What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDibutyl Adipate
EmollientDiethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV Filter
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialEthylhexyl Triazone
UV Absorber
Phenoxyethyl Caprylate
Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid
UV Absorber
Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin Conditioning
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientGlycerin
Humectant
Arginine
Masking
Cellulose
Absorbent
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Betaine
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium PCA
Humectant
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
PCA
Humectant
Sphingomonas Ferment Extract
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Serine
Masking
Alanine
Masking
Glycine
Buffering
Glutamic Acid
Humectant
Lysine Hcl
Skin Conditioning
Threonine
Proline
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingMicrocrystalline Cellulose
AbsorbentSclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Cellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxide
BufferingPantolactone
Humectant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Dibutyl Adipate, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Phenoxyethyl Caprylate, Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Glycerin, Arginine, Cellulose, Panthenol, Betaine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium PCA, Sodium Lactate, PCA, Sphingomonas Ferment Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopherol, Serine, Alanine, Glycine, Glutamic Acid, Lysine Hcl, Threonine, Proline, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Sclerotium Gum, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Cellulose Gum, Sodium Gluconate, Sodium Hydroxide, Pantolactone, Citric Acid, Phenoxyethanol
Water
Skin ConditioningZinc Oxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Caprylyl Methicone
Skin Conditioning
Butyloctyl Salicylate
Skin Conditioning
C9-12 Alkane
SolventDipropylene Glycol
HumectantPropylheptyl Caprylate
EmollientPolyglyceryl-3 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Methyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Dicaprylyl Ether
Emollient
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialMethyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingMagnesium Sulfate
Triethoxycaprylylsilane
Sodium Potassium Aluminum Silicate
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-2 Dipolyhydroxystearate
Skin Conditioning
Lauryl Polyglyceryl-3 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Silica
Abrasive
Polyhydroxystearic Acid
Emulsifying
Dimethiconol
Emollient
Trisiloxane
Skin Conditioning
CI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantDibutyl Adipate
EmollientPoly C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientNeopentyl Glycol Diethylhexanoate
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAluminum Hydroxide
EmollientCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Echium Plantagineum Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Polymethyl Methacrylate
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil Unsaponifiables
Emollient
CI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantTocopherol
Antioxidant
Cardiospermum Halicacabum Flower/Leaf/Vine Extract
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Sea Salt
Abrasive
Saccharomyces Ferment Filtrate
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Bombax Malabaricum Flower Extract
HumectantWater, Zinc Oxide, Caprylyl Methicone, Butyloctyl Salicylate, C9-12 Alkane, Dipropylene Glycol, Propylheptyl Caprylate, Polyglyceryl-3 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Niacinamide, Methyl Trimethicone, Dicaprylyl Ether, Titanium Dioxide, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Magnesium Sulfate, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Sodium Potassium Aluminum Silicate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Polyglyceryl-2 Dipolyhydroxystearate, Lauryl Polyglyceryl-3 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Octyldodecanol, Silica, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Dimethiconol, Trisiloxane, CI 77492, Dibutyl Adipate, Poly C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate, Caprylyl Glycol, Glyceryl Caprylate, Neopentyl Glycol Diethylhexanoate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Aluminum Hydroxide, CI 77491, Adenosine, Echium Plantagineum Seed Oil, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil Unsaponifiables, CI 77499, Tocopherol, Cardiospermum Halicacabum Flower/Leaf/Vine Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Sea Salt, Saccharomyces Ferment Filtrate, Propanediol, Glycerin, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Butylene Glycol, Bombax Malabaricum Flower 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.
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate is a lightweight emollient made by combinig benzoic acid with fatty alcohols that are 12-15 carbons long.
In cosmetics, it plays several roles:
The Cosmetic Review Expert Panel has concluded the alkyl benzoate group to be safe as used in cosmetics; it wasn't found to be a skin irritant and unlikely to be absorbed due to its low water solubility.
This report recorded almost 1000 reported uses with concentrations up to 59% in leave-on products but your cosmetics will typically use 0.5-15% depending on the product.
It's often called a "SPF booster": this is because it keeps UV filters properly dissolved and evenly distributed to support a sunscreen's performance. It doesn't actually raise SPF on its own.
Overall, this ingredient is well tolerated.
This ingredient is fungal acne safe because it is an ester of benzoic acid.
Think of this ingredient as two parts stuck together: an oily part and an acid part. Malassezia only gets a meal when it can snip off a fatty acid to eat. With C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, the acid part is benzoic acid, which isn't a fatty acid and which the yeast can't use as food.
Benzoic acid is actually used as a preservative to stop yeast from growing.
The oily part is a blend of C12-15 fatty alcohols but fatty alcohols in this size range can support only a little Malassezia growth (mostly for one species of Malassezia as well).
In the ingredient, those alcohols stay locked inside the molecule. The yeast can only reach them by snipping the benzoate bond, and that type of bond is harder for it to cut than a normal fatty bond.
So not much gets released. And whatever does get snipped comes packaged with benzoic acid, which discourages yeast growth.
Learn more about C12-15 Alkyl BenzoateCaprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolDibutyl Adipate is a lightweight, oil-soluble ester that acts as an emollient and solvent. It helps products spread more easily and leaves a soft, silky, dry-touch finish without being greasy.
You'll likely see this ingredient in sunscreens because it does a nice job dissolving UV filters and keeping them evenly distributed.
This ingredient has been found to be safe as used in cosmetics, wasn't a skin or eye irritant in clinical patch testing, and wasn't phototoxic.
In a clinical comedogenicity test, this ingredient tested negative so it isn't likely to clog pores.
Typical use levels are about 5-8% for sunscreens + nail products, but can range from 0.005%-8% depending on the product.
Learn more about Dibutyl AdipateEthylhexylglycerin 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 EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 GlycerinTocopherol 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
