What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Octocrylene 9.4%
UV Absorber
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 1.9%
UV Absorber
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Butyloctyl Salicylate
Skin Conditioning
Diethylhexyl Maleate
EmollientJojoba Esters
Emollient
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
C10-30 Cholesterol/Lanosterol Esters
Emulsifying
Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Polymethacrylate
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Biosaccharide Gum-1
Humectant
Sorbitan Stearate
Emulsifying
Dimethicone
Emollient
Dipalmitoyl Hydroxyproline
Skin Conditioning
PEG-100 Stearate
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
PPG-20 Methyl Glucose Ether
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Malt Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Bis-Ethylhexyl Hydroxydimethoxy Benzylmalonate
Antioxidant
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Cetearyl Methicone
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Elastin
EmollientHamamelis Virginiana Bark/Leaf/Twig Extract
Skin Conditioning
PEG-8
HumectantAlcohol
Antimicrobial
Triethanolamine
BufferingSorbitol
Humectant
Lecithin
Emollient
Collagen Amino Acids
Moisturising
PEG-7m
Emulsion StabilisingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Phospholipids
Skin Conditioning
Silica
Abrasive
Calluna Vulgaris Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycyrrhetinic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Tetrasodium EDTA
Hydrolyzed Rice Protein
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Pvp
Emulsion StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
Emollient
Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Ruscus Aculeatus Root Extract
Astringent
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Methylisothiazolinone
Preservative
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Polyquaternium-24
Ilex Aquifolium Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Oleanolate
Skin ConditioningSodium Ursolate
Skin ConditioningAscorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Euphrasia Officinalis Extract
AntimicrobialEchinacea Angustifolia Extract
MoisturisingRetinyl Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Diazolidinyl Urea
Preservative
Imidazolidinyl Urea
Preservative
CI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantPalmitoyl Hexapeptide-12
Skin Conditioning
Methylparaben
Preservative
CI 14700
Cosmetic ColorantOctocrylene 9.4%, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 1.9%, Water, Glycerin, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Diethylhexyl Maleate, Jojoba Esters, Cyclopentasiloxane, C10-30 Cholesterol/Lanosterol Esters, Phenyl Trimethicone, Stearic Acid, Stearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Polymethacrylate, Propylene Glycol, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Sorbitan Stearate, Dimethicone, Dipalmitoyl Hydroxyproline, PEG-100 Stearate, Polysorbate 60, PPG-20 Methyl Glucose Ether, Hydrolyzed Malt Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Caprylyl Glycol, Bis-Ethylhexyl Hydroxydimethoxy Benzylmalonate, Bisabolol, Cetearyl Methicone, Hydrolyzed Elastin, Hamamelis Virginiana Bark/Leaf/Twig Extract, PEG-8, Alcohol, Triethanolamine, Sorbitol, Lecithin, Collagen Amino Acids, PEG-7m, Carbomer, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Phospholipids, Silica, Calluna Vulgaris Flower Extract, Glycyrrhetinic Acid, Butylene Glycol, Tetrasodium EDTA, Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Disodium EDTA, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Pvp, Phenoxyethanol, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract, Ruscus Aculeatus Root Extract, Chlorphenesin, Methylisothiazolinone, Hyaluronic Acid, Polyquaternium-24, Ilex Aquifolium Leaf Extract, Sodium Oleanolate, Sodium Ursolate, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Euphrasia Officinalis Extract, Echinacea Angustifolia Extract, Retinyl Palmitate, Diazolidinyl Urea, Imidazolidinyl Urea, CI 19140, Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12, Methylparaben, CI 14700
Water
Skin ConditioningDecyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Phytelephas Aequatorialis Seed Powder
Methyl Gluceth-20
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate
Cleansing1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Lactose
HumectantMannitol
Humectant
Cellulose
Absorbent
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Retinyl Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Triethyl Citrate
Masking
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantAcrylates/Ammonium Methacrylate Copolymer
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Microcrystalline Cellulose
AbsorbentHydroxypropyl Methylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAminomethyl Propanol
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Parfum
Masking
Talc
Abrasive
Iron Oxides
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Decyl Glucoside, Phytelephas Aequatorialis Seed Powder, Methyl Gluceth-20, Glycerin, Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Lactose, Mannitol, Cellulose, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Retinyl Palmitate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Triethyl Citrate, Mica, Acrylates/Ammonium Methacrylate Copolymer, Hydroxyacetophenone, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Xanthan Gum, Aminomethyl Propanol, Disodium EDTA, Parfum, Talc, Iron Oxides, CI 77891
Alternatives
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 PalmitateDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAGlycerin (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 GlycerinRetinyl palmitate is a form of retinoid. Retinoids are the superstar class of anti-aging ingredients that include tretinoin and retinol.
This particular ingredient has had a bumpy year with its rise and fall in popularity.
First, Retinyl palmitate is created from palmitic acid and retinol. It is a retinol ester and considered one of the weaker forms of retinoid.
This is because all retinoids have to be converted to Tretinoin, AKA retinoic acid. Retinyl Palmitate is pretty far down the line and has to go through multiple conversions before its effects are seen.
Due to this long and ineffective conversion line, the benefits of Retinyl Palmitate are debated.
Studies show Retinyl Palmitate to help:
Dermatologists say this ingredient is ineffective because it isn't used in high enough concentrations in cosmetics.
This ingredient used to be found in sunscreens to boost the efficacy of sunscreen filters.
The downfall of Retinyl Palmitate was due to released reports about the ingredient being correlated to sun damage and skin tumors.
While there is a study showing this ingredient to cause DNA damage when exposed to UV-A, there is no concrete proof of it being linked to skin cancer. It is safe to use when used correctly.
All retinoids increase your skin's sensitivity to the sun in the first few months of usage. Be especially careful with reapplying sunscreen when using any form of retinoid.
Currently, this ingredient is still allowed in cosmetics all over the world. In Canada, cosmetics must have a warning label stating the product to contain Retinyl Palmitate
Fun fact: This ingredient is often added to low-fat milk to increase the levels of Vitamin A.
Learn more about Retinyl PalmitateTocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateWater. 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
