What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningHomosalate
Skin Conditioning
Dicaprylyl Ether
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Silica
Abrasive
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Ethylhexyl Salicylate
UV Absorber
Octocrylene
UV Absorber
Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate
Emulsifying
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingTribehenin
Emollient
PEG-30 Dipolyhydroxystearate
Emulsifying
Synthetic Fluorphlogopite
Sodium Chloride
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Silica Silylate
Emollient
Ascorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Disodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Aluminum Hydroxide
EmollientTocopherol
Antioxidant
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Homosalate, Dicaprylyl Ether, Glycerin, Silica, Alcohol Denat., Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Octocrylene, Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Tribehenin, PEG-30 Dipolyhydroxystearate, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Sodium Chloride, Phenoxyethanol, Silica Silylate, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Disodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adenosine, Aluminum Hydroxide, Tocopherol, CI 77891, CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499
Homosalate 5%
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexyl Salicylate 4.5%
UV Absorber
Octocrylene 5%
UV Absorber
Titanium Dioxide 2.9%
Cosmetic Colorant
Zinc Oxide 5.1%
Cosmetic Colorant
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Crambe Abyssinica Seed Oil Phytosterol Esters
Emulsifying
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Squalane
Emollient
Glyceryl Oleate
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate
Emulsifying
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Silica
Abrasive
Diisostearyl Malate
EmollientSodium Chloride
MaskingStearalkonium Hectorite
Gel FormingSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Citrus Nobilis Peel Oil
Masking
Tremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract
Antioxidant
Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Tribehenin
Emollient
Magnesium Aluminum Silicate
Absorbent
Isostearic Acid
Cleansing
Lecithin
Emollient
Polyhydroxystearic Acid
Emulsifying
Hydrogenated Olive Oil Unsaponifiables
Emollient
Alumina
Abrasive
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Jojoba Esters
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Olea Europaea Oil Unsaponifiables
Skin Conditioning
Acacia Senegal Gum
MaskingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingBetaine
Humectant
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
Iron Oxides
Homosalate 5%, Ethylhexyl Salicylate 4.5%, Octocrylene 5%, Titanium Dioxide 2.9%, Zinc Oxide 5.1%, Water, Butylene Glycol, Crambe Abyssinica Seed Oil Phytosterol Esters, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Squalane, Glyceryl Oleate, Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate, Pentylene Glycol, Silica, Diisostearyl Malate, Sodium Chloride, Stearalkonium Hectorite, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Persea Gratissima Oil, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Citrus Nobilis Peel Oil, Tremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract, Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Tribehenin, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Isostearic Acid, Lecithin, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Hydrogenated Olive Oil Unsaponifiables, Alumina, Stearic Acid, Jojoba Esters, Glycerin, Olea Europaea Oil Unsaponifiables, Acacia Senegal Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Xanthan Gum, Betaine, Potassium Sorbate, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum, Iron Oxides
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ethylhexyl Salicylate is an organic compound used to block UV rays. It primarily absorbs UVB rays but offers a small amount of UVA protection as well.
Commonly found in sunscreens, Ethylhexyl Salicylate is created from salicylic acid and 2-ethylhexanol. You might know salicylic acid as the effective acne fighter ingredient and BHA.
The ethylhexanol in this ingredient is a fatty alcohol and helps hydrate your skin, similar to oils. It is an emollient, which means it traps moisture into the skin.
According to manufacturers, Ethylhexyl Salicylate absorbs UV wavelength of 295-315 nm, with a peak absorption at 307-310 nm. UVA rays are linked to long term skin damage, such as hyperpigmentation. UVB rays emit more energy and are capable of damaging our DNA. UVB rays cause sunburn.
Learn more about Ethylhexyl SalicylateEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinHomosalate is a chemical sunscreen filter that provides protection in the UV-B range (280nm - 320 nm), with a peak protection at 306 nm. It is internationally approved for use in sunscreens.
Homosalate is not photo-stable, meaning it's strength as a UV filter degrades over time with exposure to the sun. Because of this, it's often used in combination with other chemical sunscreen filters as avobenzone (which protects from the UV-A range). Homosalate also helps act as a solvent for harder-to-dissolve UV filters.
(Part of the reason that sunscreens need to be frequently re-applied is due to the photo instability of many chemical sunscreen filters)
Currently, homosalate is approved in concentrations up to 10% in the EU and 15% in the US. The FDA is currently doing further research on the effects of homosalate, and it is possible that these approved concentrations will change in the future.
Learn more about HomosalateOctocrylene 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.
Silica, also known as silicon dioxide, is a naturally occurring mineral. It is used as a fine, spherical, and porous powder in cosmetics.
Though it has exfoliant properties, the function of silica varies depending on the product.
The unique structure of silica enhances the spreadability and adds smoothness, making it a great texture enhancer.
It is also used as an active carrier, emulsifier, and mattifier due to its ability to absorb excess oil.
In some products, tiny microneedles called spicules are made from silica or hydrolyzed sponge. When you rub them in, they lightly polish away dead skin layers and enhance the penetration of active ingredients.
Learn more about SilicaChances 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 ChlorideTribehenin comes from glycerin and behenic acid.
It is used as an emollient, or moisturizer. Emollients form a thin barrier on skin to prevent moisture from escaping.
This ingredient may not be Malassezia folliculitis, or fungal-acne safe.
Learn more about TribeheninWater. 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
