What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningHomosalate
Skin Conditioning
Silica
Abrasive
Propanediol
Solvent
Ethylhexyl Salicylate
UV Absorber
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantDipropylene Glycol
HumectantC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialDiethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV Filter
Dimethicone
Emollient
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCetearyl Olivate
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Aluminum Hydroxide
EmollientIsohexadecane
EmollientSorbitan Stearate
Emulsifying
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Parfum
Masking
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPolysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Tromethamine
BufferingTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Xanthan Gum
Emulsifying1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Sorbitan Oleate
Emulsifying
Disodium EDTA
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingLeontopodium Alpinum Flower/Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMyristic Acid
Cleansing
Vp/Hexadecene Copolymer
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract
Masking
Helianthus Annuus Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Acrylates/Dimethicone Copolymer
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract
Masking
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Morus Alba Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Pueraria Lobata Root Extract
HumectantCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Chrysanthemum Indicum Flower Extract
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Artemisia Princeps Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCinnamomum Cassia Bark Extract
Masking
Diospyros Kaki Leaf Extract
Skin Protecting
Citric Acid
Buffering
Centaurea Cyanus Flower Water
Skin Conditioning
Helichrysum Italicum Flower Water
Skin ConditioningThymus Vulgaris Leaf Water
Skin ConditioningWater, Homosalate, Silica, Propanediol, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, CI 77891, Dipropylene Glycol, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Dimethicone, Alcohol Denat., Polysorbate 60, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Butylene Glycol, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Glyceryl Stearate, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Cetearyl Olivate, Stearic Acid, Sorbitan Olivate, Aluminum Hydroxide, Isohexadecane, Sorbitan Stearate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Caprylyl Glycol, Parfum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Carbomer, Polysorbate 80, Palmitic Acid, Tromethamine, Tocopheryl Acetate, Xanthan Gum, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sorbitan Oleate, Disodium EDTA, Potassium Hydroxide, Leontopodium Alpinum Flower/Leaf Extract, Myristic Acid, Vp/Hexadecene Copolymer, Cyclopentasiloxane, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Extract, Acrylates/Dimethicone Copolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Morus Alba Fruit Extract, Pueraria Lobata Root Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Chrysanthemum Indicum Flower Extract, Sodium Benzoate, Artemisia Princeps Leaf Extract, Cinnamomum Cassia Bark Extract, Diospyros Kaki Leaf Extract, Citric Acid, Centaurea Cyanus Flower Water, Helichrysum Italicum Flower Water, Thymus Vulgaris Leaf Water
Water
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV Absorber
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Ethylhexyl Triazone
UV Absorber
Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV Filter
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Lysine Lauroyl Glutamate
CleansingPyrus Cydonia Seed Extract
MaskingGeranium Robertianum Extract
AstringentPhellodendron Amurense Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingBHT
Antioxidant
Methylparaben
Preservative
Water, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Alcohol Denat., Propylene Glycol, Dimethicone, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Butylene Glycol, Lysine Lauroyl Glutamate, Pyrus Cydonia Seed Extract, Geranium Robertianum Extract, Phellodendron Amurense Bark Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Carbomer, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Hydroxide, BHT, Methylparaben
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Alcohol Denat. is an alcohol with a denaturant property. It is created by mixing ethanol with other additives.
The "denat" part just means "denatured"; common denaturants include Denatonium Benzoate, t-butyl alcohol, and Diethyl Phthalate. This step makes the alcohol undrinkable (and lets brand skip taxes related to beverage alcohol).
This ingredient gets a bad rep because it is irritating and drying due to its astringent property. Astringents draw out natural oils in tissue to constrict pores and dry out your skin.
However, alcohol denat. is not all that bad.
Due to its low molecular weight, alcohol denat. tends to evaporate quickly. One study on pig skin found half of applied alcohol evaporated in 10 seconds and less than 3% stayed on skin.
This also helps other ingredients become better absorbed upon application.
Studies are conflicted about whether this ingredient causes skin dehydration. One study from 2005 found adding emollients to propanol-based sanitizer decreased skin dryness and irritation. Another study found irritation only occurs if your skin is already damaged.
Small amounts of alcohol are generally tolerated by oily skin or people who live in humid environments.
The rule of thumb is this ingredient will probably not affect your skin much if it is near the end of an ingredients list.
One thing to note:
People with ALDH2 (aldehyde dehydrogenase 2) deficiency may experience skin irritation from continued alcohol use. About 8% of the world's population have this deficiency.
The Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has determined denatured alcohols to be safe for use in concentrations between 0.05% and 12% (depending on which denaturant is used).
Also...
This ingredient has antimicrobial and solvent properties.
The antimicrobial property helps preserve products and increase their shelf life. As a solvent, it helps dissolve other ingredients.
Look for formulas that contain glycerin, hyaluronic acid, or panthenol if you want to offset any drying effect.
This ingredient will trip away your skin's natural oils/lipids that help it lock in moisture. This can worsen dryness, trigger eczema flare-ups, and aggravate rosacea.
Be sure to patch test any product with this ingredient if you have dry or sensitive skin, eczema, or rosacea.
Learn more about Alcohol Denat.Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolCarbomer is a high-molecular weight polymer of acrylic acid. It is used to form gels and thicken formulas.
Due to its large molecular size, carbomer has minimal skin penetration and is considered an inert ingredient.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Learn more about CarbomerDiethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate (DHHB) is a chemical UV-A absorber. It is formulated for high UVA protection (320-400 nm).
DHHB is well-liked for:
DHHB has been approved by the EU, Japan, Taiwan, and South America for use up to 10%. Unfortunately, it has not been approved for use in the US or Canada due to slow regulatory processes.
This ingredient is soluble in oils, fats, and lipids.
Learn more about Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl BenzoateDimethicone 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 DimethiconeTocopheryl 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
