What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDibutyl Adipate
EmollientEthylhexyl Triazone
UV Absorber
Terephthalylidene Dicamphor Sulfonic Acid
UV Absorber
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Silica
Abrasive
Methylpropanediol
SolventNiacinamide
Smoothing
Tromethamine
BufferingAllium Cepa Bulb Extract
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sphingomonas Ferment Extract
Skin Conditioning
Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Methicone
Skin Conditioning
Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV Filter
Diisopropyl Sebacate
EmollientLauryl Lactate
EmollientPolysilicone-15
UV Filter
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-3 Distearate
Emulsifying
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin Conditioning
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialDimethyl Capramide
Emulsion StabilisingPhenethyl Benzoate
Emollient
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
C13-15 Alkane
SolventGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Polyether-1
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingGlyceryl Stearate Citrate
Emollient
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Microcrystalline Cellulose
AbsorbentBiosaccharide Gum-1
Humectant
Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Phytate
Cellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningArginine
Masking
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Glyceryl Glucoside
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Extensin
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingWater, Dibutyl Adipate, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Terephthalylidene Dicamphor Sulfonic Acid, Butylene Glycol, Propanediol, Silica, Methylpropanediol, Niacinamide, Tromethamine, Allium Cepa Bulb Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sphingomonas Ferment Extract, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Caprylyl Methicone, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Diisopropyl Sebacate, Lauryl Lactate, Polysilicone-15, Pentylene Glycol, Polyglyceryl-3 Distearate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Dimethyl Capramide, Phenethyl Benzoate, Palmitic Acid, Stearic Acid, C13-15 Alkane, Glyceryl Stearate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Polyether-1, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Adenosine, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate, Sodium Phytate, Cellulose Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Arginine, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Tocopherol, Glyceryl Glucoside, Hydrolyzed Extensin, Glycerin, Carbomer
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%
UV Absorber
Homosalate 7%
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%
UV Absorber
Octocrylene 7%
UV Absorber
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
C15-19 Alkane
SolventPropanediol
Solvent
C12-22 Alkyl Acrylate/Hydroxyethylacrylate Copolymer
StabilisingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Azelaic Acid
Buffering
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Sclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Starch Octenylsuccinate
AbsorbentGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Jojoba Esters
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Diethylhexyl Syringylidenemalonate
Skin ProtectingCassia Alata Leaf Extract
AstringentMaltodextrin
Absorbent
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Polyglycerin-3
Humectant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%, Homosalate 7%, Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%, Octocrylene 7%, Water, Glycerin, C15-19 Alkane, Propanediol, C12-22 Alkyl Acrylate/Hydroxyethylacrylate Copolymer, Tocopherol, Azelaic Acid, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Sclerotium Gum, Hydroxyacetophenone, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Starch Octenylsuccinate, Glyceryl Stearate, Jojoba Esters, Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Pentylene Glycol, Diethylhexyl Syringylidenemalonate, Cassia Alata Leaf Extract, Maltodextrin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Polyglycerin-3, Citric 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.
Glycerin (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 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 StearateHydroxyacetophenone is antioxidant with skin conditioning and soothing properties. It also boosts the efficiency of preservatives.
Though naturally occuring in Norwegian spruce needles, this ingredient is usually synthetically created.
This ingredient is not irritating or sensitizing. Recent research also suggests it may have skin-brightening effects through tyrosinase inhibition.
Learn more about HydroxyacetophenonePentylene glycol is typically used within a product to thicken it. It also adds a smooth, soft, and moisturizing feel to the product. It is naturally found in plants such as sugar beets.
The hydrophilic trait of Pentylene Glycol makes it a humectant. As a humectant, Pentylene Glycol helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This can help keep your skin hydrated.
This property also makes Pentylene Glycol a great texture enhancer. It can also help thicken or stabilize a product.
Pentylene Glycol also acts as a mild preservative and helps to keep a product microbe-free.
Some people may experience mild eye and skin irritation from Pentylene Glycol. We always recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient in your routine.
Pentylene Glycol has a low molecular weight and is part of the 1,2-glycol family.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolSodium Stearoyl Glutamate is an amino-acid based emulsifier. It is made by combining stearic acid with L-glutamic acid and neutralizing it to a sodium salt.
As an emulsifier, it works mainly as an oil-in-water one and helps keep the oil and water in your formulas blended. It also contributes to a smooth, non-greasy skin feel.
This ingredient is biodegradable and commonly available in natural/COSMOS-certified grades.
Learn more about Sodium Stearoyl GlutamateTocopherol 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
