What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid 1.7%
UV Absorber
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate 7.5%
UV Absorber
Water
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Paraffinum Liquidum
Emollient
Myristyl Myristate
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Triethanolamine
BufferingPalmitic Acid
Emollient
Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Mannitol
Humectant
PEG-20 Stearate
Emulsifying
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Capryloyl Salicylic Acid
Exfoliating
Acrylates Copolymer
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Alumina
Abrasive
Cyclodextrin
AbsorbentYeast Extract
Skin ConditioningSoluble Collagen
Humectant
Disodium Succinate
MaskingScutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
Astringent
Morus Bombycis Root Extract
Skin ConditioningDiazolidinyl Urea
Preservative
Methylparaben
Preservative
Butylparaben
Masking
Disodium EDTA
Parfum
Masking
Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid 1.7%, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate 7.5%, Water, Cyclopentasiloxane, Glycerin, Paraffinum Liquidum, Myristyl Myristate, Stearic Acid, Triethanolamine, Palmitic Acid, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Titanium Dioxide, PEG-100 Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Mannitol, PEG-20 Stearate, Stearyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Panthenol, Cetyl Alcohol, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Acrylates Copolymer, Butylene Glycol, Alumina, Cyclodextrin, Yeast Extract, Soluble Collagen, Disodium Succinate, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Morus Bombycis Root Extract, Diazolidinyl Urea, Methylparaben, Butylparaben, Disodium EDTA, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningAlcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Glycerin
Humectant
Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil
Masking
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Dimethicone
Emollient
Hydroxypropyl Tetrahydropyrantriol
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Isononyl Isononanoate
EmollientZea Mays Starch
Absorbent
Silica Silylate
Emollient
Poloxamer 338
EmulsifyingHydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid
BufferingOctyldodecanol
Emollient
Dimethiconol
Emollient
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Acrylates Crosspolymer-2
AbsorbentSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Silica
Abrasive
Perlite
Absorbent
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Steareth-25 Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Capryloyl Salicylic Acid
Exfoliating
Laureth-7
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
Buffering
Cassia Angustifolia Seed Polysaccharide
Skin ConditioningTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Menthoxypropanediol
Masking
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Polyacrylamide
C13-14 Isoparaffin
Emollient
Parfum
Masking
Water, Alcohol Denat., Glycerin, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil, Niacinamide, Dimethicone, Hydroxypropyl Tetrahydropyrantriol, Propanediol, Propylene Glycol, Isononyl Isononanoate, Zea Mays Starch, Silica Silylate, Poloxamer 338, Hydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid, Octyldodecanol, Dimethiconol, Caffeine, Sodium Acrylates Crosspolymer-2, Sodium Hyaluronate, Silica, Perlite, Adenosine, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Steareth-25 Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Caprylyl Glycol, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Laureth-7, Citric Acid, Cassia Angustifolia Seed Polysaccharide, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Menthoxypropanediol, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Polyacrylamide, C13-14 Isoparaffin, 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.
Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate is a polymer made from ammonium salts. It works as a thickener, emulsifier, and texture enhancer that gives gel-creams a silky, lightweight feel.
This ingredient is versatile and low-maintenance so manufacturers love working with it.
Typical usage levels in cosmetics are usually low and in the range of 0.015 - 2.3%.
Learn more about Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl TaurateCapryloyl Salicylic Acid comes from salicylic acid, the famous acne-fighting BHA.
It usually goes by a more common name of LHA, or lipohydroxy acid.
Like salicylic acid, this ingredient is a chemical exfoliant that can help break down the oil in your pores and reduce inflammation.
Though studies for LHA do show it to be less effective than salicylic acid. To be fair, salicylic acid is the reigning monarch of acne treatments.
However, a study from 2009 found LHA to be comparable to BPO, making it a good alternative for people with sensitive skin. Another study of 14 patients found a significant decrease in comedones after using LHA.
Another pro of LHA? It is less irritating than salicylic acid due to its large molecule size.
Large molecules cannot penetrate skin as well, so they are gentler on the skin. LHA is much less penetrative than salicylic acid.
An in-vitro study (not done on a living organism) found only 6% of LHA penetrated past the statum corneum compared to 58% of salicylic acid. An in-vivo (done on a living organism) analysis revealed ~17% of LHA was still present in the top layer of skin after 4 days, versus ~9% of salicylic acid.
Interestingly, a study from 2008 found LHA comparable to another famous acid, glycolic acid.
This study found about 10% of LHA is as effective as 20-50% of glycolic acid in treating hyperpigmentation and fine-lines.
Hydroxy acids have been found to stimulate skin protein, lipids, and thermal thickening. This may have anti-aging benefits.
Learn more about Capryloyl Salicylic AcidGlycerin (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 GlycerinParfum is a catch-all term for an ingredient or more that is used to give a scent to products.
Also called "fragrance", this ingredient can be a blend of hundreds of chemicals or plant oils. This means every product with "fragrance" or "parfum" in the ingredients list is a different mixture.
For instance, Habanolide is a proprietary trade name for a specific aroma chemical. When used as a fragrance ingredient in cosmetics, most aroma chemicals fall under the broad labeling category of “FRAGRANCE” or “PARFUM” according to EU and US regulations.
The term 'parfum' or 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term.
For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance by INCI standards.
One example is Calendula flower extract. Calendula is an essential oil that still imparts a scent or 'fragrance'.
Depending on the blend, the ingredients in the mixture can cause allergies and sensitivities on the skin. Some ingredients that are known EU allergens include linalool and citronellol.
Parfum can also be used to mask or cover an unpleasant scent.
The bottom line is: not all fragrances/parfum/ingredients are created equally. If you are worried about fragrances, we recommend taking a closer look at an ingredient. And of course, we always recommend speaking with a professional.
Learn more about ParfumWater. 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
