What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%
UV Absorber
Homosalate 13%
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%
UV Absorber
Octocrylene 10%
UV Absorber
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer
Poly C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate
Emulsion StabilisingPolymethylsilsesquioxane
Acrylates/Dimethicone Copolymer
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Silica
Abrasive
Caprylyl Methicone
Skin Conditioning
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Diethylhexyl Syringylidenemalonate
Skin ProtectingGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Inulin Lauryl Carbamate
Emulsion StabilisingP-Anisic Acid
Masking
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
PEG-8 Laurate
Emulsifying
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingSodium Dodecylbenzenesulfonate
CleansingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Triethanolamine
BufferingTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%, Homosalate 13%, Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%, Octocrylene 10%, Water, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer, Poly C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Acrylates/Dimethicone Copolymer, Niacinamide, Silica, Caprylyl Methicone, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Caprylyl Glycol, Chlorphenesin, Diethylhexyl Syringylidenemalonate, Glyceryl Stearate, Inulin Lauryl Carbamate, P-Anisic Acid, Panthenol, PEG-100 Stearate, PEG-8 Laurate, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Sodium Dodecylbenzenesulfonate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopherol, Triethanolamine, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Xanthan Gum
Zinc Oxide 24%
Cosmetic Colorant
Water
Skin ConditioningC15-19 Alkane
SolventGlycerin
Humectant
Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate
Emulsifying
Ethyl Macadamiate
Skin Conditioning
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer
Stearyl/Octyldodecyl Citrate Crosspolymer
HumectantLauryl PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Propanediol
Solvent
Polyhydroxystearic Acid
Emulsifying
Triethoxycaprylylsilane
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Magnesium Sulfate
Sodium Chloride
MaskingCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Malic Acid
Buffering
Zinc Oxide 24%, Water, C15-19 Alkane, Glycerin, Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate, Ethyl Macadamiate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer, Stearyl/Octyldodecyl Citrate Crosspolymer, Lauryl PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Propanediol, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Magnesium Sulfate, Sodium Chloride, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopherol, Malic Acid
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride (aka MCT Oil) is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping to prevent moisture loss.
Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. One perk of this ingredient is that it is very stable, resistant to oxidation, and unlikely to go rancid.
In practice, that translates to a long shelf life and a consistently elegant skin feel.
While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this. Just patch test if you have concerns.
Fractionated coconut oil and MCT Oil are both listed as Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride according to INCI. This is because INCI names are based on the ingredient’s final chemical composition and not its marketing name or source.
This ingredient is treated as the gold standard fungal acne safe oil. Even though it is coconut derived, the problematic lauric acid is stripped out.
This leaves just caprylic (C8) and capric (C10) acid. These chain lengths actually trend antifungal; a 2020 study found caprylic acid was enough to disrupt Malassezia furfur cell membrane, with a caprylic acid derivative damaging membrane structures at concentrations as low as 0.2%.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideGlycerin (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 GlycerinSodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateThis ingredient is a synthetic polymer that mainly works as a film former. It creates a thin, flexible film on the surface of your skin. Once applied, it helps improves wear, durability, and resistance to water/smudging.
Due to its large molecule size, it sits on top of your skin rather than absorbing into it.
Tocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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
