What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV AbsorberDibutyl Adipate
EmollientDiethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV FilterC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialNiacinamide
SmoothingTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic ColorantPolyglyceryl-2 Stearate
EmulsifyingCetyl Alcohol
EmollientEthylhexyl Triazone
UV AbsorberCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientStearyl Alcohol
EmollientSilica
AbrasiveGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientCetearyl Olivate
Polysorbate 60
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientAluminum Hydroxide
EmollientHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingPolyhydroxystearic Acid
EmulsifyingMethicone
EmollientMyristyl Alcohol
EmollientAdenosine
Skin ConditioningSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingLauryl Alcohol
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantVaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract
Skin ProtectingButylene Glycol
HumectantMalpighia Emarginata Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
EmollientVitis Vinifera Seed Oil
EmollientPrunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil
MaskingPropylene Glycol
HumectantBiosaccharide Gum-4
Skin ConditioningSalix Alba Bark Extract
AstringentOriganum Vulgare Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMangifera Indica Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningHyaluronic Acid
HumectantGarcinia Mangostana Peel Extract
Skin ConditioningChamaecyparis Obtusa Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningSolanum Lycopersicum Seed Oil
EmollientScutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
AstringentPunica Granatum Seed Oil
EmollientPortulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin ConditioningMangifera Indica Seed Oil
EmollientLactobacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Paradisi Seed Oil
PerfumingCinnamomum Cassia Bark Extract
MaskingTocopherol
AntioxidantTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantDisodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialParfum
MaskingWater, Propanediol, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Dibutyl Adipate, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Niacinamide, Titanium Dioxide, Polyglyceryl-2 Stearate, Cetyl Alcohol, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Cyclopentasiloxane, Stearyl Alcohol, Silica, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetearyl Olivate, Polysorbate 60, Glyceryl Caprylate, Aluminum Hydroxide, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Sorbitan Olivate, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Methicone, Myristyl Alcohol, Adenosine, Sorbitan Isostearate, Lauryl Alcohol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Vaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract, Butylene Glycol, Malpighia Emarginata Fruit Extract, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil, Propylene Glycol, Biosaccharide Gum-4, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Origanum Vulgare Leaf Extract, Mangifera Indica Fruit Extract, Hyaluronic Acid, Garcinia Mangostana Peel Extract, Chamaecyparis Obtusa Leaf Extract, Solanum Lycopersicum Seed Oil, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Punica Granatum Seed Oil, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Mangifera Indica Seed Oil, Lactobacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract, Citrus Paradisi Seed Oil, Cinnamomum Cassia Bark Extract, Tocopherol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialBis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin ConditioningPolymethyl Methacrylate
Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV FilterEthylhexyl Salicylate
UV AbsorberEthylhexyl Triazone
UV AbsorberTriethylhexanoin
MaskingDimethicone
EmollientPotassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingGlycerin
HumectantMethylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol
UV FilterPolyurethane-34
Propylene Glycol
HumectantCetyl Alcohol
EmollientAluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate
AbsorbentGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPEG-100 Stearate
SurfactantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingDisodium EDTA
Hydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantMethylparaben
PreservativeParfum
MaskingCitronellol
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingWater, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Triethylhexanoin, Dimethicone, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Glycerin, Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol, Polyurethane-34, Propylene Glycol, Cetyl Alcohol, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Panthenol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Xanthan Gum, Carbomer, Disodium EDTA, Hydroxyacetophenone, Methylparaben, Parfum, Citronellol, Limonene, Sodium Hydroxide
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 because it is an ester of benzoic acid.
Think of this ingredient as two parts stuck together: an oily part and an acid part. Malassezia only gets a meal when it can snip off a fatty acid to eat. With C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, the acid part is benzoic acid, which isn't a fatty acid and which the yeast can't use as food.
Benzoic acid is actually used as a preservative to stop yeast from growing.
The oily part is a blend of C12-15 fatty alcohols but fatty alcohols in this size range can support only a little Malassezia growth (mostly for one species of Malassezia as well).
In the ingredient, those alcohols stay locked inside the molecule. The yeast can only reach them by snipping the benzoate bond, and that type of bond is harder for it to cut than a normal fatty bond.
So not much gets released. And whatever does get snipped comes packaged with benzoic acid, which discourages yeast growth.
Learn more about C12-15 Alkyl BenzoateCetyl Alcohol is a fatty alcohol. Fatty Alcohols are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product.
Its main roles are:
Though it has "alcohol" in the name, it is not related to denatured alcohol or ethyl alcohol.
The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe. It is a primary fatty alcohol with a chain length above 12 carbons. A study from 2019 show Malassezia can feed on fatty alcohols in this range, so it may trigger fungal acne in those prone to it.
Learn more about Cetyl AlcoholDiethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate (DHHB) is a chemical UV-A absorber. It is formulated for high UVA protection (320-400 nm).
DHHB is well-liked for:
DHHB has been approved by the EU, Japan, Taiwan, and South America for use up to 10%. Unfortunately, it has not been approved for use in the US or Canada due to slow regulatory processes.
This ingredient is soluble in oils, fats, and lipids.
Learn more about Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl BenzoateDisodium 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 EDTAEthylhexyl Triazone (aka Octyl Triazone) is an oil-soluble organic UVB filter. It has peak absorption around 314 nm, right in the middle of the UVB range.
This ingredient is described as one of the most effective UVB filters available and small concentrations are enough to deliver a high SPF thanks to its strong UV absorbing power.
Formulators love it for its stability; its ability to filter UV stays practically unchanged even under intense radiation and it can also help boost the photostability of less stable filters like avobenzone.
It's also a great pick for water resistant products because it's insoluble in water and has a good affinity for keratin.
Because it's a big, heavy molecule, the European Scientific Committee has found to to have very low dermal penetration and negative results for allergenicity.
In vitro testing also showed a low absorption rate and clean results on irritation.
Typical use levels are 1-5% with 5% being the maximum in the EU, Japan, and other markets that allow it. However, this ingredient is not approved yet in the US or Canada.
Learn more about Ethylhexyl TriazoneGlyceryl 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 āFRAGRANCEā or āPARFUMā 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 ParfumPropylene 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 GlycolTocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateWater. 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