What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate 7%
UV Absorber
Water
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Isotridecyl Isononanoate
EmollientPEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingDimethicone/Polyglycerin-3 Crosspolymer
Cleansing
Sodium Chloride
MaskingPEG-10 Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Methylparaben
Preservative
Disodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingChlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Disodium EDTA
EDTA
Acrylates Copolymer
Propylparaben
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Aluminum Hydroxide
EmollientButylparaben
Masking
PEG-9
HumectantEthylparaben
Preservative
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantAlpha-Isomethyl Ionone
Perfuming
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Iron Oxides
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate 7%, Water, Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Isotridecyl Isononanoate, PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Dimethicone/Polyglycerin-3 Crosspolymer, Sodium Chloride, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben, Disodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Chlorphenesin, Disodium EDTA, EDTA, Acrylates Copolymer, Propylparaben, Parfum, Tocopherol, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Aluminum Hydroxide, Butylparaben, PEG-9, Ethylparaben, Dipropylene Glycol, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Titanium Dioxide, Iron Oxides
Water
Skin ConditioningIsododecane
EmollientC13-15 Alkane
SolventPolyglyceryl-4 Diisostearate/Polyhydroxystearate/Sebacate
Emulsifying
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialZinc Stearate
Cosmetic ColorantPropanediol
Solvent
Magnesium Sulfate
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Ethylene Brassylate
Masking1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Silica
Abrasive
Lecithin
Emollient
Propylene Carbonate
SolventStearic Acid
Cleansing
Sodium Chloride
MaskingAscorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate
Absorbent
Citric Acid
Buffering
CI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Isododecane, C13-15 Alkane, Polyglyceryl-4 Diisostearate/Polyhydroxystearate/Sebacate, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Zinc Stearate, Propanediol, Magnesium Sulfate, Pentylene Glycol, Tocopherol, Ethylene Brassylate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Silica, Lecithin, Propylene Carbonate, Stearic Acid, Sodium Chloride, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Citric Acid, CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499, CI 77891
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ascorbyl Palmitate is a fat-soluble form of vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid) made by combining it with palmitic acid.
It is able to blend easily into creams and oil-based formulas because it dissolves in oils rather than water.
As you may know, regular vitamin C is notorious for breaking down when exposed to sunlight and air. Ascorbyl Palmitate is more stable and degrades at a slower rate.
Research on whether it converts efficiently into active vitamin C once it's applied on your skin is still limited.
Some in-vitro studies suggest it may support collagen production, but it is not considered one of the stronger vitamin C derivatives, like:
Due to the palmitic acid base, this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe. Comedogenic studies have also shown this ingredient to have a rating of 2.
It's also worth keeping in mind that comedogenic and irritancy ratings are tested on individual ingredients, not finished formulas. The final product's formulation, concentration, and other ingredients all play a role in how something actually behaves on your skin.
Learn more about Ascorbyl PalmitateDisteardimonium Hectorite comes from the clay mineral named hectorite. It is used to add thickness to a product.
It can also help stabilize a product by helping to disperse other ingredients.
Hectorite is a rare, white clay mineral.
Learn more about Disteardimonium HectoriteChances are, you eat sodium chloride every day. Sodium Chloride is also known as table salt. This ingredient has many purposes in skincare: thickener, emulsifier, and exfoliator.
You'll most likely find this ingredient in cleansers where it is used to create a gel-like texture. As an emulsifier, it also prevents ingredients from separating.
You might see people debate whether Sodium Chloride is comedogenic, but there actually haven't been any comedogenic tests done on it. Either way, the overall formulation of a product matters a lot more than any single ingredient.
You might see this ingredient used in scrubs as a primary exfoliating ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium ChlorideTocopherol 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
