What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDiisopropyl Sebacate
EmollientOctocrylene
UV AbsorberAlcohol
AntimicrobialPropylene Glycol
HumectantButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV AbsorberCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantTribehenin PEG-20 Esters
EmollientDiethylhexyl Butamido Triazone
UV AbsorberEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV AbsorberTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic ColorantPotassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingPolymethylsilsesquioxane
Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol
UV FilterAlpha-Isomethyl Ionone
PerfumingAluminum Hydroxide
EmollientAluminum Stearate
Cosmetic ColorantAngelica Archangelica Root Extract
MaskingAscorbic Acid
AntioxidantAscorbyl Palmitate
AntioxidantBenzyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialBHT
AntioxidantC30-45 Alkyl Cetearyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
EmollientCalcium Sodium Phosphosilicate
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientCinnamal
PerfumingCinnamyl Alcohol
PerfumingCitric Acid
BufferingCitronellol
PerfumingCitrus Aurantium Amara Peel Extract
MaskingCoffea Arabica Seed Extract
MaskingCyclohexasiloxane
EmollientDecyl Glucoside
CleansingDimethylmethoxy Chromanol
AntioxidantDisodium EDTA
Farnesol
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingHdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer
Hippophae Rhamnoides Oil
EmollientHydroxycitronellal
PerfumingHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingLecithin
EmollientLinalool
PerfumingMagnesium Aluminum Silicate
AbsorbentMaltodextrin
AbsorbentMauritia Flexuosa Fruit Oil
Skin ConditioningMica
Cosmetic ColorantPalmitic Acid
EmollientPEG-8
HumectantPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingPongamia Pinnata Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningRuby Powder
Skin ConditioningSclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingStearic Acid
CleansingSynthetic Fluorphlogopite
Tin Oxide
AbrasiveTocopherol
AntioxidantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeSorbic Acid
PreservativeParfum
MaskingCI 14700
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Diisopropyl Sebacate, Octocrylene, Alcohol, Propylene Glycol, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Cyclopentasiloxane, Glycerin, Tribehenin PEG-20 Esters, Diethylhexyl Butamido Triazone, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Titanium Dioxide, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Aluminum Hydroxide, Aluminum Stearate, Angelica Archangelica Root Extract, Ascorbic Acid, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Benzyl Benzoate, BHT, C30-45 Alkyl Cetearyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Calcium Sodium Phosphosilicate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, Cinnamal, Cinnamyl Alcohol, Citric Acid, Citronellol, Citrus Aurantium Amara Peel Extract, Coffea Arabica Seed Extract, Cyclohexasiloxane, Decyl Glucoside, Dimethylmethoxy Chromanol, Disodium EDTA, Farnesol, Geraniol, Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer, Hippophae Rhamnoides Oil, Hydroxycitronellal, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Lecithin, Linalool, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Maltodextrin, Mauritia Flexuosa Fruit Oil, Mica, Palmitic Acid, PEG-8, Polysorbate 60, Pongamia Pinnata Seed Extract, Ruby Powder, Sclerotium Gum, Sorbitan Isostearate, Stearic Acid, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Tin Oxide, Tocopherol, Xanthan Gum, Chlorphenesin, Phenoxyethanol, Sorbic Acid, Parfum, CI 14700, CI 77891
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientDibutyl Adipate
EmollientDiethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV FilterHydrogenated Polyisobutene
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingEthylhexyl Triazone
UV AbsorberPolyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
EmulsifyingSilica
AbrasiveCetearyl Olivate
Cetearyl Alcohol
EmollientCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingHyaluronic Acid
HumectantTocopherol
AntioxidantSorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Stearate Se
EmulsifyingMethyl Glucose Sesquistearate
EmollientSorbitan Stearate
EmulsifyingLavandula Angustifolia Oil
MaskingDisodium EDTA
Adenosine
Skin ConditioningAnthemis Nobilis Flower Oil
MaskingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Dibutyl Adipate, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, 1,2-Hexanediol, Niacinamide, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Silica, Cetearyl Olivate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Centella Asiatica Extract, Hyaluronic Acid, Tocopherol, Sorbitan Olivate, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate, Sorbitan Stearate, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Disodium EDTA, Adenosine, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Oil, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAGlycerin (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 GlycerinTocopherol 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