What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCoco-Caprylate
Emollient
Diethylhexyl Butamido Triazone
UV Absorber
Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV Filter
Zinc Oxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Oryza Sativa Starch
AbsorbentOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter
Emollient
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder
Skin Conditioning
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingSodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate
Emulsifying
Polyhydroxystearic Acid
Emulsifying
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Leontopodium Alpinum Flower/Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialCommiphora Myrrha Oil
Masking
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxystearic Acid
Cleansing
Sodium Dehydroacetate
Preservative
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingStearic Acid
Cleansing
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Isostearic Acid
Cleansing
Lecithin
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Calcium Gluconate
HumectantCitric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate 59.5%
Preservative
Water, Coco-Caprylate, Diethylhexyl Butamido Triazone, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Zinc Oxide, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Glucoside, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Oryza Sativa Starch, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Sodium Gluconate, Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Leontopodium Alpinum Flower/Leaf Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Commiphora Myrrha Oil, Gluconolactone, Hydroxystearic Acid, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Xanthan Gum, Stearic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Isostearic Acid, Lecithin, Tocopherol, Calcium Gluconate, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate 59.5%
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol
UV Filter
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Ethylhexyl Salicylate
UV Absorber
Glycerin
Humectant
Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin Conditioning
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialDiethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV Filter
Acrylates Copolymer
Ethylhexyl Triazone
UV Absorber
C8-22 Alkyl Acrylates/Methacrylic Acid Crosspolymer
Squalane
Emollient
Cocoglycerides
Emollient
Hydrogenated Phosphatidylcholine
Emulsifying
Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract
Antimicrobial
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Silica
Abrasive
Propyl Alcohol
Solvent
Dihydroxy Methylchromonyl Palmitate
Skin ProtectingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingAlcohol
Antimicrobial
Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Lecithin
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Diisopropyl Adipate
EmollientUbiquinone
Antioxidant
Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Pentylene Glycol, Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol, Titanium Dioxide, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Glycerin, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Acrylates Copolymer, Ethylhexyl Triazone, C8-22 Alkyl Acrylates/Methacrylic Acid Crosspolymer, Squalane, Cocoglycerides, Hydrogenated Phosphatidylcholine, Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract, Decyl Glucoside, Silica, Propyl Alcohol, Dihydroxy Methylchromonyl Palmitate, Sodium Hydroxide, Alcohol, Cetyl Phosphate, Xanthan Gum, Propylene Glycol, Lecithin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, Tocopherol, Diisopropyl Adipate, Ubiquinone
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
This ingredient is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping the skin prevent moisture loss.
It helps thicken a product's formula and makes it easier to spread by dissolving clumping compounds.
Caprylic Triglyceride is made by combining glycerin with coconut oil, forming a clear liquid. Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. It is very stable, resistant to oxidation, and unlikely to go rancid. In practice, that translates to a long shelf life and a consistently elegant skin feel.
While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this. Be sure to patch test if you have concerns.
Fractionated coconut oil and MCT Oil are both listed as Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride according to INCI. This is because INCI names are based on the ingredient’s final chemical composition and not its marketing name or source.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideDiethylamino 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 BenzoateGlycerin (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 GlycerinLecithin is a term for a group of substances found in the cell membranes of plants, animals, and humans. They are made up of phospholipids.
Thanks to its amphiphilic structure (water-loving head and oil-loving tail), it is a true multitasker:
It plays well with most ingredients and is typically used at 0.1-1%. However, concentrations up to 50% have been reported in moisturizers.
Depending on the source of this ingredient, lecithin may not be fungal acne safe. This is because some sources of lecithin come from soybean oil, which may feed the malassezia yeast that causes fungal acne.
We recommend reaching out to the brand you are purchasing from to inquire about the source of their lecithin.
Learn more about LecithinTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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
