What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 2.5%
UV Absorber
Homosalate 7%
Skin Conditioning
Water 4.3%
Skin ConditioningButyloctyl Salicylate
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Ethylhexyl Methoxycrylene
Skin Conditioning
Arachidyl Alcohol
Emollient
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Arachidyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Propanediol
Solvent
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingOctyldodecanol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Parfum
Masking
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingLimonene
Perfuming
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Portulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin Conditioning
Echium Plantagineum Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
T-Butyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Linalool
Perfuming
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil Unsaponifiables
Emollient
Cardiospermum Halicacabum Flower/Leaf/Vine Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Hamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Citrus Unshiu Peel Extract
Masking
Opuntia Coccinellifera Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningOrchid Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Japonica Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 2.5%, Homosalate 7%, Water 4.3%, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Butylene Glycol, Ethylhexyl Methoxycrylene, Arachidyl Alcohol, Behenyl Alcohol, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, 1,2-Hexanediol, Cetyl Alcohol, Arachidyl Glucoside, Phenoxyethanol, Propanediol, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Octyldodecanol, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Parfum, Xanthan Gum, Limonene, Centella Asiatica Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Echium Plantagineum Seed Oil, T-Butyl Alcohol, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Linalool, Ethylhexylglycerin, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil Unsaponifiables, Cardiospermum Halicacabum Flower/Leaf/Vine Extract, Tocopherol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Glycerin, Hamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract, Citrus Unshiu Peel Extract, Opuntia Coccinellifera Fruit Extract, Orchid Extract, Camellia Japonica Leaf Extract, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate
Zinc Oxide 20%
Cosmetic Colorant
Water
Skin ConditioningCocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Butyloctyl Salicylate
Skin Conditioning
Diheptyl Succinate
EmollientMethyl Dihydroabietate
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer
Skin ConditioningSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Arachidyl Alcohol
Emollient
Coco-Glucoside
Cleansing
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Arachidyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingMicrocrystalline Cellulose
AbsorbentCellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Citric Acid
Buffering
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPolyhydroxystearic Acid
Emulsifying
Zinc Oxide 20%, Water, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Diheptyl Succinate, Methyl Dihydroabietate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Arachidyl Alcohol, Coco-Glucoside, Tocopherol, Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter, Cetyl Alcohol, Behenyl Alcohol, Bisabolol, Arachidyl Glucoside, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Cellulose Gum, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Gluconate, Phenoxyethanol, Citric Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Polyhydroxystearic Acid
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Arachidyl Alcohol is a fatty alcohol made from the the arachidic acid found in peanut oil.
Despite having "alcohol" in the name, it is not related to denatured alcohol or ethanol.
This ingredient is a multitasker:
Just be sure to patch this ingredient if you have a peanut allergy (though this ingredient is highly processed and the allergenic proteins are typically removed).
Learn more about Arachidyl AlcoholThis ingredient is a plant-based surfactant and emulsifier. It helps oil and water based ingredients mix evenly to improve formula stability without adding a "greasy" feel.
Behenyl Alcohol is a type of fatty alcohol (these are different from the drying, solvent alcohols).
Fatty Alcohols have hydrating properties and are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product. They are usually derived from natural fats and oils; behenyl alcohol is derived from the fats of vegetable oils.
Emollients help keep your skin soft and hydrated by creating a film that traps moisture in.
In 2000, Behenyl Alcohol was approved by the US as medicine to reduce the duration of cold sores.
Learn more about Behenyl AlcoholButyloctyl Salicylate is a chemical UV filter structurally similar to octisalate. It is a photostabilizer, SPF booster, emollient and solvent. This ingredient helps evenly spread out ingredients.
According to a manufacturer, it is suitable for pairing with micro Titanium Dioxide, Zinc Oxide, and pigments.
Photostabilizers help stabilize UV-filters and prevents them from degrading quickly.
Learn more about Butyloctyl SalicylateCetyl Alcohol is a fatty alcohol. Fatty Alcohols are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product.
Its main roles are:
Though it has "alcohol" in the name, it is not related to denatured alcohol or ethyl alcohol.
The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
Learn more about Cetyl AlcoholCitric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinPhenoxyethanol 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.
Tocopherol 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
