What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Sodium Acrylates Copolymer
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV Absorber
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
Phenyl Methicone
Emollient
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Tetrasodium EDTA
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Lecithin
Emollient
Octocrylene
UV Absorber
Phospholipids
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Isononyl Isononanoate
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Cholesterol
Emollient
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Silanetriol
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Hydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientHydroxystearic Acid
Cleansing
Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingTrideceth-10
CleansingCyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Parfum
Masking
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTrehalose
Humectant
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Honey Extract
Humectant
Ophiopogon Japonicus Root Extract
Skin ConditioningOpuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract
Skin Conditioning
Helianthus Annuus Sprout Extract
Skin ConditioningCaesalpinia Spinosa Fruit Pod Extract
Sophora Flavescens Root Extract
Antioxidant
Water, Glycerin, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Phenyl Methicone, Hyaluronic Acid, Tetrasodium EDTA, Allantoin, Lecithin, Octocrylene, Phospholipids, Butylene Glycol, Isononyl Isononanoate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Cholesterol, Bisabolol, Silanetriol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Hydroxystearic Acid, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Trideceth-10, Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Pentylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Propylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, Parfum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Trehalose, Centella Asiatica Extract, Honey Extract, Ophiopogon Japonicus Root Extract, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract, Helianthus Annuus Sprout Extract, Caesalpinia Spinosa Fruit Pod Extract, Sophora Flavescens Root Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningOctocrylene
UV Absorber
Ethylhexyl Salicylate
UV Absorber
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Ethylhexyl Triazone
UV Absorber
Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid
UV Absorber
Arachidyl Alcohol
Emollient
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Arachidyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingPropanediol
Solvent
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Silica
Abrasive
Glycerin
Humectant
Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Morus Alba Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Tetrasodium EDTA
Water, Octocrylene, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid, Arachidyl Alcohol, Behenyl Alcohol, Arachidyl Glucoside, Propanediol, Niacinamide, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Phenoxyethanol, Silica, Glycerin, Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract, Sodium Hydroxide, Ethylhexylglycerin, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Hyaluronate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Butylene Glycol, Morus Alba Leaf Extract, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Tetrasodium EDTA
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives
Also known as Avobenzone, this ingredient is a chemical sunscreen filter that provides protection in the UV-A range.
Avobenzone is globally approved and is the most commonly used UV-A filter in the world.
Studies have found that avobenzone becomes ineffective when exposed to UV light (it is not photostable; meaning that it breaks down in sunlight). Because of this, formulations that include avobenzone will usually contain stabilizers such as octocrylene.
However, some modern formulations (looking at you, EU!) are able to stabilize avobenzone by coating the molecules.
Avobenzone does not protect against the UV-B range, so it's important to check that the sunscreen you're using contains other UV filters that do!
The highest concentration of avobenzone permitted is 3% in the US, and 5% in the EU.
Learn more about Butyl MethoxydibenzoylmethaneButylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 GlycerinOctocrylene protects skin from sun damage. It absorbs UV-B with peak absorption of 304 nm. It is a common sunscreen ingredient and often paired with avobenzone, a UVA filter. This is because octocrylene stabilizes other sunscreen ingredients by protecting them from degradation when exposed to sunlight. Octocrylene is a photostable ingredient and loses about 10% of SPF in 95 minutes.
Octocrylene also acts as an emollient, meaning it helps skin retain moisture and softens skin. It is oil-soluble and hydrophobic, enhancing water-resistant properties in a product.
Those who are using ketoprofen, a topical anti-inflammatory drug, may experience an allergic reaction when using octocrylene. It is best to speak with a healthcare professional about using sunscreens with octocrylene.
The EU allows a maximum of these concentrations:
Learn more about OctocrylenePhenoxyethanol 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.
Tetrasodium EDTA is the salt formed from neutralizing ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid with sodium hydroxide. It is a chelating agent and used to prevent metal ions from binding to other ingredients. This helps keep the product and ingredients stable.
Tetrasodium EDTA comes as a white solid and is soluble in water.
Water. 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
