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
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate 5.5%
UV AbsorberTitanium Dioxide 3.1%
Cosmetic ColorantZinc Oxide 1%
Cosmetic ColorantCyclohexasiloxane
EmollientWater
Skin ConditioningTrimethylsiloxysilicate
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantMica
Cosmetic ColorantPEG-10 Dimethicone
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientPhenyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningPEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone
Emulsifying1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialAlumina
AbrasiveCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientDimethiconol
EmollientDisteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingEthylene Brassylate
MaskingHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingHydrogen Dimethicone
Lecithin
EmollientMagnesium Sulfate
Maris Sal
Skin ConditioningMethicone
EmollientNiacinamide
SmoothingPolyquaternium-51
Skin ConditioningPolysilicone-11
Sodium Carrageenan
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium PCA
HumectantTetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
AntioxidantTetrasodium EDTA
Tocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantTrehalose
HumectantTriethoxycaprylylsilane
Triethyl Citrate
MaskingUrea
BufferingZingiber Officinale Root Extract
MaskingCitral
PerfumingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCI 77163
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate 5.5%, Titanium Dioxide 3.1%, Zinc Oxide 1%, Cyclohexasiloxane, Water, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Glycerin, Mica, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Dimethicone, Phenyl Trimethicone, PEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone, 1,2-Hexanediol, Alcohol Denat., Alumina, Caprylyl Glycol, Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethiconol, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Ethylene Brassylate, Hexylene Glycol, Hydrogen Dimethicone, Lecithin, Magnesium Sulfate, Maris Sal, Methicone, Niacinamide, Polyquaternium-51, Polysilicone-11, Sodium Carrageenan, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium PCA, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Tetrasodium EDTA, Tocopheryl Acetate, Trehalose, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Triethyl Citrate, Urea, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Citral, Phenoxyethanol, CI 77163, CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499, CI 77891
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.Alumina is another name for the compound aluminum oxide. It is used as a thickener, absorbent, and abrasive.
As an absorbent, alumina can give a mattifying effect. It is used in mineral sunscreens to help coat nano-sized filters, such as titanium dioxide. By increasing the size of the UV filters, these ingredients stay on the skin for a longer time. By coating small sized ingredients, alumina helps thicken a product.
Alumina may be used as an abrasive, or exfoliant.
Alumina is naturally occurring in the mineral corundum. Certain varieties of corundum create rubies and sapphires. Corundum is also the crystalline form of alumina.
Learn more about AluminaThis synthetic powder is used to add a pearly/white color in cosmetics.
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 DimethiconeEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate is an organic compound that provides UVB protection. It often goes by the more common name of octinoxate. It is created from methoxycinnamic acid and 2-ethylhexanol.
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate absorbs UVB rays with wavelengths between 280-320 nm. UV absorbers protect your skin by using chemical reactions to convert UV rays into heat and energy.
UVB (290-320 nm) rays emit more energy than UVA rays. They are capable of damaging DNA, causing sunburns and are thought to be linked to skin cancer.
The state of Hawaii has banned sunscreens containing octinoxate due to its potential impact on coral reefs. More research is needed to bridge gaps in this research. The European Union allows higher levels of octinoxate in sunscreens than the US and Australia.
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate is oil soluble. It is not stable and may lose efficacy when exposed to sunlight.
Learn more about Ethylhexyl MethoxycinnamateGlycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.
A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.
As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.
Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.
Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.
In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.
This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinMagnesium Sulfate is a salt. More specifically, it is an epsom salt, or the bath salt used to help relieve muscle aches.
Despite having âsulfateâ in the name, it isnât a surfactant or cleansing agent like sodium lauryl sulfate. Unlike those sulfates, magnesium sulfate doesnât have the same cleansing or foaming properties (it's simply a type of salt).
In cosmetics, Magnesium Sulfate is used to thicken a product or help dilute other solids. It is a non-reactive and non-irritating ingredient.
One study shows magnesium deficiency may lead to inflammation of the skin. Applying magnesium topically may help reduce inflammation.
You can find this ingredient in sea water or mineral deposits.
Learn more about Magnesium SulfateMethicone is a type of silicone and is a simpler form of dimethicone.
Silicones are used to enhance the texture of products and have emollient properties. Methicone is used to give products a silky texture and improves spreadability.
Mica is a naturally occurring mineral used to add shimmer and color in cosmetics. It can also help improve the texture of a product or give it an opaque, white/silver color.
Serecite is the name for very fine but ragged grains of mica.
This ingredient is often coated with metal oxides like titanium dioxide. Trace amounts of heavy metals may be found in mica, but these metals are not harmful in our personal products.
Mica has been used since prehistoric times throughout the world. Ancient Egyptian, Indian, Greek, Roman, Aztec, and Chinese civilizations have used mica.
Learn more about MicaPeg-10 Dimethicone is silicone with conditioner and emulsifier properties. It mostly acts as an emollient in skincare and and humectant in haircare.
According to the manufacturer, acidic formulations decrease the stability of this ingredient. It works best in neutral or near neutral formulations.
Phenyl 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 TrimethiconeTitanium 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