What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningOctocrylene
UV Absorber
Ethylhexyl Salicylate
UV Absorber
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid
UV Absorber
Arginine
Masking
Dimethicone
Emollient
Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV Filter
Phenethyl Benzoate
Emollient
Silica
Abrasive
Tris-Biphenyl Triazine
UV Absorber
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer
Polypodium Leucotomos Leaf Extract
Skin Protecting
Ethylhexyl Triazone
UV Absorber
Physalis Angulata Extract
Skin ProtectingPlankton Extract
Skin ConditioningMelanin
Skin ProtectingOxothiazolidine
Skin ProtectingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Trehalose
Humectant
Urea
Buffering
Serine
Masking
Pullulan
Algin
Masking
C20-22 Alkyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingPhenylpropanol
Masking
C20-22 Alcohols
Emulsion Stabilising
Vp/Acrylates/Lauryl Methacrylate Copolymer
Sodium Acrylates Crosspolymer-2
AbsorbentAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Methicone
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Disodium Phosphate
BufferingGlyceryl Polyacrylate
Disodium EDTA
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Potassium Phosphate
BufferingLecithin
Emollient
BHT
Antioxidant
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
Linalool
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Water, Octocrylene, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Butylene Glycol, Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid, Arginine, Dimethicone, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Phenethyl Benzoate, Silica, Tris-Biphenyl Triazine, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer, Polypodium Leucotomos Leaf Extract, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Physalis Angulata Extract, Plankton Extract, Melanin, Oxothiazolidine, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glycerin, Trehalose, Urea, Serine, Pullulan, Algin, C20-22 Alkyl Phosphate, Phenylpropanol, C20-22 Alcohols, Vp/Acrylates/Lauryl Methacrylate Copolymer, Sodium Acrylates Crosspolymer-2, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Propylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Propanediol, Pentylene Glycol, Methicone, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Disodium Phosphate, Glyceryl Polyacrylate, Disodium EDTA, Tocopheryl Acetate, Potassium Phosphate, Lecithin, BHT, Sodium Benzoate, Tocopherol, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum, Linalool, Limonene
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Water
Skin ConditioningZinc Oxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Isotridecyl Isononanoate
EmollientPolyglyceryl-3 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
Glycerin
Humectant
PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Aluminum Hydroxide
EmollientStearic Acid
Cleansing
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingPEG-40
HumectantHdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer
Triethoxysilylethyl Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Hexyl Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Chloride
MaskingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Citrate
BufferingDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Cyclopentasiloxane, Water, Zinc Oxide, Titanium Dioxide, Butylene Glycol, Isotridecyl Isononanoate, Polyglyceryl-3 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Glycerin, PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Aluminum Hydroxide, Stearic Acid, Disteardimonium Hectorite, PEG-40, Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer, Triethoxysilylethyl Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Hexyl Dimethicone, Sodium Chloride, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Citrate, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopherol
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Butylene 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 GlycerinPolymethylsilsesquioxane is a silicone used as a film forming agent.
When applied to the skin, this ingredient creates an invisible film on the surface. This film still allows oxygen to pass through, but prevents moisture from escaping. This can help condition and hydrate the skin. It also leaves a silky feel when applied.
Polymethylsilsesquioxane has not been shown to clog pores. It has been deemed safe to use up to 55%, but most cosmetics use much less.
If you have concerns about using this ingredient, we recommend speaking with a professional.
Learn more about PolymethylsilsesquioxaneSodium 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 HyaluronateTocopherol 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 Water
