What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningEthyl Methoxycinnamate
UV AbsorberGlycerin
HumectantIsohexadecane
EmollientCyclohexasiloxane
EmollientAmmonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingPentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate
EmollientTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic ColorantGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPEG-100 Stearate
Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV FilterSynthetic Wax
AbrasiveBHT
AntioxidantPotassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingStearic Acid
CleansingLinalool
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingGlycolic Acid
BufferingEugenol
PerfumingParfum
MaskingManganese Gluconate
Skin ConditioningMethylparaben
PreservativeSilica
AbrasiveMyristic Acid
CleansingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingPalmitic Acid
EmollientAluminum Hydroxide
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePhenylethyl Resorcinol
AntioxidantAscorbyl Glucoside
AntioxidantLimonene
PerfumingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientTetrasodium EDTA
Capryloyl Salicylic Acid
ExfoliatingCitrus Limon Fruit Extract
MaskingCitric Acid
BufferingTourmaline
Citronellol
PerfumingBiosaccharide Gum-1
HumectantOctyldodecanol
EmollientCetyl Alcohol
EmollientEthylparaben
PreservativeHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingCI 14700
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Ethyl Methoxycinnamate, Glycerin, Isohexadecane, Cyclohexasiloxane, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate, Titanium Dioxide, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Synthetic Wax, BHT, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Stearic Acid, Linalool, Geraniol, Glycolic Acid, Eugenol, Parfum, Manganese Gluconate, Methylparaben, Silica, Myristic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Palmitic Acid, Aluminum Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol, Phenylethyl Resorcinol, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Limonene, Caprylyl Glycol, Tetrasodium EDTA, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Citric Acid, Tourmaline, Citronellol, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Octyldodecanol, Cetyl Alcohol, Ethylparaben, Hexyl Cinnamal, Benzyl Alcohol, CI 14700, CI 77891
Water
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV AbsorberEthylhexyl Salicylate
UV AbsorberOctocrylene
UV AbsorberStearyl Alcohol
EmollientTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic ColorantCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientEmulsifying Wax
Zinc Oxide
Cosmetic ColorantHydrogenated Soybean Oil
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningPrunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin ConditioningCoco-Caprylate
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantNelumbo Nucifera Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Japonica Flower Extract
EmollientTorreya Nucifera Extract
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantGlutathione
Sodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantParfum
MaskingWater, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Octocrylene, Stearyl Alcohol, Titanium Dioxide, Cetearyl Alcohol, Emulsifying Wax, Zinc Oxide, Hydrogenated Soybean Oil, Glycerin, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Coco-Caprylate, Butylene Glycol, Nelumbo Nucifera Extract, Camellia Japonica Flower Extract, Torreya Nucifera Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Benzyl Alcohol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glutathione, Sodium Gluconate, CI 77492, Parfum
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Benzyl Alcohol is most commonly used as a preservative. It also has a subtle, sweet smell. Small amounts of Benzyl Alcohol is not irritating and safe to use in skincare products. Most Benzyl Alcohol is derived from fruits such as apricots.
Benzyl Alcohol has both antibacterial and antioxidant properties. These properties help lengthen the shelf life of products. Benzyl Alcohol is a solvent and helps dissolve other ingredients. It can also improve the texture and spreadability.
Alcohol comes in many different forms. Different types of alcohol will have different effects on skin. This ingredient is an astringent alcohol.
Using high concentrations of these alcohols are drying on the skin. They may strip away your skin's natural oils and even damage your skin barrier. Astringent alcohols may also irritate skin.
Other types of astringent alcohols include:
According to the National Rosacea Society based in the US, you should be mindful of products with these alcohols in the top half of ingredients.
Any type of sanitizing product will have high amounts of alcohol to help kill bacteria and viruses.
Learn more about Benzyl AlcoholGlycerin (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 ParfumPhenoxyethanol 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.
Titanium dioxide is a mineral UV filter widely used in sunscreens and cosmetics.
It is one of only two UV filters officially classified as “mineral” by regulatory agencies, the other being zinc oxide.
Titanium dioxide provides broad-spectrum protection mostly in the UVB and UVAII range, with some protection in the UVAI range.
While its UVA protection isn’t as strong as zinc oxide’s, the difference is minor.
A common myth is that mineral UV filters reflect UV light. However, modern research shows titanium dioxide absorbs UV radiation like chemical filters (~95% absorption & 5% reflection).
Thanks to its non-irritating nature, titanium dioxide is suitable for sensitive, acne-prone, or redness-prone skin. It is unlikely to cause "eye sting" like other sunscreen ingredients.
A major drawback of this ingredient is its white cast and thick texture. This is why mineral sunscreens often leave a white cast and are less cosmetically elegant than chemical/hybrid sunscreens.
To improve white cast and spreadability, micronized or nano-sized titanium dioxide is often used.
There are ongoing concerns surrounding nano-titanium oxide's impact on marine ecosystems.
There is no conclusive evidence that any form of titanium oxide (or any other sunscreen ingredients) will cause harm to marine ecosystems or coral reefs. The science is still developing but many consumers are keeping a close eye on this issue.
Please note, many destinations have reef-safety sunscreen rules. For instance, the U.S. Virgin Islands advises all visitors to use non-nano mineral sunscreens.
Nano mineral sunscreens once raised safety concerns about absorption into skin.
Extensive research has shown that they do not penetrate healthy or damaged skin; they remain safely on the surface and the top layer of dead skin (stratum corneum).
You'll likely find titanium dioxide bundled with alumina, silica, or dimethicone. These ingredients help make titanium dioxide highly photostable; this prevents it from interacting with other formula components under UV light.
Learn more about Titanium DioxideWater. 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