What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningZinc Oxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Isononyl Isononanoate
EmollientCaprylyl Methicone
Skin Conditioning
Propylheptyl Caprylate
EmollientButylene Glycol
Humectant
Isododecane
EmollientButyloctyl Salicylate
Skin Conditioning
Disiloxane
Skin Conditioning
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantAcrylates Copolymer
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialPolyglyceryl-4 Diisostearate/Polyhydroxystearate/Sebacate
Emulsifying
Madecassic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Asiatic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Asiaticoside
Antioxidant
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Ectoin
Skin Conditioning
Persea Gratissima Fruit Extract
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans
HumectantPolyglyceryl-6 Polyhydroxystearate
Emulsifying
Polymethyl Methacrylate
Polyhydroxystearic Acid
Emulsifying
Acrylates/Polytrimethylsiloxymethacrylate Copolymer
Skin ConditioningDisteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingMagnesium Sulfate
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Poly C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate
Emulsion StabilisingPolyglyceryl-3 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Triethoxycaprylylsilane
Aluminum Hydroxide
EmollientStearic Acid
Cleansing
Polyglyceryl-6 Polyricinoleate
Emulsifying
Polyglyceryl-2 Dipolyhydroxystearate
Skin Conditioning
Ceresin
Emulsion StabilisingHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Polyglycerin-6
HumectantTocopherol
Antioxidant
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Propanediol
Solvent
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
Humectant
Benzyl Glycol
SolventEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Zinc Oxide, Isononyl Isononanoate, Caprylyl Methicone, Propylheptyl Caprylate, Butylene Glycol, Isododecane, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Disiloxane, CI 77891, Acrylates Copolymer, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Polyglyceryl-4 Diisostearate/Polyhydroxystearate/Sebacate, Madecassic Acid, Asiatic Acid, Asiaticoside, Ceramide NP, Panthenol, Ectoin, Persea Gratissima Fruit Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans, Polyglyceryl-6 Polyhydroxystearate, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Acrylates/Polytrimethylsiloxymethacrylate Copolymer, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Magnesium Sulfate, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, 1,2-Hexanediol, Poly C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate, Polyglyceryl-3 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Aluminum Hydroxide, Stearic Acid, Polyglyceryl-6 Polyricinoleate, Polyglyceryl-2 Dipolyhydroxystearate, Ceresin, Hydroxyacetophenone, Polyglycerin-6, Tocopherol, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Maltodextrin, Propanediol, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycerin, Benzyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientCyclohexasiloxane
Emollient
Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV Filter
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Ethylhexyl Triazone
UV Absorber
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Ethylhexyl Salicylate
UV Absorber
Diethylhexyl Butamido Triazone
UV Absorber
Glycerin
Humectant
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Jojoba Esters
Emollient
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Polyacrylate-13
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
Alumina
Abrasive
Aluminum Stearate
Cosmetic ColorantPolyhydroxystearic Acid
Emulsifying
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingHelianthus Annuus Seed Wax
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientSchizophyllum Commune/Asparagus Cochinchinensis Root/Soybean Germ Ferment Filtrate Extract
Skin ConditioningSorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Polyglycerin-3
Humectant
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Xylitylglucoside
Humectant
Anhydroxylitol
Humectant
Xylitol
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
Astringent
Bifida Ferment Extract
Humectant
Streptococcus Thermophilus Ferment
Humectant
Lactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
Parfum
Masking
Water, Butylene Glycol, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Cyclohexasiloxane, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Titanium Dioxide, Ethylhexyl Triazone, 1,2-Hexanediol, Phenyl Trimethicone, Niacinamide, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Diethylhexyl Butamido Triazone, Glycerin, Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Jojoba Esters, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Cetyl Alcohol, Stearyl Alcohol, Polyacrylate-13, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Alumina, Aluminum Stearate, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Schizophyllum Commune/Asparagus Cochinchinensis Root/Soybean Germ Ferment Filtrate Extract, Sorbitan Isostearate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Allantoin, Polyglycerin-3, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Xylitylglucoside, Anhydroxylitol, Xylitol, Tocopherol, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Bifida Ferment Extract, Streptococcus Thermophilus Ferment, Lactobacillus Ferment, Disodium EDTA, Parfum
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives
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 GlycolC12-15 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 BenzoateEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinPolyhydroxystearic Acid is a vegetable-derived soft wax made from castor oil. It's an emulsion stabilizer, thickener, and film former.
You'll likely see it in sunscreens because it helps disperse pigments and UV-reflecting minerals like titanium dioxide and zinc oxide evenly.
Depending on the concentration, it can drastically change the texture of a product from pasty solid (like lipstick) to sprayable liquid.
The CIR Expert Panel for Cosmetic Ingredient Safety has concluded this ingredient to be safe in cosmetics. The highest reported use concentration is 14.2% in lipsticks.
Learn more about Polyhydroxystearic AcidTocopherol 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
