What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Homosalate 10%
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%
UV Absorber
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%
UV Absorber
Water
Skin ConditioningButyloctyl Salicylate
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Diethylhexyl 2,6-Naphthalate
EmollientC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialDimethicone
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Hamamelis Virginiana Bark/Twig Extract
AstringentNiacinamide
Smoothing
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingPolymethylsilsesquioxane
Bis-Dodecylhexadecyl Dimer Dilinoleate/Propanediol Copolymer
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Propylheptyl Caprylate
EmollientCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Phytate
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingHomosalate 10%, Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%, Water, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Glyceryl Stearate, Diethylhexyl 2,6-Naphthalate, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Hamamelis Virginiana Bark/Twig Extract, Niacinamide, Panthenol, Bisabolol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate, Allantoin, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Bis-Dodecylhexadecyl Dimer Dilinoleate/Propanediol Copolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Propylheptyl Caprylate, Carbomer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Phytate, Sodium Hydroxide
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV Absorber
Ethylhexyl Salicylate
UV Absorber
Benzophenone-3
UV Absorber
Octocrylene
UV Absorber
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialCetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingParfum
Masking
Capryloyl Glycine
CleansingDiazolidinyl Urea
Preservative
Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate
Preservative
Citric Acid
Buffering
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Benzophenone-3, Octocrylene, Titanium Dioxide, Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Cetearyl Glucoside, Xanthan Gum, Parfum, Capryloyl Glycine, Diazolidinyl Urea, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Cetearyl alcohol is a waxy mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is an emollient and emulsifier.
Despite having "alcohol" in its name, it has nothing to do with drying solvent alcohols; the FDA also allows "alcohol-free" products to contain fatty alcohols like this ingredient.
It plays several roles in a formula:
Typical use levels for this ingredient sit around 1-10% and the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has affirmed safety at concentrations up to 25% in leave-on products.
Multiple assessments have found it to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing to most people.
However, there have been some cases of allergic contact dermatitis in patients with chronically compromised skin barriers.
Cetearyl alcohol has a comedogenic rating of 2 and irritancy rating of 1. Both of these numbers come from the 1989 study that used rabbit ears; a "2" means mildly comedogenic and a "1" means low irritancy.
Here's the catch: rabbit skin is more sensitive than human skin and throws a lot of false positives. A 1996 reappraisal found that ingredients rated 1-2 in the rabbit ear tests are generally safe for humans.
Remember comedogenic ratings are unable to assess the entire formula of a product or how it will react on your skin. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure about certain ingredients.
This ingredient is not fungal acne safe. Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol with chain lengths that fall within the range that Malassezia can metabolize.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholEthylhexyl 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 SalicylateGlyceryl 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 StearateWater. 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
