What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV Filter
Diethylhexyl Butamido Triazone
UV Absorber
Oryza Sativa Starch
AbsorbentEthylhexyl Triazone
UV Absorber
Disodium Phenyl Dibenzimidazole Tetrasulfonate
UV Absorber
Pongamia Glabra Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Jojoba Esters
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Dunaliella Salina Extract
Skin ConditioningHaematococcus Pluvialis Extract
Antioxidant
Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax
Skin Conditioning
Phytic Acid
Helianthus Annuus Seed
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingCI 75120
Cosmetic ColorantPolyglycerin-3
Humectant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingWater, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Diethylhexyl Butamido Triazone, Oryza Sativa Starch, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Disodium Phenyl Dibenzimidazole Tetrasulfonate, Pongamia Glabra Seed Oil, Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer, Pentylene Glycol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Jojoba Esters, Glyceryl Stearate, Behenyl Alcohol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Dunaliella Salina Extract, Haematococcus Pluvialis Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax, Phytic Acid, Helianthus Annuus Seed, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, CI 75120, Polyglycerin-3, Caprylyl Glycol, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Triethyl Citrate
Masking
Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV Filter
Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin Conditioning
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientEthylhexyl Triazone
UV Absorber
Propanediol
Solvent
Polyglyceryl-6 Stearate
Emollient
Diethylhexyl Butamido Triazone
UV Absorber
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingBrassica Campestris/Aleurites Fordi Oil Copolymer
Skin Conditioning
Rubus Idaeus Seed Oil
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientPolyglyceryl-6 Behenate
Emulsion Stabilising
Sodium Anisate
AntimicrobialBehenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingBenzoic Acid
Masking
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxide
BufferingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Triethyl Citrate, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Propanediol, Polyglyceryl-6 Stearate, Diethylhexyl Butamido Triazone, Glyceryl Stearate, Glycerin, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Pentylene Glycol, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Brassica Campestris/Aleurites Fordi Oil Copolymer, Rubus Idaeus Seed Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Glyceryl Caprylate, Polyglyceryl-6 Behenate, Sodium Anisate, Behenyl Alcohol, Xanthan Gum, Benzoic Acid, Water, Sodium Hydroxide, Tocopherol
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Behenyl Alcohol is a type of fatty alcohol (these are different from the drying, solvent alcohols).
Fatty Alcohols have hydrating properties and are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product. They are usually derived from natural fats and oils; behenyl alcohol is derived from the fats of vegetable oils.
Emollients help keep your skin soft and hydrated by creating a film that traps moisture in.
In 2000, Behenyl Alcohol was approved by the US as medicine to reduce the duration of cold sores.
Learn more about Behenyl 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 BenzoateDiethylhexyl Butamido Triazone (aka Iscotrizinol) is an oil-soluble organic UV filter that mainly absorbs UVB and a bit of UVA II light.
This ingredient is great at preventing sunburn but doesn't cover the deep UVA I range. This is why it's often paired with a UVA filter like Avobenzone or Bemotrizinol.
Two of its biggest selling points are efficiency and stability:
Most of the other chemical filters are considered "photostable" if they can last for two hours.
Because this ingredient is oil-loving, it can sit neatly into the oil phase of emulsions and shines in water-repellent/water-resistant formulations.
The EU and Canada allow it to be used up to 10% and Japan allows it up to 5%.
Unfortunately, it's not yet an FDA approved sunscreen agent so you won't be able to find it in sunscreens in the US.
Safety-wise, it has a pretty solid record: the EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) has reviewed it and found low skin absorption, no capacity to produce skin irritation or photo-irritation.
In vitro testing has found less than 0.1% of the applied dose is absorbed by the skin over 24 hours (mostly due to its large molecule size).
Fun fact: This ingredient even has anti-inflammatory properties similar to those of ketoprofe, an anti-inflammatory medication.
Learn more about Diethylhexyl Butamido TriazoneEthylhexyl 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 StearatePentylene Glycol (1,2-pentanediol) is a multitasking little diol with three main roles in a formula:
Research on alkanediols (the family pentylene glycol belongs to) show they work by disrupting microbial cell membranes. This disruption helps the primary preservative system in a product work more effectively at lower doses.
On the safety side, the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has concluded this ingredient to be safe as used in current cosmetic practices + concentrations.
Typical use levels in a formula run about 1-5%.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolSodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideWater. 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum
