What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Homosalate
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Salicylate
UV AbsorberOctocrylene
UV AbsorberWater
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantCaprylyl Methicone
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientButyloctyl Salicylate
Skin ConditioningCetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone
EmulsifyingNiacinamide
SmoothingPropanediol
SolventDimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer
Synthetic Fluorphlogopite
Phenoxyethanol
PreservativeSodium Chloride
MaskingTrimethylsiloxysilicate
EmollientDisteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingDisodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientSilica Silylate
EmollientTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Simethicone
EmollientMaltodextrin
AbsorbentAluminum Hydroxide
EmollientAdenosine
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Citrate
BufferingCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialTocopherol
AntioxidantPentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
AntioxidantTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic ColorantIron Oxides
Homosalate, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Octocrylene, Water, Glycerin, Caprylyl Methicone, Dimethicone, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Niacinamide, Propanediol, Dimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Chloride, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Disodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Chlorphenesin, Caprylyl Glycol, Silica Silylate, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Simethicone, Maltodextrin, Aluminum Hydroxide, Adenosine, Dipropylene Glycol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Tocopherol, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Titanium Dioxide, Iron Oxides
Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Dimethicone
EmollientTriethylhexanoin
MaskingMica
Cosmetic ColorantLauroyl Lysine
Skin ConditioningDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningAluminum Hydroxide
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningSilica
AbrasiveNiacinamide
SmoothingButylene Glycol
HumectantPropanediol
SolventHyaluronic Acid
HumectantHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic ColorantCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantCI 15850
Cosmetic ColorantMethyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Dimethicone, Triethylhexanoin, Mica, Lauroyl Lysine, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Aluminum Hydroxide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Silica, Niacinamide, Butylene Glycol, Propanediol, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Titanium Dioxide, CI 19140, CI 15850
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Aluminum Hydroxide is a form of aluminum. It can be naturally found in nature as the mineral gibbsite. In cosmetics, Aluminum Hydroxide is used as a colorant, pH adjuster, and absorbent.
As a colorant, Aluminum Hydroxide may add opacity, or reduce the transparency. Aluminum hydroxide is contains both basic and acidic properties.
According to manufacturers, this ingredient is an emollient and humectant. This means it helps hydrate the skin.
In medicine, this ingredient is used to help relieve heartburn and help heal ulcers.
There is currently no credible scientific evidence linking aluminum hydroxide in cosmetics to increased cancer risk.
Major health organizations allow the use of aluminum hydroxide in personal care products and have not flagged it as a carcinogenic risk at typical usage levels.
Learn more about Aluminum HydroxideDimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeNiacinamide is a multitasking form of vitamin B3 that strengthens the skin barrier, reduces pores and dark spots, regulates oil, and improves signs of aging.
And the best part? It's gentle and well-tolerated by most skin types, including sensitive and reactive skin.
You might have heard of "niacin flush", or the reddening of skin that causes itchiness. Niacinamide has not been found to cause this.
In very rare cases, some individuals may not be able to tolerate niacinamide at all or experience an allergic reaction to it.
If you are experiencing flaking, irritation, and dryness with this ingredient, be sure to double check all your products as this ingredient can be found in all categories of skincare.
When incorporating niacinamide into your routine, look out for concentration amounts. Typically, 5% niacinamide provides benefits such as fading dark spots. However, if you have sensitive skin, it is better to begin with a smaller concentration.
When you apply niacinamide to your skin, your body converts it into nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD). NAD is an essential coenzyme that is already found in your cells as "fuel" and powers countless biological processes.
In your skin, NAD helps repair cell damage, produce new healthy cells, support collagen production, strengthen the skin barrier, and fight environmental stressors (like UV and pollution).
Our natural NAD levels start to decline with age, leading to slower skin repair, visible aging, and a weaker skin barrier. By providing your skin niacinamide, you're recharging your skin's NAD levels. This leads to stronger, healthier, and younger looking skin.
Another name for vitamin B3 is nicotinamide. This vitamin is water-soluble and our bodies don't store it. We obtain Vitamin B3 from either food or skincare. Meat, fish, wheat, yeast, and leafy greens contain vitamin B3.
The type of niacinamide used in skincare is synthetically created.
Learn more about NiacinamidePropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
Itâs often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolSodium 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 HyaluronateTitanium dioxide is a mineral UV filter widely used in sunscreens and cosmetics.
It is one of only two UV filters officially classified as âmineralâ by regulatory agencies, the other being zinc oxide.
Titanium dioxide provides broad-spectrum protection mostly in the UVB and UVAII range, with some protection in the UVAI range.
While its UVA protection isnât as strong as zinc oxideâs, the difference is minor.
A common myth is that mineral UV filters reflect UV light. However, modern research shows titanium dioxide absorbs UV radiation like chemical filters (~95% absorption & 5% reflection).
Thanks to its non-irritating nature, titanium dioxide is suitable for sensitive, acne-prone, or redness-prone skin. It is unlikely to cause "eye sting" like other sunscreen ingredients.
A major drawback of this ingredient is its white cast and thick texture. This is why mineral sunscreens often leave a white cast and are less cosmetically elegant than chemical/hybrid sunscreens.
To improve white cast and spreadability, micronized or nano-sized titanium dioxide is often used.
There are ongoing concerns surrounding nano-titanium oxide's impact on marine ecosystems.
There is no conclusive evidence that any form of titanium oxide (or any other sunscreen ingredients) will cause harm to marine ecosystems or coral reefs. The science is still developing but many consumers are keeping a close eye on this issue.
Please note, many destinations have reef-safety sunscreen rules. For instance, the U.S. Virgin Islands advises all visitors to use non-nano mineral sunscreens.
Nano mineral sunscreens once raised safety concerns about absorption into skin.
Extensive research has shown that they do not penetrate healthy or damaged skin; they remain safely on the surface and the top layer of dead skin (stratum corneum).
You'll likely find titanium dioxide bundled with alumina, silica, or dimethicone. These ingredients help make titanium dioxide highly photostable; this prevents it from interacting with other formula components under UV light.
Learn more about Titanium Dioxide