What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV AbsorberParaffinum Liquidum
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic ColorantIsoamyl P-Methoxycinnamate
UV AbsorberZinc Oxide
Cosmetic ColorantCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientStearic Acid
CleansingGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingCeramide AP
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningBeeswax
Emulsion StabilisingBis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin ConditioningPEG-100 Stearate
Dimethicone
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
EmollientMorus Alba Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialAllantoin
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTriethanolamine
BufferingDisodium EDTA
CI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantParfum
MaskingWater, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Paraffinum Liquidum, Glycerin, Titanium Dioxide, Isoamyl P-Methoxycinnamate, Zinc Oxide, Cetearyl Alcohol, Stearic Acid, Glyceryl Stearate, Polysorbate 60, Ceramide AP, 1,2-Hexanediol, Beeswax, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, PEG-100 Stearate, Dimethicone, Butylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Morus Alba Bark Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Allantoin, Carbomer, Triethanolamine, Disodium EDTA, CI 42090, CI 19140, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningDibutyl Adipate
EmollientDipropylene Glycol
HumectantC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialEthylhexyl Salicylate
UV AbsorberDiethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV FilterDimethicone
EmollientBis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingEthylhexyl Triazone
UV AbsorberGlycerin
HumectantCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPEG-100 Stearate
Silica
AbrasiveAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPolymethylsilsesquioxane
Sodium Caprylate
EmulsifyingIsohexadecane
EmollientDimethiconol
EmollientArginine
MaskingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientAcrylates Copolymer
Polysorbate 80
EmulsifyingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAdenosine
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Sorbitan Oleate
EmulsifyingPortulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin ConditioningFreesia Refracta Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Collagen
EmollientCamellia Japonica Flower Extract
EmollientPrunus Mume Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningMagnolia Kobus Branch/Flower/Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningPrunus Persica Flower Extract
MoisturisingNelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningParfum
MaskingLimonene
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingButylphenyl Methylpropional
PerfumingBenzyl Salicylate
PerfumingHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingWater, Dibutyl Adipate, Dipropylene Glycol, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Dimethicone, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Butylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Silica, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Crosspolymer, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Sodium Caprylate, Isohexadecane, Dimethiconol, Arginine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylyl Glycol, Acrylates Copolymer, Polysorbate 80, Xanthan Gum, Adenosine, Disodium EDTA, Sorbitan Oleate, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Freesia Refracta Extract, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Camellia Japonica Flower Extract, Prunus Mume Flower Extract, Magnolia Kobus Branch/Flower/Leaf Extract, Prunus Persica Flower Extract, Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract, Parfum, Limonene, Linalool, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Benzyl Salicylate, Hexyl Cinnamal, Geraniol
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
You might know this ingredient as Tinosorb S or Bemotrizinol. It is a UV filter that covers both UVA and UVB rays.
This ingredient has two peak UV absorption peaks ( 310 and 340 nm) and is able to absorb both UV-A and UV-B rays. This ingredient works by preventing UV rays from reaching and damaging your skin.
On top of that - it is highly photostable and helps prevent the photodegration of other sunscreen ingredients such as avobenzone.
Tinosorb S is allowed in the EU, Australia, and Asia. It is close to being approved by the FDA and we'll hopefully get this ingredient in the U.S. by late 2026.
Fun fact: Tinosorb S is the most effective UV absorber at maximum concentration (measured by SPF) permitted in the EU.
This ingredient is oil-soluble, so your oil-cleansers will take this right off at night.
Learn more about Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl TriazineButylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolCetearyl 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 AlcoholDimethicone 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 DimethiconeDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAGlycerin (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 StearateParfum is a catch-all term for an ingredient or more that is used to give a scent to products.
Also called "fragrance", this ingredient can be a blend of hundreds of chemicals or plant oils. This means every product with "fragrance" or "parfum" in the ingredients list is a different mixture.
For instance, Habanolide is a proprietary trade name for a specific aroma chemical. When used as a fragrance ingredient in cosmetics, most aroma chemicals fall under the broad labeling category of “FRAGRANCE” or “PARFUM” according to EU and US regulations.
The term 'parfum' or 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term.
For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance by INCI standards.
One example is Calendula flower extract. Calendula is an essential oil that still imparts a scent or 'fragrance'.
Depending on the blend, the ingredients in the mixture can cause allergies and sensitivities on the skin. Some ingredients that are known EU allergens include linalool and citronellol.
Parfum can also be used to mask or cover an unpleasant scent.
The bottom line is: not all fragrances/parfum/ingredients are created equally. If you are worried about fragrances, we recommend taking a closer look at an ingredient. And of course, we always recommend speaking with a professional.
Learn more about ParfumPeg-100 Stearate is an emollient and emulsifier. As an emollient, it helps keep skin soft by trapping moisture in. On the other hand, emulsifiers help prevent oil and water from separating in a product.
PEGS are a hydrophilic polyether compound . There are 100 ethylene oxide monomers in Peg-100 Stearate. Peg-100 Stearate is polyethylene glycol ester of stearic acid.
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 Water