What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Tranexamic Acid
Astringent
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Water
Skin ConditioningZinc Oxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantEthylhexyl Methoxycrylene
Skin Conditioning
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Propylene Glycol Dicaprate
EmollientPropylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate
EmollientDimethicone
Emollient
Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin Conditioning
Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV Filter
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Silica
Abrasive
Disodium Ascorbyl Sulfate
Antioxidant
Hypericum Perforatum Extract
AntimicrobialCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Masking
Chamomilla Recutita Extract
Skin Conditioning
Tilia Cordata Extract
RefreshingEquisetum Arvense Extract
AstringentCalendula Officinalis Flower Extract
Masking
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Humulus Lupulus Extract
AntimicrobialPinus Sylvestris Leaf Extract
TonicCentaurea Cyanus Flower Extract
Astringent
Coix Lacryma-Jobi Ma-Yuen Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Limon Fruit Extract
Masking
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialAnthemis Nobilis Flower Extract
Masking
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingIsohexadecane
EmollientPolysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Isopropyl Titanium Triisostearate
Emollient
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
BHT
Antioxidant
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Sodium Metabisulfite
Antioxidant
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Stearyl Phosphate
Emulsifying
PPG-10 Cetyl Ether Phosphate
EmulsifyingPolymethylhydrogensiloxane
Sorbitan Oleate
Emulsifying
Diphenyl Dimethicone
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Tranexamic Acid, Tocopheryl Acetate, Water, Zinc Oxide, Dipropylene Glycol, Ethylhexyl Methoxycrylene, Alcohol, Propylene Glycol Dicaprate, Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Dimethicone, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Phenyl Trimethicone, Glycerin, Silica, Disodium Ascorbyl Sulfate, Hypericum Perforatum Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Chamomilla Recutita Extract, Tilia Cordata Extract, Equisetum Arvense Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Humulus Lupulus Extract, Pinus Sylvestris Leaf Extract, Centaurea Cyanus Flower Extract, Coix Lacryma-Jobi Ma-Yuen Seed Extract, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Isohexadecane, Polysorbate 80, Isopropyl Titanium Triisostearate, Xanthan Gum, Glyceryl Stearate, BHT, Cetearyl Alcohol, Sodium Metabisulfite, Behenyl Alcohol, Stearyl Phosphate, PPG-10 Cetyl Ether Phosphate, Polymethylhydrogensiloxane, Sorbitan Oleate, Diphenyl Dimethicone, Phenoxyethanol
Water
Skin ConditioningDibutyl Adipate
EmollientPropanediol
Solvent
Ethylhexyl Triazone
UV Absorber
Terephthalylidene Dicamphor Sulfonic Acid
UV Absorber
Polyglyceryl-3 Distearate
Emulsifying
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Tromethamine
BufferingCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV Filter
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Polysilicone-15
UV Filter
Vigna Radiata Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningGossypium Herbaceum Extract
Skin ConditioningSophora Flavescens Root Extract
Antioxidant
Rheum Palmatum Root/Stalk Extract
AstringentScutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
Astringent
Phellodendron Amurense Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningOenothera Biennis Flower Extract
AstringentUlmus Davidiana Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Pinus Palustris Leaf Extract
TonicPueraria Lobata Root Extract
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Gossypium Herbaceum Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin Conditioning
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingGlycerin
Humectant
Glyceryl Stearate Citrate
Emollient
Inulin Lauryl Carbamate
Emulsion StabilisingAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Parfum
Masking
Water, Dibutyl Adipate, Propanediol, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Terephthalylidene Dicamphor Sulfonic Acid, Polyglyceryl-3 Distearate, Niacinamide, Tromethamine, Cetearyl Alcohol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Pentylene Glycol, Polysilicone-15, Vigna Radiata Seed Extract, Gossypium Herbaceum Extract, Sophora Flavescens Root Extract, Rheum Palmatum Root/Stalk Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Phellodendron Amurense Bark Extract, Oenothera Biennis Flower Extract, Ulmus Davidiana Root Extract, Pinus Palustris Leaf Extract, Pueraria Lobata Root Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Gossypium Herbaceum Seed Oil, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Glyceryl Stearate, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Inulin Lauryl Carbamate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adenosine, Butylene Glycol, Tocopherol, Parfum
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 TriazineButylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolCetearyl alcohol is a waxy mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is an emollient and emulsifier.
Despite having "alcohol" in its name, it has nothing to do with drying solvent alcohols; the FDA also allows "alcohol-free" products to contain fatty alcohols like this ingredient.
It plays several roles in a formula:
Typical use levels for this ingredient sit around 1-10% and the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has affirmed safety at concentrations up to 25% in leave-on products.
Multiple assessments have found it to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing to most people.
However, there have been some cases of allergic contact dermatitis in patients with chronically compromised skin barriers.
Cetearyl alcohol has a comedogenic rating of 2 and irritancy rating of 1. Both of these numbers come from the 1989 study that used rabbit ears; a "2" means mildly comedogenic and a "1" means low irritancy.
Here's the catch: rabbit skin is more sensitive than human skin and throws a lot of false positives. A 1996 reappraisal found that ingredients rated 1-2 in the rabbit ear tests are generally safe for humans.
Remember comedogenic ratings are unable to assess the entire formula of a product or how it will react on your skin. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure about certain ingredients.
This ingredient is not fungal acne safe. Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol with chain lengths that fall within the range that Malassezia can metabolize.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholDiethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate (DHHB) is a chemical UV-A absorber. It is formulated for high UVA protection (320-400 nm).
DHHB is well-liked for:
DHHB has been approved by the EU, Japan, Taiwan, and South America for use up to 10%. Unfortunately, it has not been approved for use in the US or Canada due to slow regulatory processes.
This ingredient is soluble in oils, fats, and lipids.
Learn more about Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl 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 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 StearateSodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateWater. 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
