What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDibutyl Adipate
EmollientOctocrylene
UV Absorber
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientAlcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Cyclohexasiloxane
Emollient
Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
PEG-30 Dipolyhydroxystearate
Emulsifying
Nylon-12
Dimethicone
Emollient
PEG-10 Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Chloride
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Silica
Abrasive
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Parfum
Masking
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Disodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
PEG-8
HumectantTocopherol
Antioxidant
Lecithin
Emollient
Plankton Extract
Skin ConditioningAscorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Water, Dibutyl Adipate, Octocrylene, Cyclopentasiloxane, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Alcohol Denat., Titanium Dioxide, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Cyclohexasiloxane, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Butylene Glycol, PEG-30 Dipolyhydroxystearate, Nylon-12, Dimethicone, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Sodium Chloride, Phenoxyethanol, Silica, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Tocopheryl Acetate, Glyceryl Stearate, Parfum, Bisabolol, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Panthenol, PEG-8, Tocopherol, Lecithin, Plankton Extract, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Ascorbic Acid, Citric Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningUndecane
EmollientTridecane
Perfuming
Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol
UV Filter
Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate
Emollient4-Methylbenzylidene Camphor
UV Absorber
Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate
Absorbent
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Ethylhexyl Triazone
UV Absorber
Glycerin
Humectant
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer
Propanediol
Solvent
Vp/Acrylates/Lauryl Methacrylate Copolymer
Thermus Thermophillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningParfum
Masking
O-Cymen-5-Ol
Antimicrobial
Disodium EDTA
C13-14 Isoparaffin
Emollient
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Laureth-7
EmulsifyingCitronellol
Perfuming
Citric Acid
Buffering
Water, Undecane, Tridecane, Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol, Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate, 4-Methylbenzylidene Camphor, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Glycerin, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer, Propanediol, Vp/Acrylates/Lauryl Methacrylate Copolymer, Thermus Thermophillus Ferment, Parfum, O-Cymen-5-Ol, Disodium EDTA, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Sodium Hydroxide, Tocopheryl Acetate, Propylene Glycol, Laureth-7, Citronellol, Citric Acid
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 MethoxydibenzoylmethaneCitric 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 AcidDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAGlyceryl Stearate is made by reacting glycerin with stearic acid (typically sourced from plant oils like palm or coconut). It's an emulsifier, emollient, and mild occlusive.
Emulsifiers help ingredients like oil and water stay mixed so your formula stays nicely blended and uniform in texture.
This ingredient is typically used in concentrations between 1-10%. Studies have found it to be non-sensitizing, non-phototoxic, and non-photoallergenic.
A close cousin of this ingredient is Glyceryl Stearate SE ("self-emulsifying"). This just has a small amount of sodium or potassium stearate added so it can emulsify without a co-emulsifier.
Since this ingredient is an ester of a C18 fatty acid, it may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast can potentially metabolize within the C11-C24 range.
Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.
Learn more about Glyceryl StearateParfum is a catch-all term for an ingredient or more that is used to give a scent to products.
Also called "fragrance", this ingredient can be a blend of hundreds of chemicals or plant oils. This means every product with "fragrance" or "parfum" in the ingredients list is a different mixture.
For instance, Habanolide is a proprietary trade name for a specific aroma chemical. When used as a fragrance ingredient in cosmetics, most aroma chemicals fall under the broad labeling category of “FRAGRANCE” or “PARFUM” according to EU and US regulations.
The term 'parfum' or 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term.
For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance by INCI standards.
One example is Calendula flower extract. Calendula is an essential oil that still imparts a scent or 'fragrance'.
Depending on the blend, the ingredients in the mixture can cause allergies and sensitivities on the skin. Some ingredients that are known EU allergens include linalool and citronellol.
Parfum can also be used to mask or cover an unpleasant scent.
The bottom line is: not all fragrances/parfum/ingredients are created equally. If you are worried about fragrances, we recommend taking a closer look at an ingredient. And of course, we always recommend speaking with a professional.
Learn more about ParfumTocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateWater. 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
