What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate 3%
UV AbsorberWater
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialPhenyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantPEG-10 Dimethicone
Skin ConditioningBis-PEG/PPG-14/14 Dimethicone
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientMagnesium Sulfate
Ethylhexyl Hydroxystearate
EmollientPEG/PPG/Polybutylene Glycol-8/5/3 Glycerin
HumectantTalc
AbrasiveDisodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingDimethicone/Polyglycerin-3 Crosspolymer
CleansingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantAluminum Hydroxide
EmollientRosa Gallica Flower Extract
AstringentMethicone
EmollientAlumina
AbrasiveTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic ColorantIron Oxides
CI 77163
Cosmetic ColorantMica
Cosmetic ColorantBlue 1 Lake
Cosmetic ColorantCI 45380
Cosmetic ColorantEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate 3%, Water, Cyclopentasiloxane, Alcohol Denat., Phenyl Trimethicone, Glycerin, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Bis-PEG/PPG-14/14 Dimethicone, Dimethicone, Magnesium Sulfate, Ethylhexyl Hydroxystearate, PEG/PPG/Polybutylene Glycol-8/5/3 Glycerin, Talc, Disodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Dimethicone/Polyglycerin-3 Crosspolymer, Tocopheryl Acetate, Aluminum Hydroxide, Rosa Gallica Flower Extract, Methicone, Alumina, Titanium Dioxide, Iron Oxides, CI 77163, Mica, Blue 1 Lake, CI 45380
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientIsododecane
EmollientCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientPhenyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic ColorantButylene Glycol
HumectantPropylene Glycol
HumectantPEG-9 Dimethicone
Skin ConditioningPEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone
EmulsifyingSodium Chloride
MaskingSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientTribehenin
EmollientTalc
AbrasiveTriethoxycaprylylsilane
Silica Dimethyl Silylate
EmollientTrimethoxycaprylylsilane
SmoothingAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialDisodium EDTA
Panthenol
Skin ConditioningDisteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeDehydroacetic Acid
PreservativeBenzoic Acid
MaskingCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Dimethicone, Isododecane, Cyclopentasiloxane, Phenyl Trimethicone, Titanium Dioxide, Butylene Glycol, Propylene Glycol, PEG-9 Dimethicone, PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Sodium Chloride, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Tribehenin, Talc, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Trimethoxycaprylylsilane, Alcohol Denat., Disodium EDTA, Panthenol, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Phenoxyethanol, Dehydroacetic Acid, Benzoic Acid, CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Alcohol Denat. is an alcohol with a denaturant property. It is created by mixing ethanol with other additives.
This ingredient gets a bad rep because it is irritating and drying - mostly due to its astringent property. Astringents draw out natural oils in tissue, constricting pores and leaving your skin dried out.
However, alcohol denat. is not all that bad.
Due to its low molecular weight, alcohol denat. tends to evaporate quickly. One study on pig skin found half of applied alcohol evaporated in 10 seconds and less than 3% stayed on skin.
This also helps other ingredients become better absorbed upon application.
Studies are conflicted about whether this ingredient causes skin dehydration. One study from 2005 found adding emollients to propanol-based sanitizer decreased skin dryness and irritation. Another study found irritation only occurs if your skin is already damaged.
Small amounts of alcohol are generally tolerated by oily skin or people who live in humid environments.
The rule of thumb is if this alcohol is near the end of an ingredients list, it will probably not affect your skin much.
Also...
This ingredient has antimicrobial and solvent properties.
The antimicrobial property helps preserve products and increase their shelf life. As a solvent, it helps dissolve other ingredients.
Other types of astringent alcohols include:
Learn more about Alcohol Denat.Cyclopentasiloxane, or D5, is a silicone used to improve texture of products and trap moisture.
D5 is considered lightweight and volatile. Volatile means it evaporates quickly after application. Once evaporated, D5 leaves a thin barrier that helps keep skin hydrated.
It is also an emollient. Emollients help soften the skin and prevent water loss. Silicones create a silky texture in products. D5 helps other ingredients become more spreadable.
Studies show D5 is safe to use in skincare products. We recommend speaking with a skincare professional if you have concerns.
Learn more about CyclopentasiloxaneDimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconePhenyl Trimethicone is a silicon-based polymer. It is derived from silica.
Phenyl Trimethicone is used as an emollient and prevents products from foaming.
As an emollient, it helps trap moisture in the skin. It is considered an occlusive.
Learn more about Phenyl TrimethiconeTalc is a clay mineral. It helps absorb moisture and improve the texture of products. Like other types of clay, Talc can have a slight exfoliating effect on skin. Talc can be added to increase the volume of products.
Some Baby powders are made by combining talc with corn starch. The word "talc" comes from Latin and originates from Arabic. Talc is a mineral commonly found throughout the world.
If you have any concerns about using talc, we recommend checking out the FDA's official page.
Learn more about TalcTitanium dioxide is a mineral UV filter widely used in sunscreens and cosmetics.
It is one of only two UV filters officially classified as âmineralâ 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 isnât as strong as zinc oxideâs, 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 DioxideTocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateWater. 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. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water