What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAlcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Ethyl Methoxycinnamate
UV AbsorberButylene Glycol
Humectant
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantDimethicone
Emollient
Steareth-6
EmulsifyingOctocrylene
UV Absorber
Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV Filter
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingParaffinum Liquidum
Emollient
Cannabis Sativa Seed Extract
EmollientSqualane
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingTriethanolamine
BufferingBHT
Antioxidant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Methylparaben
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
Water, Alcohol Denat., Ethyl Methoxycinnamate, Butylene Glycol, Dipropylene Glycol, Dimethicone, Steareth-6, Octocrylene, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Carbomer, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Paraffinum Liquidum, Cannabis Sativa Seed Extract, Squalane, Sodium Hyaluronate, Xanthan Gum, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hydroxide, Triethanolamine, BHT, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningOctocrylene
UV Absorber
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Ethylhexyl Salicylate
UV Absorber
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Dibutyl Adipate
EmollientC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialIsohexadecane
EmollientDiethylhexyl Butamido Triazone
UV Absorber
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Polyacrylamide
Menthol
Masking
Silica
Abrasive
C13-14 Isoparaffin
Emollient
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Silica Dimethyl Silylate
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingMethyl Diisopropyl Propionamide
MaskingDisodium EDTA
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingNiacinamide
Smoothing
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Cucumis Sativus Juice
EmollientSodium Hydroxide
BufferingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingLaureth-7
EmulsifyingPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Biosaccharide Gum-4
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Sulfite
Preservative
Water, Octocrylene, Propylene Glycol, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Dibutyl Adipate, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Isohexadecane, Diethylhexyl Butamido Triazone, Phenoxyethanol, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Titanium Dioxide, Polyacrylamide, Menthol, Silica, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Chlorphenesin, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Xanthan Gum, Methyl Diisopropyl Propionamide, Disodium EDTA, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Niacinamide, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Cucumis Sativus Juice, Sodium Hydroxide, Carbomer, Laureth-7, Potassium Sorbate, Biosaccharide Gum-4, Sodium Sulfite
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer is a synthetic polymer. It is used to thicken, emulsify, and improve the texture of products.
As an emulsifier, it helps stabilize oil-in-water emulsions to give products an elegant feel when applied.
It can also form a thin protective film on skin. One study found that a formula using this polymer helped slow down how quickly other ingredients (like DEET) were absorbed through skin.
A 2024 study of over 1,300 patients confirmed that sensitization to this ingredient is rare. It is also non-mutagenic and has a clean track record.
Learn more about Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate CrosspolymerCarbomer is a high-molecular weight polymer of acrylic acid. It is used to form gels and thicken formulas.
Due to its large molecular size, carbomer has minimal skin penetration and is considered an inert ingredient.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Learn more about CarbomerDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAOctocrylene protects skin from sun damage. It absorbs UV-B with peak absorption of 304 nm. It is a common sunscreen ingredient and often paired with avobenzone, a UVA filter. This is because octocrylene stabilizes other sunscreen ingredients by protecting them from degradation when exposed to sunlight. Octocrylene is a photostable ingredient and loses about 10% of SPF in 95 minutes.
Octocrylene also acts as an emollient, meaning it helps skin retain moisture and softens skin. It is oil-soluble and hydrophobic, enhancing water-resistant properties in a product.
Those who are using ketoprofen, a topical anti-inflammatory drug, may experience an allergic reaction when using octocrylene. It is best to speak with a healthcare professional about using sunscreens with octocrylene.
The EU allows a maximum of these concentrations:
Learn more about OctocrylenePhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Sodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideWater. 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum
