What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV AbsorberDimethicone
EmollientDiethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV FilterPhenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid
UV AbsorberNiacinamide
SmoothingIsohexadecane
EmollientBis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin ConditioningMethylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol
UV FilterGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientCetearyl Olivate
Tapioca Starch
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantPEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningSorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingTriacontanyl Pvp
HumectantCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingUrea
BufferingDecyl Glucoside
CleansingDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningBisabolol
AntioxidantSqualane
EmollientPropylene Glycol
HumectantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingBHT
AntioxidantWater, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Dimethicone, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid, Niacinamide, Isohexadecane, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol, Glyceryl Stearate, Behenyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Olivate, Tapioca Starch, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Sodium Hydroxide, Hydroxyacetophenone, PEG-100 Stearate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sorbitan Olivate, Triacontanyl Pvp, Carbomer, Urea, Decyl Glucoside, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Bisabolol, Squalane, Propylene Glycol, Xanthan Gum, BHT
Water
Skin ConditioningTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic ColorantZinc Oxide
Cosmetic ColorantGlycerin
HumectantIsononyl Isononanoate
EmollientPEG-10 Dimethicone
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantPhenyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantPunica Granatum Extract
AstringentTriethoxycaprylylsilane
Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract
AntioxidantNiacinamide
SmoothingDimethicone
EmollientAluminum Hydroxide
EmollientStearic Acid
CleansingOlive Oil Polyglyceryl-6 Esters
EmollientPolyglyceryl-6 Pentaoleate
EmulsifyingMagnesium Sulfate
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialInulin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeSqualane
EmollientChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
MaskingPEG-10 Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
StabilisingPolyacrylamide
C13-14 Isoparaffin
EmollientLaureth-7
EmulsifyingAlpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide
CleansingPolymethylsilsesquioxane
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingWater, Titanium Dioxide, Zinc Oxide, Glycerin, Isononyl Isononanoate, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Butylene Glycol, Phenyl Trimethicone, Sodium Hyaluronate, Punica Granatum Extract, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract, Niacinamide, Dimethicone, Aluminum Hydroxide, Stearic Acid, Olive Oil Polyglyceryl-6 Esters, Polyglyceryl-6 Pentaoleate, Magnesium Sulfate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Inulin, Phenoxyethanol, Squalane, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, PEG-10 Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Polyacrylamide, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Laureth-7, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Ethylhexylglycerin, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 DimethiconeNiacinamide is a multitasking form of vitamin B3 that strengthens the skin barrier, reduces pores and dark spots, regulates oil, and improves signs of aging.
And the best part? It's gentle and well-tolerated by most skin types, including sensitive and reactive skin.
You might have heard of "niacin flush", or the reddening of skin that causes itchiness. Niacinamide has not been found to cause this.
In very rare cases, some individuals may not be able to tolerate niacinamide at all or experience an allergic reaction to it.
If you are experiencing flaking, irritation, and dryness with this ingredient, be sure to double check all your products as this ingredient can be found in all categories of skincare.
When incorporating niacinamide into your routine, look out for concentration amounts. Typically, 5% niacinamide provides benefits such as fading dark spots. However, if you have sensitive skin, it is better to begin with a smaller concentration.
When you apply niacinamide to your skin, your body converts it into nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD). NAD is an essential coenzyme that is already found in your cells as "fuel" and powers countless biological processes.
In your skin, NAD helps repair cell damage, produce new healthy cells, support collagen production, strengthen the skin barrier, and fight environmental stressors (like UV and pollution).
Our natural NAD levels start to decline with age, leading to slower skin repair, visible aging, and a weaker skin barrier. By providing your skin niacinamide, you're recharging your skin's NAD levels. This leads to stronger, healthier, and younger looking skin.
Another name for vitamin B3 is nicotinamide. This vitamin is water-soluble and our bodies don't store it. We obtain Vitamin B3 from either food or skincare. Meat, fish, wheat, yeast, and leafy greens contain vitamin B3.
The type of niacinamide used in skincare is synthetically created.
Learn more about NiacinamidePolymethylsilsesquioxane is a silicone used as a film forming agent.
When applied to the skin, this ingredient creates an invisible film on the surface. This film still allows oxygen to pass through, but prevents moisture from escaping. This can help condition and hydrate the skin. It also leaves a silky feel when applied.
Polymethylsilsesquioxane has not been shown to clog pores. It has been deemed safe to use up to 55%, but most cosmetics use much less.
If you have concerns about using this ingredient, we recommend speaking with a professional.
Learn more about PolymethylsilsesquioxaneSqualane is the hydrogenated and shelf-stable form of squalene (a lipid that naturally occurs in human sebum).
It is an emollient and skin conditioning agent that is able to integrate seamlessly into the skin's lipid barrier without clogging pores.
This is due to how structurally similar it is to what your skin already produces.
Though it is mostly an emollient that helps soften and hydrate skin, it also has some humectant and occlusive action. Humectants help the skin retain moisture while occlusives seal it in, making squalane a triple-threat moisturizer.
Research shows it has antioxidant capabilities that help protect against stressors like UV exposure, specifically UVA induced oxidative stress. This study also found that it supports collagen biosynthesis in human dermal fibroblasts.
No clinical study has reported significant adverse effects and irritation reactions are very rare from this ingredient (even at 100% concentration).
Overall, it's a fantastic ingredient for hydration and is suitable for all skin types.
This depends on the source. Squalane can be derived from both plants and animals. Most squalane used in skincare comes from plants.
Please note: the source of squalane is only known if disclosed by the brand. We recommend reaching out to the brand if you have any questions about their squalane.
Read more about squalene with an "e".
Though squalane is often called an oil, it’s technically not one. It is a hydrocarbon, meaning it is only made of carbon and hydrogen. True oils are triglycerides and made of fatty acids and glycerol.
The term “oil-free” isn’t regulated so companies can define it however they want. Some exclude all oils, while others just avoid mineral oil or comedogenic oils.
Squalane has a comedogenic rating of 1 from the original 1972 study that tested raw ingredients under occlusion on rabbit ears. This system is not standardized or peer-reviewed, and using the raw ingredients is very different from how diluted cosmetic formulations are used on human skin.
A comedogenic rating of 1 means it is "unlikely to clog pores" according to the original rating system.
The overall formula of a product matters more than the individual ingredients on whether or not it will cause clogged pores.
Learn more about SqualaneWater. 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