What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDibutyl Adipate
EmollientPropanediol
Solvent
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Benzotriazolyl Dodecyl P-Cresol
UV AbsorberC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialDiethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV Filter
Ethylhexyl Triazone
UV Absorber
Glycerin
Humectant
Methyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Diethylhexyl Butamido Triazone
UV Absorber
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Moringa Oleifera Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Lespedeza Capitata Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningCardiospermum Halicacabum Flower/Leaf/Vine Extract
Skin ConditioningRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialNymphaea Alba Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningBambusa Vulgaris Water
Skin ConditioningRibes Nigrum Seed Oil
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil Unsaponifiables
Emollient
Biosaccharide Gum-4
Skin Conditioning
Fructan
Skin ConditioningPyrus Communis Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPrunus Persica Fruit Extract
Abrasive
Cucumis Melo Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningFicus Carica Fruit Extract
Humectant
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Hedera Helix Leaf/Stem Extract
AntimicrobialRosa Damascena Flower Water
Masking
Jasminum Officinale Flower Water
MaskingHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
Polyhydroxystearic Acid
Emulsifying
Dimethiconol
Emollient
Trisiloxane
Skin Conditioning
Alumina
Abrasive
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose Stearoxy Ether
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Polyether-1
T-Butyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantTocopherol
Antioxidant
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Sodium Palmitoyl Proline
Skin ConditioningWater, Dibutyl Adipate, Propanediol, Titanium Dioxide, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Benzotriazolyl Dodecyl P-Cresol, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Glycerin, Methyl Trimethicone, Diethylhexyl Butamido Triazone, 1,2-Hexanediol, Pentylene Glycol, Moringa Oleifera Seed Extract, Lespedeza Capitata Leaf/Stem Extract, Cardiospermum Halicacabum Flower/Leaf/Vine Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Nymphaea Alba Flower Extract, Bambusa Vulgaris Water, Ribes Nigrum Seed Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil Unsaponifiables, Biosaccharide Gum-4, Fructan, Pyrus Communis Fruit Extract, Prunus Persica Fruit Extract, Cucumis Melo Fruit Extract, Ficus Carica Fruit Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Hedera Helix Leaf/Stem Extract, Rosa Damascena Flower Water, Jasminum Officinale Flower Water, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Dimethiconol, Trisiloxane, Alumina, Stearic Acid, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Butylene Glycol, Cetyl Alcohol, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose Stearoxy Ether, Xanthan Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Polyacrylate, Polyether-1, T-Butyl Alcohol, Ceramide NP, Beta-Glucan, Octyldodecanol, Dipropylene Glycol, Tocopherol, Maltodextrin, Sodium Palmitoyl Proline
Water
Skin ConditioningZinc Oxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Diisopropyl Sebacate
EmollientIsononyl Isononanoate
EmollientC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialEthylhexyl Triazone
UV Absorber
Glycerin
Humectant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Drometrizole Trisiloxane
UV Absorber
Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingBis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Isohexadecane
EmollientTriethoxycaprylylsilane
Poly C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate
Emulsion StabilisingAcrylates/Polytrimethylsiloxymethacrylate Copolymer
Skin ConditioningPEG-400
Emulsion StabilisingPolysorbate 80
Emulsifying
C30-45 Alkyl Methicone
Emollient
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingC30-45 Olefin
Skin ConditioningSorbitan Oleate
Emulsifying
Polysilicone-9
Disodium EDTA
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Water, Zinc Oxide, Alcohol Denat., Diisopropyl Sebacate, Isononyl Isononanoate, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Drometrizole Trisiloxane, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Butylene Glycol, Isohexadecane, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Poly C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate, Acrylates/Polytrimethylsiloxymethacrylate Copolymer, PEG-400, Polysorbate 80, C30-45 Alkyl Methicone, Xanthan Gum, C30-45 Olefin, Sorbitan Oleate, Polysilicone-9, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hyaluronate
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Butylene 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 GlycolC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate is a lightweight emollient made by combinig benzoic acid with fatty alcohols that are 12-15 carbons long.
In cosmetics, it plays several roles:
The Cosmetic Review Expert Panel has concluded the alkyl benzoate group to be safe as used in cosmetics; it wasn't found to be a skin irritant and unlikely to be absorbed due to its low water solubility.
This report recorded almost 1000 reported uses with concentrations up to 59% in leave-on products but your cosmetics will typically use 0.5-15% depending on the product.
It's often called a "SPF booster": this is because it keeps UV filters properly dissolved and evenly distributed to support a sunscreen's performance. It doesn't actually raise SPF on its own.
Overall, this ingredient is well tolerated.
This ingredient is fungal acne safe because it is an ester of benzoic acid.
Think of this ingredient as two parts stuck together: an oily part and an acid part. Malassezia only gets a meal when it can snip off a fatty acid to eat. With C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, the acid part is benzoic acid, which isn't a fatty acid and which the yeast can't use as food.
Benzoic acid is actually used as a preservative to stop yeast from growing.
The oily part is a blend of C12-15 fatty alcohols but fatty alcohols in this size range can support only a little Malassezia growth (mostly for one species of Malassezia as well).
In the ingredient, those alcohols stay locked inside the molecule. The yeast can only reach them by snipping the benzoate bond, and that type of bond is harder for it to cut than a normal fatty bond.
So not much gets released. And whatever does get snipped comes packaged with benzoic acid, which discourages yeast growth.
Learn more about C12-15 Alkyl BenzoateEthylhexyl Triazone (aka Octyl Triazone) is an oil-soluble organic UVB filter. It has peak absorption around 314 nm, right in the middle of the UVB range.
This ingredient is described as one of the most effective UVB filters available and small concentrations are enough to deliver a high SPF thanks to its strong UV absorbing power.
Formulators love it for its stability; its ability to filter UV stays practically unchanged even under intense radiation and it can also help boost the photostability of less stable filters like avobenzone.
It's also a great pick for water resistant products because it's insoluble in water and has a good affinity for keratin.
Because it's a big, heavy molecule, the European Scientific Committee has found to to have very low dermal penetration and negative results for allergenicity.
In vitro testing also showed a low absorption rate and clean results on irritation.
Typical use levels are 1-5% with 5% being the maximum in the EU, Japan, and other markets that allow it. However, this ingredient is not approved yet in the US or Canada.
Learn more about Ethylhexyl TriazoneGlycerin (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 HyaluronateWater. 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum
