This chemical sunscreen covers the full UV range and blocks ~98% of UVB at SPF 50.
This smoothing serum is formulated around Lactic Acid and Gluconolactone to refine skin texture and brighten dull-looking skin.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDiethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV Filter
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV Absorber
Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate
EmollientBis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
UV Absorber
Butyloctyl Salicylate
Skin Conditioning
Tris-Biphenyl Triazine
UV Absorber
Ethylhexyl Triazone
UV Absorber
Polyester-7
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Hydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Trideceth-6
EmulsifyingLactobacillus/Collagen Ferment Filtrate
Humectant
Collagen
Moisturising
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Biosaccharide Gum-4
Skin Conditioning
Disodium Phosphate
BufferingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Artemisia Vulgaris Extract
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingWater, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Tris-Biphenyl Triazine, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Polyester-7, Butylene Glycol, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Sodium Polyacrylate, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Phenoxyethanol, Decyl Glucoside, 1,2-Hexanediol, Trideceth-6, Lactobacillus/Collagen Ferment Filtrate, Collagen, Tocopheryl Acetate, Biosaccharide Gum-4, Disodium Phosphate, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Hyaluronate, Artemisia Vulgaris Extract, Sodium Hydroxide
Water
Skin ConditioningLactic Acid
Buffering
Glycerin
Humectant
Gluconolactone
Chelating
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Mandelic Acid
Antimicrobial
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Succinic Acid
BufferingSalicylic Acid
Masking
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Tranexamic Acid
Astringent
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingVaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Arginine
Masking
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Saccharum Officinarum Extract
MoisturisingDisodium EDTA
ChelatingAloe Barbadensis Extract
Skin Conditioning
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Triethylene Glycol
Masking
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract
MaskingCitrus Limon Fruit Extract
Masking
Acer Saccharum Extract
Skin ConditioningArtemisia Vulgaris Extract
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Water, Lactic Acid, Glycerin, Gluconolactone, Butylene Glycol, Glycolic Acid, Mandelic Acid, Pentylene Glycol, Succinic Acid, Salicylic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol, Tranexamic Acid, Xanthan Gum, Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract, Allantoin, Panthenol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Arginine, Propylene Glycol, Saccharum Officinarum Extract, Disodium EDTA, Aloe Barbadensis Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Triethylene Glycol, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Acer Saccharum Extract, Artemisia Vulgaris Extract, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Artemisia Vulgaris Extract is more commonly known as the common mugwort. It has strong antioxidant properties and helps soothe irritation.
Antioxidants protect skin from damage and the signs of aging.
This plant contains the compounds saponins, glycosides, flavanoids, protein, triterpenoids.
The common wugwort has been used in traditional Indian, Chinese, and European medicines to treat gastrointestinal diseases.
Learn more about Artemisia Vulgaris ExtractButylene 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 GlycolGlycerin (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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol is one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.
Learn more about PhenoxyethanolSodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateSodium 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
