What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Zinc Oxide 21.7%
Cosmetic Colorant
Water
Skin ConditioningC13-15 Alkane
SolventCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Butyloctyl Salicylate
Skin Conditioning
Propanediol
Solvent
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantPolyglyceryl-2 Dipolyhydroxystearate
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate
Emulsifying
Silica
Abrasive
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialPolyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate
Emulsifying
Galactoarabinan
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Fructooligosaccharides
Humectant
Bioflavonoids
Skin ConditioningGlycoproteins
Skin Conditioning
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Ceramide Ng
Skin Conditioning
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12
Skin Conditioning
Cyamopsis Tetragonoloba Gum
Emulsion StabilisingTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingGlycerin
Humectant
Polyhydroxystearic Acid
Emulsifying
Tribehenin
Emollient
Isostearic Acid
Cleansing
Lecithin
Emollient
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Chloride
MaskingPhytic Acid
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Phenethyl Alcohol
MaskingCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantZinc Oxide 21.7%, Water, C13-15 Alkane, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Propanediol, Mica, Polyglyceryl-2 Dipolyhydroxystearate, Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate, Silica, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate, Galactoarabinan, Allantoin, Fructooligosaccharides, Bioflavonoids, Glycoproteins, Bisabolol, Ceramide Ng, Lactic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12, Cyamopsis Tetragonoloba Gum, Tocopheryl Acetate, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Glycerin, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Tribehenin, Isostearic Acid, Lecithin, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Chloride, Phytic Acid, Pentylene Glycol, Phenethyl Alcohol, CI 77891, CI 77491, CI 77492
Water
Skin ConditioningC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV Absorber
Propanediol
Solvent
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin Conditioning
Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV Filter
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Diphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Trisiloxane
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Silica
Abrasive
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
C14-22 Alcohols
Emulsion Stabilising
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Polyacrylate-13
Aluminum Stearate
Cosmetic ColorantAlumina
Abrasive
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Polyhydroxystearic Acid
Emulsifying
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Methoxy PEG-114/Polyepsilon Caprolactone
BufferingStearic Acid
Cleansing
C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingPolyisobutene
C12-15 Alcohols
Emollient
Parfum
Masking
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientDisodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Glycerin
Humectant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Lactobacillus/Water Hyacinth Ferment
Skin ProtectingMannitol
Humectant
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
BHT
Antioxidant
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Glucose
Humectant
Paeonia Suffruticosa Extract
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Paeonia Albiflora Root Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Dehydroacetate
Preservative
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Citrate
BufferingPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Prunus Persica Leaf Extract
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Lysine
Skin ConditioningArginine
Masking
Histidine
Humectant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Paeonia Albiflora Flower Extract
TonicBeta-Carotene
Skin ConditioningXylose
HumectantDna
Skin ConditioningBiotin
AntiseborrhoeicMannose
HumectantSodium Chloride
MaskingLecithin
Emollient
Hydrogenated Phosphatidylcholine
Emulsifying
Copper Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Phosphate
BufferingDextrin
AbsorbentHydrolyzed Hibiscus Esculentus Extract
Skin ConditioningCholesterol
Emollient
Fucose
Skin ConditioningDipalmitoyl Hydroxyproline
Skin Conditioning
Acrylates/Stearyl Methacrylate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPotassium Chloride
Potassium Phosphate
BufferingMagnesium Chloride
Hydrolyzed Millet
Skin ConditioningCalcium Chloride
AstringentWater, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Propanediol, Butylene Glycol, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Titanium Dioxide, Dimethicone, Niacinamide, Diphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone, PEG-100 Stearate, Trisiloxane, 1,2-Hexanediol, Silica, Cetearyl Alcohol, C14-22 Alcohols, Glyceryl Stearate, Polyacrylate-13, Aluminum Stearate, Alumina, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Methoxy PEG-114/Polyepsilon Caprolactone, Stearic Acid, C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside, Polyisobutene, C12-15 Alcohols, Parfum, Glyceryl Caprylate, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adenosine, Polysorbate 20, Sorbitan Isostearate, Glycerin, Tocopheryl Acetate, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Lactobacillus/Water Hyacinth Ferment, Mannitol, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, BHT, Limonene, Linalool, Pentylene Glycol, Glucose, Paeonia Suffruticosa Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Paeonia Albiflora Root Extract, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Carbomer, Sodium Citrate, Potassium Sorbate, Tocopherol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Caprylyl Glycol, Prunus Persica Leaf Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Lysine, Arginine, Histidine, Citric Acid, Paeonia Albiflora Flower Extract, Beta-Carotene, Xylose, Dna, Biotin, Mannose, Sodium Chloride, Lecithin, Hydrogenated Phosphatidylcholine, Copper Tripeptide-1, Sodium Phosphate, Dextrin, Hydrolyzed Hibiscus Esculentus Extract, Cholesterol, Fucose, Dipalmitoyl Hydroxyproline, Acrylates/Stearyl Methacrylate Copolymer, Potassium Chloride, Potassium Phosphate, Magnesium Chloride, Hydrolyzed Millet, Calcium Chloride
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 BenzoateGlycerin (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 GlycerinLecithin is a term for a group of substances found in the cell membranes of plants, animals, and humans. They are made up of phospholipids.
Thanks to its amphiphilic structure (water-loving head and oil-loving tail), it is a true multitasker:
It plays well with most ingredients and is typically used at 0.1-1%. However, concentrations up to 50% have been reported in moisturizers.
Learn more about LecithinPentylene 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 GlycolPolyhydroxystearic Acid is a vegetable-derived soft wax made from castor oil. It's an emulsion stabilizer, thickener, and film former.
You'll likely see it in sunscreens because it helps disperse pigments and UV-reflecting minerals like titanium dioxide and zinc oxide evenly.
Depending on the concentration, it can drastically change the texture of a product from pasty solid (like lipstick) to sprayable liquid.
The CIR Expert Panel for Cosmetic Ingredient Safety has concluded this ingredient to be safe in cosmetics. The highest reported use concentration is 14.2% in lipsticks.
Learn more about Polyhydroxystearic AcidPropanediol 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 PropanediolSilica, also known as silicon dioxide, is a naturally occurring mineral. It is used as a fine, spherical, and porous powder in cosmetics.
Though it has exfoliant properties, the function of silica varies depending on the product.
The unique structure of silica enhances the spreadability and adds smoothness, making it a great texture enhancer.
It is also used as an active carrier, emulsifier, and mattifier due to its ability to absorb excess oil.
In some products, tiny microneedles called spicules are made from silica or hydrolyzed sponge. When you rub them in, they lightly polish away dead skin layers and enhance the penetration of active ingredients.
Learn more about SilicaChances are, you eat sodium chloride every day. Sodium Chloride is also known as table salt. This ingredient has many purposes in skincare: thickener, emulsifier, and exfoliator.
You'll most likely find this ingredient in cleansers where it is used to create a gel-like texture. As an emulsifier, it also prevents ingredients from separating.
You might see people debate whether Sodium Chloride is comedogenic, but there actually haven't been any comedogenic tests done on it. Either way, the overall formulation of a product matters a lot more than any single ingredient.
You might see this ingredient used in scrubs as a primary exfoliating ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium ChlorideTocopheryl 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
