What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol
UV Filter
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDiethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV Filter
Cetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Ethylhexyl Triazone
UV Absorber
Dimethicone
Emollient
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningOctenidine Hcl
Antimicrobial3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Aminomethyl Propanol
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Simethicone
Emollient
Water, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Propylene Glycol, Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol, Decyl Glucoside, Xanthan Gum, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Dimethicone, Niacinamide, Glyceryl Stearate, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Octenidine Hcl, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Tocopherol, Aminomethyl Propanol, Disodium EDTA, Simethicone
Water
Skin ConditioningC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV Absorber
Dimethicone
Emollient
Sodium Acrylates Copolymer
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Benzophenone-3
UV Absorber
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Lecithin
Emollient
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Xylitol
Humectant
Glucose
Humectant
Sodium Levulinate
Skin ConditioningPhospholipids
Skin Conditioning
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Ethoxydiglycol
HumectantAnhydroxylitol
Humectant
Oxothiazolidine
Skin ProtectingHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Phoenix Dactylifera Seed Extract
MoisturisingVaccinium Corymbosum Seed
Abrasive
Vaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract
Skin Protecting
Citrus Paradisi Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningZinc Oxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
PEG-10 Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
C9-12 Alkane
SolventHydrogen Dimethicone
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Aluminum Hydroxide
EmollientPolyhydroxystearic Acid
Emulsifying
Water, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Dimethicone, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Hyaluronic Acid, Glycerin, Benzophenone-3, Butylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Lecithin, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Xylitol, Glucose, Sodium Levulinate, Phospholipids, Propylene Glycol, Ethoxydiglycol, Anhydroxylitol, Oxothiazolidine, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Glyceryl Stearate, Allantoin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Phoenix Dactylifera Seed Extract, Vaccinium Corymbosum Seed, Vaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract, Citrus Paradisi Fruit Extract, Zinc Oxide, Cyclopentasiloxane, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Ascorbic Acid, C9-12 Alkane, Hydrogen Dimethicone, Titanium Dioxide, Aluminum Hydroxide, Polyhydroxystearic Acid
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate is a lightweight emollient made by combinig benzoic acid with fatty alcohols that are 12-15 carbons long.
In cosmetics, it plays several roles:
The Cosmetic Review Expert Panel has concluded the alkyl benzoate group to be safe as used in cosmetics; it wasn't found to be a skin irritant and unlikely to be absorbed due to its low water solubility.
This report recorded almost 1000 reported uses with concentrations up to 59% in leave-on products but your cosmetics will typically use 0.5-15% depending on the product.
It's often called a "SPF booster": this is because it keeps UV filters properly dissolved and evenly distributed to support a sunscreen's performance. It doesn't actually raise SPF on its own.
Overall, this ingredient is well tolerated.
This ingredient is fungal acne safe.
The Malassezia yeast feeds on free fatty acids and this ingredient is made up of an aromatic acid and fatty alcohols.
When this ingredient breaks down, it yields benzoic acid (which is antifungal) and fatty alcohols. Neither of these have been found in studies to be a known food source for Malassezia.
Learn more about C12-15 Alkyl BenzoateDimethicone 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 DimethiconeGlyceryl 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 StearatePhenoxyethanol 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.
Propylene Glycol is a synthetic, colorless, odorless liquid that has been a staple in cosmetics for decades. It is a skin conditioning agent, humectant, and solvent.
As a humectant, it draw water to the skin to reduce flaking and restore suppleness. It's also a solvent that helps dissolve other actives and keeps formulas stable across temperature changes.
The CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be nontoxic and clinical studies show no sensitization at cosmetic use concentrations.
True allergic reactions are quite rare: a 15-year retrospective study of 6,751 patients found only 0.31% had a positive reaction (and less than half were considered clinically relevant).
It seemed that when sensitization does occur, it's most commonly linked to topical medication (like corticosteroids) and not cosmetics. Allergic contact dermatitis also appears largely limited to individuals with underlying skin conditions.
Overall, propylene glycol is a well-studied ingredient that most people can tolerate without issue.
Learn more about Propylene GlycolWater. 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
