What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantSorbitol
HumectantNiacinamide 4%
SmoothingButylene Glycol
HumectantEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV AbsorberButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV AbsorberOctocrylene
UV AbsorberPhospholipids
Skin ConditioningHexylresorcinol
AntimicrobialCeramide Eos
Skin ConditioningCeramide Ng
Skin ConditioningCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningCholesterol
EmollientPhytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningSodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentCentella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningFructose
HumectantUrea
BufferingCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingMaltose
MaskingSodium PCA
HumectantSodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Lactate
BufferingTrehalose
HumectantAllantoin
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantGlucose
HumectantPolyacrylamide
C13-14 Isoparaffin
EmollientLaureth-7
EmulsifyingPolysilicone-11
Laureth-12
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeWater, Glycerin, Sorbitol, Niacinamide 4%, Butylene Glycol, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Octocrylene, Phospholipids, Hexylresorcinol, Ceramide Eos, Ceramide Ng, Ceramide AP, Cholesterol, Phytosphingosine, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Carbomer, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Polyacrylate, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Pentylene Glycol, Fructose, Urea, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Maltose, Sodium PCA, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Lactate, Trehalose, Allantoin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glucose, Polyacrylamide, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Laureth-7, Polysilicone-11, Laureth-12, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol
Water
Skin ConditioningOctocrylene
UV AbsorberEthylhexyl Salicylate
UV AbsorberButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV AbsorberStearic Acid
CleansingNiacinamide
SmoothingDimethicone
EmollientEthylhexyl Triazone
UV AbsorberDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic ColorantPalmitic Acid
EmollientPhenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid
UV AbsorberCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantPotassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingGlycerin
HumectantParfum
MaskingSilica
AbrasivePEG-100 Stearate
C13-14 Isoparaffin
EmollientPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingLinalool
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientTalc
AbrasiveTriethanolamine
BufferingMyristic Acid
CleansingAluminum Hydroxide
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeLimonene
PerfumingAscorbyl Glucoside
AntioxidantDisodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantTocopherol
AntioxidantDipropylene Glycol
HumectantCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientCapryloyl Salicylic Acid
ExfoliatingLaureth-7
EmulsifyingTetrasodium EDTA
Citrus Limon Fruit Extract
MaskingCitral
PerfumingCitrus Junos Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningMaltodextrin
AbsorbentCetyl Alcohol
EmollientPolyacrylamide
Benzyl Salicylate
PerfumingBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingWater, Octocrylene, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Stearic Acid, Niacinamide, Dimethicone, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Titanium Dioxide, Palmitic Acid, Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid, CI 77891, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Glycerin, Parfum, Silica, PEG-100 Stearate, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Potassium Hydroxide, Linalool, Geraniol, Carbomer, Glyceryl Stearate, Talc, Triethanolamine, Myristic Acid, Aluminum Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol, Limonene, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Disodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Tocopherol, Dipropylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Laureth-7, Tetrasodium EDTA, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Citral, Citrus Junos Fruit Extract, Maltodextrin, Cetyl Alcohol, Polyacrylamide, Benzyl Salicylate, Benzyl Alcohol
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Also known as Avobenzone, this ingredient is a chemical sunscreen filter that provides protection in the UV-A range.
Avobenzone is globally approved and is the most commonly used UV-A filter in the world.
Studies have found that avobenzone becomes ineffective when exposed to UV light (it is not photostable; meaning that it breaks down in sunlight). Because of this, formulations that include avobenzone will usually contain stabilizers such as octocrylene.
However, some modern formulations (looking at you, EU!) are able to stabilize avobenzone by coating the molecules.
Avobenzone does not protect against the UV-B range, so it's important to check that the sunscreen you're using contains other UV filters that do!
The highest concentration of avobenzone permitted is 3% in the US, and 5% in the EU.
Learn more about Butyl MethoxydibenzoylmethaneThis ingredient is also known as "C13-14 Isoalkane".
C13-14 Isoparaffin is created from petroleum-based mineral oils. It is an emollient and helps thicken a product.
As an emollient, it helps keep the skin soft and smooth by creating a barrier on top. This barrier traps moisture in, keeping the skin hydrated.
C13-14 Isoparaffin may not be fungal-acne safe.
Learn more about C13-14 IsoparaffinCarbomer is a polymer of acrylic acid. Its main role is to create a gel consistency.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Glycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.
A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.
As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.
Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.
Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.
In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.
This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinLaureth-7 is created by the ethoxylation of lauryl alcohol using ethylene oxide. Lauryl alcohol is a fatty alcohol with hydrating properties.
This ingredient is an emulsifier and cleansing ingredient. As an emulsifier, it is used to prevent ingredients from separating. It also helps cleanse the skin by gathering dirt, oil, and pollutants to be rinsed away.
Niacinamide is a multitasking form of vitamin B3 that strengthens the skin barrier, reduces pores and dark spots, regulates oil, and improves signs of aging.
And the best part? It's gentle and well-tolerated by most skin types, including sensitive and reactive skin.
You might have heard of "niacin flush", or the reddening of skin that causes itchiness. Niacinamide has not been found to cause this.
In very rare cases, some individuals may not be able to tolerate niacinamide at all or experience an allergic reaction to it.
If you are experiencing flaking, irritation, and dryness with this ingredient, be sure to double check all your products as this ingredient can be found in all categories of skincare.
When incorporating niacinamide into your routine, look out for concentration amounts. Typically, 5% niacinamide provides benefits such as fading dark spots. However, if you have sensitive skin, it is better to begin with a smaller concentration.
When you apply niacinamide to your skin, your body converts it into nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD). NAD is an essential coenzyme that is already found in your cells as "fuel" and powers countless biological processes.
In your skin, NAD helps repair cell damage, produce new healthy cells, support collagen production, strengthen the skin barrier, and fight environmental stressors (like UV and pollution).
Our natural NAD levels start to decline with age, leading to slower skin repair, visible aging, and a weaker skin barrier. By providing your skin niacinamide, you're recharging your skin's NAD levels. This leads to stronger, healthier, and younger looking skin.
Another name for vitamin B3 is nicotinamide. This vitamin is water-soluble and our bodies don't store it. We obtain Vitamin B3 from either food or skincare. Meat, fish, wheat, yeast, and leafy greens contain vitamin B3.
The type of niacinamide used in skincare is synthetically created.
Learn more about NiacinamideOctocrylene protects skin from sun damage. It absorbs UV-B with peak absorption of 304 nm. It is a common sunscreen ingredient and often paired with avobenzone, a UVA filter. This is because octocrylene stabilizes other sunscreen ingredients by protecting them from degradation when exposed to sunlight. Octocrylene is a photostable ingredient and loses about 10% of SPF in 95 minutes.
Octocrylene also acts as an emollient, meaning it helps skin retain moisture and softens skin. It is oil-soluble and hydrophobic, enhancing water-resistant properties in a product.
Those who are using ketoprofen, a topical anti-inflammatory drug, may experience an allergic reaction when using octocrylene. It is best to speak with a healthcare professional about using sunscreens with octocrylene.
The EU allows a maximum of these concentrations:
Learn more about OctocrylenePhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Polyacrylamide is a synthetic polymer. It is used to stabilize products and bind ingredients. When hydrated, Polyacrylamide forms a soft gel.
Polyacrylamide is low-toxicity. If source properly, it is deemed safe to use in cosmetics.
It should be noted the precursor to Polyacrylamide is acrylamide. Acrylamide is a carcinogen. Most reputable sources of Polyacrylamide will screen for residual acrylamide to make sure the count is in a safe range. Acrylamide is not able to be absorbed through the skin.
We recommend speaking with a professional if you have concerns.
Learn more about PolyacrylamideWater. 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. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water