What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDiethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV Filter
Diisopropyl Sebacate
EmollientDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientDiisopropyl Adipate
EmollientButyloctyl Salicylate
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexyl Triazone
UV Absorber
Zea Mays Starch
Absorbent
Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingSorbitan Stearate
Emulsifying
Lauryl Glucoside
CleansingPolyglyceryl-2 Dipolyhydroxystearate
Skin Conditioning
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantBentonite
Absorbent
Cera Alba
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientCitric Acid
Buffering
Cassia Angustifolia Seed Polysaccharide
Skin ConditioningMaltodextrin
Absorbent
O-Cymen-5-Ol
Antimicrobial
Schisandra Chinensis Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Cistus Monspeliensis Extract
MaskingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Water, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Diisopropyl Sebacate, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Diisopropyl Adipate, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Zea Mays Starch, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glycerin, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Sorbitan Stearate, Lauryl Glucoside, Polyglyceryl-2 Dipolyhydroxystearate, Mica, Bentonite, Cera Alba, Propanediol, Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate, CI 77891, Glyceryl Caprylate, Citric Acid, Cassia Angustifolia Seed Polysaccharide, Maltodextrin, O-Cymen-5-Ol, Schisandra Chinensis Fruit Extract, Cistus Monspeliensis Extract, Tocopherol
Water
Skin ConditioningIsononyl Isononanoate
EmollientEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV Absorber
Beeswax
Emulsion Stabilising
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Glycerin
Humectant
Homosalate
Skin Conditioning
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Oleic/Linoleic/Linolenic Polyglycerides
Emollient
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Octyldodecyl Xyloside
EmulsifyingPEG-30 Dipolyhydroxystearate
Emulsifying
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Zinc Stearate
Cosmetic ColorantSilica
Abrasive
Phenethyl Alcohol
MaskingMagnesium Sulfate
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide
Cleansing
Methylpropanediol
SolventSclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Oxidized Corn Oil
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientCitric Acid
Buffering
Dimethiconol
Emollient
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Dimethicone
Emollient
Pseudoalteromonas Ferment Extract
Humectant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Undecylenate
Emollient
Glycine Soja Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
CI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningT-Butyl Alcohol
Perfuming
CI 14700
Cosmetic ColorantMaltodextrin
Absorbent
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Sulfate
Silanetriol
BHT
Antioxidant
CI 17200
Cosmetic ColorantGlucose
Humectant
Salicylic Acid
Masking
CI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantSodium Hydroxide
BufferingChondrus Crispus Extract
Skin Conditioning
Water, Isononyl Isononanoate, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Beeswax, Titanium Dioxide, Glycerin, Homosalate, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Octyldodecanol, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Butylene Glycol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Oleic/Linoleic/Linolenic Polyglycerides, Cyclopentasiloxane, Bisabolol, Octyldodecyl Xyloside, PEG-30 Dipolyhydroxystearate, Tocopherol, Zinc Stearate, Silica, Phenethyl Alcohol, Magnesium Sulfate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Methylpropanediol, Sclerotium Gum, Tocopheryl Acetate, Oxidized Corn Oil, Glyceryl Caprylate, Citric Acid, Dimethiconol, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Sodium Benzoate, Dimethicone, Pseudoalteromonas Ferment Extract, Xanthan Gum, Glyceryl Undecylenate, Glycine Soja Seed Extract, CI 19140, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Ethylhexylglycerin, T-Butyl Alcohol, CI 14700, Maltodextrin, Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Sulfate, Silanetriol, BHT, CI 17200, Glucose, Salicylic Acid, CI 42090, Sodium Hydroxide, Chondrus Crispus 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.
You might know this ingredient as Tinosorb S or Bemotrizinol. It is a UV filter that covers both UVA and UVB rays.
This ingredient has two peak UV absorption peaks ( 310 and 340 nm) and is able to absorb both UV-A and UV-B rays. This ingredient works by preventing UV rays from reaching and damaging your skin.
On top of that - it is highly photostable and helps prevent the photodegration of other sunscreen ingredients such as avobenzone.
Tinosorb S is allowed in the EU, Australia, and Asia. It is close to being approved by the FDA and we'll hopefully get this ingredient in the U.S. by late 2026.
Fun fact: Tinosorb S is the most effective UV absorber at maximum concentration (measured by SPF) permitted in the EU.
This ingredient is oil-soluble, so your oil-cleansers will take this right off at night.
Learn more about Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl TriazineCitric 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 AcidGlycerin (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 GlycerinGlyceryl Caprylate comes from glycerin and caprylic acid. It is an emollient, co-emulsifier, and preservative booster.
Its short C8 fatty acid chain makes it behave differently from its longer-chain emollient cousins like Glyceryl Stearate. It feels more lightweight, fast-absorbing, and silky instead of rich and waxy.
As a co-emulsifier, its "head" and "tail" sit at the oil-water interface. But overall, the short C8 tail and not being water soluble means it doesn't really have the muscle to emulsify a formula on its own. That's why you'll often see it paired with a primary emulsifier like Cetearyl Glucoside.
Interestingly, Glyceryl Caprylate acts as a preservative booster. This is because its fatty-acid backbone disrupts microbial lipid membranes. It shows excellent activity against bacteria and yeast but is weaker against mold.
Typical concentrations range from 0.5-1% and this ingredient is generally non-irritating.
Because this ingredient has a C8 fatty acid chain, it is outside the range that the Malassezia yeast metabolizes (making it fungal acne safe).
Learn more about Glyceryl CaprylateMaltodextrin is a polysaccharide. It is derived from starch such as rice, corn, wheat, or potato starch.
In food, Maltodextrin is used to improve the texture and thicken a product. Due to its structure, it can help create a gel texture. As an emulsion stabilizer, it helps keep the ingredients in a product together.
As a polysaccharide, Maltodextrin has moisturizing properties. Polysaccharides are a type of carbohydrate. The top layer of skin uses polysaccharides to retain water, keeping the skin hydrated.
Maltodextrin is water soluble and has a sweet taste.
Learn more about MaltodextrinTocopherol 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
