What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningZinc Oxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV Absorber
Hdi/PPG/Polycaprolactone Crosspolymer
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialDipropylene Glycol
HumectantSilica
Abrasive
Trimethylsiloxysilicate
Emollient
Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV Filter
Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin Conditioning
Polysilicone-15
UV Filter
Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Proline
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
BHT
Antioxidant
PEG-9 Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Amp-Acrylates/C1-18 Alkyl Acrylate/C1-8 Alkyl Acrylamide Copolymer
Acrylates/Ethylhexyl Acrylate/Dimethicone Methacrylate Copolymer
Skin Conditioning
Dimethicone/Vinyltrimethylsiloxysilicate Crosspolymer
Dextrin Isostearate
Skin ConditioningDiethylhexyl Succinate
EmollientPropylene Glycol Dicaprate
EmollientSqualane
Emollient
Triethylhexanoin
MaskingTriethoxycaprylylsilane
Polyhydroxystearic Acid
Emulsifying
Polyvinyl Alcohol
Polyvinyl Acetate
Emulsion StabilisingMethylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol
UV Filter
Lauryl PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Zinc Oxide, Cyclopentasiloxane, Alcohol, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Hdi/PPG/Polycaprolactone Crosspolymer, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Dipropylene Glycol, Silica, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Polysilicone-15, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Tocopherol, Proline, Butylene Glycol, BHT, PEG-9 Dimethicone, Amp-Acrylates/C1-18 Alkyl Acrylate/C1-8 Alkyl Acrylamide Copolymer, Acrylates/Ethylhexyl Acrylate/Dimethicone Methacrylate Copolymer, Dimethicone/Vinyltrimethylsiloxysilicate Crosspolymer, Dextrin Isostearate, Diethylhexyl Succinate, Propylene Glycol Dicaprate, Squalane, Triethylhexanoin, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Polyvinyl Alcohol, Polyvinyl Acetate, Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol, Lauryl PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Phenoxyethanol
Water
Skin ConditioningDibutyl Adipate
EmollientPropanediol
Solvent
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialDiethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV Filter
Caprylyl Methicone
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexyl Triazone
UV Absorber
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Glycerin
Humectant
Diethylhexyl Butamido Triazone
UV Absorber
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Portulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin Conditioning
Epilobium Angustifolium Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningRhododendron Ferrugineum Extract
MaskingCentella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Prunus Persica Flower Extract
MoisturisingPrunus Persica Fruit Extract
Abrasive
Prunus Serrulata Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Houttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin Conditioning
Tuber Magnatum Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Oil
Masking
Citrus Nobilis Peel Oil
Masking
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Litsea Cubeba Fruit Oil
Masking
Rosa Damascena Flower Water
Masking
Betula Platyphylla Japonica Juice
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Polyhydroxystearic Acid
Emulsifying
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Vp/Eicosene Copolymer
Dimethiconol
Emollient
Trisiloxane
Skin Conditioning
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingAmmonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingAlumina
Abrasive
Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose Stearoxy Ether
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Triethoxycaprylylsilane
T-Butyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Pvm/Ma Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPolyether-1
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Disodium Phosphate
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
CI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantLimonene
Perfuming
Citral
Perfuming
Water, Dibutyl Adipate, Propanediol, Titanium Dioxide, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Caprylyl Methicone, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Niacinamide, Glycerin, Diethylhexyl Butamido Triazone, 1,2-Hexanediol, Pentylene Glycol, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Epilobium Angustifolium Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Rhododendron Ferrugineum Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Prunus Persica Flower Extract, Prunus Persica Fruit Extract, Prunus Serrulata Flower Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Tuber Magnatum Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Oil, Citrus Nobilis Peel Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Litsea Cubeba Fruit Oil, Rosa Damascena Flower Water, Betula Platyphylla Japonica Juice, Panthenol, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Vp/Eicosene Copolymer, Dimethiconol, Trisiloxane, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Stearic Acid, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Alumina, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose Stearoxy Ether, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Xanthan Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adenosine, Sodium Polyacrylate, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, T-Butyl Alcohol, Pvm/Ma Copolymer, Polyether-1, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Allantoin, Butylene Glycol, Tocopherol, Disodium Phosphate, Citric Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, CI 77492, CI 77491, Limonene, Citral
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Butylene 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 GlycolC12-15 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 BenzoateDiethylamino 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 BenzoatePolyhydroxystearic 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 AcidTocopherol 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 TocopherolTriethoxycaprylylsilane is a silicon-based surface modifier that makes sunscreens feel silky and makeup stay put.
Its main job is to coat mineral particles like titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, and color pigments in a thin, oily layer so they spread smoothly, don't clump, and stick to skin better.
This ingredient is typically used at low levels (up to 2.5% in eyeshadow and 1% in lipstick).
Learn more about TriethoxycaprylylsilaneWater. 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
