced damage.
Fun fact: This ingredient is also used to mask the bitter taste of medicine.
Learn more about Glycyrrhetinic AcidWe don't have a description for Glycyrrhiza Inflata Root Extract yet.
Hydroxyacetophenone is antioxidant with skin conditioning and soothing properties. It also boosts the efficiency of preservatives.
This ingredient is not irritating or sensitizing.
Polyglyceryl-6 Behenate isn't fungal acne safe.
Polyglyceryl-6 Stearate isn't fungal acne safe.
Silica, also known as silicon dioxide, is a naturally occurring mineral. It is used as a fine, spherical, and porous powder in cosmetics.
Though it has exfoliant properties, the function of silica varies depending on the product.
The unique structure of silica enhances the spreadability and adds smoothness, making it a great texture enhancer.
It is also used as an active carrier, emulsifier, and mattifier due to its ability to absorb excess oil.
In some products, tiny microneedles called spicules are made from silica or hydrolyzed sponge. When you rub them in, they lightly polish away dead skin layers and enhance the penetration of active ingredients.
Learn more about SilicaWater. 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. 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