What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningIsopropyl Myristate
Emollient
Dihydroxyacetone
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Cetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
Propanediol
Solvent
Ceteareth-20
CleansingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Punica Granatum Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Glycerin
Humectant
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Metabisulfite
Antioxidant
Parfum
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCoumarin
Perfuming
Benzyl Benzoate
Antimicrobial
Limonene
Perfuming
Hc Yellow No. 18
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Isopropyl Myristate, Dihydroxyacetone, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetearyl Glucoside, Propanediol, Ceteareth-20, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Punica Granatum Fruit Extract, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Glycerin, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Sodium Metabisulfite, Parfum, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Coumarin, Benzyl Benzoate, Limonene, Hc Yellow No. 18
Water
Skin ConditioningBis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane
EmollientIsopropyl Palmitate
Emollient
Cocoglycerides
Emollient
Dihydroxyacetone
Skin ConditioningAcrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Dimethyl Isosorbide
SolventCetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
C13-14 Isoparaffin
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Erythrulose
TanningTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Laureth-7
EmulsifyingCetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingGlycerin
Humectant
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Water, Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, Isopropyl Palmitate, Cocoglycerides, Dihydroxyacetone, Acrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer, Pentylene Glycol, Glyceryl Stearate, Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Cetyl Alcohol, Stearyl Alcohol, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin, Erythrulose, Tocopheryl Acetate, Laureth-7, Cetyl Phosphate, Glycerin, Sodium Hydroxide, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Dihydroxyacetone, or DHA, is the active ingredient in self-tanners.
It's a simply sugar that reacts with the free amino acids in your outermost layer of skin to produce brown-colored compounds called melanoidins.
DHA does not penetrate living skin cells, does not interact with melanocytes, and does not affect actualy melanin production.
There's a "safety controversy" that largely stems from misinterpreted studies:
Once concern is that DHA can generate unstable molecules that can damage cells (free radicals) when exposed to sunlight. This only happens in the outermost layer of dead skin cells and wearing SPF on top takes care of it.
The DNA damage claim comes from lab studies that doused living skin cells in much higher concentrations of DHA than you'd ever find in a self-tanner. That's not really a meaningful comparison to putting self-tanning lotion on your skin.
Regulatory bodies around the world, including the EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) and the U.S. FDA consider it safe for use in cosmetics when applied topically (maximum 10%, and most self-tanners contain between 3-5%).
Learn more about DihydroxyacetoneGlycerin (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 GlycerinGlyceryl Stearate is made by reacting glycerin with stearic acid (typically sourced from plant oils like palm or coconut). It's an emulsifier, emollient, and mild occlusive.
Emulsifiers help ingredients like oil and water stay mixed so your formula stays nicely blended and uniform in texture.
This ingredient is typically used in concentrations between 1-10%. Studies have found it to be non-sensitizing, non-phototoxic, and non-photoallergenic.
A close cousin of this ingredient is Glyceryl Stearate SE ("self-emulsifying"). This just has a small amount of sodium or potassium stearate added so it can emulsify without a co-emulsifier.
Since this ingredient is an ester of a C18 fatty acid, it may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast can potentially metabolize within the C11-C24 range.
Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.
Learn more about Glyceryl StearatePhenoxyethanol 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.
Tocopheryl 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. Remember to stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water
