What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningIsododecane
EmollientDiethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV Filter
Ethylhexyl Triazone
UV Absorber
Arachidyl Alcohol
Emollient
Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate
EmollientDiisopropyl Sebacate
EmollientTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Nylon-12
Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Diisopropyl Adipate
EmollientC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialPEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Silybum Marianum Extract
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Arachidyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingAcacia Senegal Gum
MaskingAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Water, Isododecane, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Arachidyl Alcohol, Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Diisopropyl Sebacate, Titanium Dioxide, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Nylon-12, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Butylene Glycol, Diisopropyl Adipate, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, PEG-100 Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Behenyl Alcohol, Silybum Marianum Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Arachidyl Glucoside, Xanthan Gum, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Acacia Senegal Gum, Allantoin, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Water
Skin ConditioningZinc Oxide 17%
Cosmetic Colorant
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialButyloctyl Salicylate
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Methicone
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Copernicia Cerifera Wax
Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Capsicum Annuum Fruit Extract
Antimicrobial
Polyhydroxystearic Acid
Emulsifying
Dimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer
Stearalkonium Hectorite
Gel FormingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Buddleja Davidii Callus Extract
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Propylene Carbonate
SolventIsostearic Acid
Cleansing
Oryza Sativa Bran Wax
Skin Conditioning
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Disodium EDTA
Citric Acid
Buffering
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantSodium Benzoate
Masking
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Salicylate
Preservative
Water, Zinc Oxide 17%, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Caprylyl Methicone, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Niacinamide, Copernicia Cerifera Wax, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Capsicum Annuum Fruit Extract, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Dimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer, Stearalkonium Hectorite, Tocopherol, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium PCA, Buddleja Davidii Callus Extract, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Propylene Carbonate, Isostearic Acid, Oryza Sativa Bran Wax, Bisabolol, Disodium EDTA, Citric Acid, Dipropylene Glycol, Sodium Benzoate, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Salicylate
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
C12-15 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 BenzoatePhenoxyethanol 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.
Tocopheryl 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 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
