What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningHomosalate
Skin Conditioning
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Isododecane
EmollientMethylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol
UV Filter
Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin Conditioning
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Zinc Oxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Steareth-2
EmulsifyingSteareth-21
CleansingAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
PEG-10 Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Methylpropanediol
SolventGlyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingXylitylglucoside
Humectant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Anhydroxylitol
Humectant
Methicone
Emollient
Polyquaternium-80
CleansingAlumina
Abrasive
Xylitol
Humectant
Disodium EDTA
Didecyldimonium Chloride
EmulsifyingGlucose
Humectant
Melanin
Skin ProtectingTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Polysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Asiaticoside
Antioxidant
Madecassic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Asiatic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Cholesterol
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Homosalate, Propylene Glycol, Isododecane, Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Cyclopentasiloxane, Zinc Oxide, Steareth-2, Steareth-21, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Titanium Dioxide, Decyl Glucoside, Methylpropanediol, Glyceryl Stearate Se, PEG-100 Stearate, Xanthan Gum, Xylitylglucoside, Caprylyl Glycol, Anhydroxylitol, Methicone, Polyquaternium-80, Alumina, Xylitol, Disodium EDTA, Didecyldimonium Chloride, Glucose, Melanin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Dipropylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Polysorbate 80, Asiaticoside, Madecassic Acid, Asiatic Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Cholesterol, Ethylhexylglycerin
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%
UV Absorber
Homosalate 7%
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%
UV Absorber
Octocrylene 6%
UV Absorber
Water
Skin ConditioningIsododecane
EmollientButyloctyl Salicylate
Skin Conditioning
Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate
Glycerin
Humectant
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
Polyglycerin-3
Humectant
Polyglyceryl-3 Lactate/Laurate
CleansingAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Ectoin
Skin Conditioning
Acrylates Crosspolymer
AbsorbentGluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Arginine
Masking
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingBisabolol
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Sodium Dilauramidoglutamide Lysine
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Calcium Gluconate
HumectantSodium Polyglutamate
HumectantHydrolyzed Rhodophyceae Extract
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%, Homosalate 7%, Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%, Octocrylene 6%, Water, Isododecane, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate, Glycerin, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Polyglycerin-3, Polyglyceryl-3 Lactate/Laurate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Ectoin, Acrylates Crosspolymer, Gluconolactone, Arginine, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Benzoate, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Bisabolol, Tocopherol, Citric Acid, Niacinamide, Sodium Dilauramidoglutamide Lysine, Sodium Hyaluronate, Calcium Gluconate, Sodium Polyglutamate, Hydrolyzed Rhodophyceae Extract
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer is a synthetically created polymer. It's used as a film-forming agent and used to thicken the consistency of products.
Think of it as a supportive ingredient that helps your gel-creams feel silky, "cloud cream-like", and spread evenly without being greasy.
The Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel evaluated it (along with 22 other acryloyldimethyltaurate polymers) and concluded it's:
Due to its large molecular size, it sits on the surface of skin rather than penetrating it.
Learn more about Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp CopolymerHomosalate is an oil-soluble organic UVB filter that has been a sunscreen staple for decades. Its job is to absorb UVB rays (~295-315 nm) and protect your skin against sunburn,
This is one of the more photostable organic UV filters; it holds up pretty well under UV and a 2022 quantum-chemistry study found it stays stable in sunlight.
It's actually so reliable that formulators often pair it with shakier ingredients like oxybenzone and avobenzone. Formulators also use it to help dissolve the other UV filters into the oil phase.
One thing to keep in mind: "stable" isn't the same as "strong". On its own, homosalate is actually a pretty weak UV filter so it's better off as a helpful team player that helps boost overall SPF protection.
The safety picture is a bit nuanced but not scary.
This ingredient has a long track record of being gentle and regulators agree it isn't an irritant; EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety found that homosalate is not considered a skin irritant and doesn't raise eye-irritation flags either.
There's talk about homosalate because your skin absorbs a little bit of it into your bloodstream. A 2020 FDA-backed study found homosalate showed up in people's blood levels at the level where the FDA decides to double check.
The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) also found small amounts in blood and breast milk. They estimated that about 5% of what you apply gets absorbed through the skin.
Due to the debate about whether it might mess with hormones, the SCCS recommended a maximum limit of 0.5% in most products of 7.3% in face creams/pump sprays.
One important thing to keep in mind: in the US, Homosalate is currently labeled "non-GRASE" by the FDA. This sounds alarming but really just means the FDA wants more data to confirm it's safe. It's not confidently saying this ingredient is harmful.
As of now, homosalate is still completely legal and widely used while that research gets done.
The current maximum limits are:
Learn more about HomosalateIsododecane is a fragrance, emollient, and solvent.
As an emollient, it helps your skin stay soft and hydrated. Emollients help trap moisture into your skin.
Isododecane's role as a solvent makes it a great texture enhancer. It spreads smoothly on skin and does not leave a sticky feeling behind. Isododecane also helps prevent color transfer in makeup products.
Isododecane is not absorbed into skin.
The chemical name for this ingredient is 2,2,4,6,6-PENTAMETHYLHEPTANE.
Learn more about IsododecaneSodium Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.
Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.
Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.
It is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.
Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.
We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.
Learn more about Sodium BenzoateWater. 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
