What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningZinc Oxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Isododecane
EmollientNeopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate
EmollientButylene Glycol
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Dioctyldodeceth-5 Lauroyl Glutamate
EmollientAlumina
Abrasive
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Steareth-21
CleansingSteareth-2
EmulsifyingPEG-100 Stearate
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Methylpropanediol
SolventSimethicone
Emollient
Methyl Gluceth-20
Humectant
Triethanolamine
BufferingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingAscorbyl Tetraisopalmitate
Antioxidant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Saxifraga Sarmentosa Extract
Skin ConditioningWater, Zinc Oxide, Titanium Dioxide, Isododecane, Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate, Butylene Glycol, Propanediol, Dioctyldodeceth-5 Lauroyl Glutamate, Alumina, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Glyceryl Stearate, Steareth-21, Steareth-2, PEG-100 Stearate, Phenoxyethanol, Methylpropanediol, Simethicone, Methyl Gluceth-20, Triethanolamine, Carbomer, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Hyaluronate, Saxifraga Sarmentosa Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningDibutyl Adipate
EmollientOctocrylene
UV Absorber
Homosalate
Skin Conditioning
Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol
UV Filter
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Butyloctyl Salicylate
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexyl Salicylate
UV Absorber
Isohexadecane
EmollientDimethicone
Emollient
Silica
Abrasive
Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexyl Triazone
UV Absorber
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
PEG-100 Stearate
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientBehenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Cera Alba
Emollient
Acrylates Copolymer
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Glycerin
Humectant
Dimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Melanin
Skin ProtectingDisodium EDTA
Hexacarboxymethyl Dipeptide-12
Humectant
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantSodium Citrate
BufferingPolysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Asiaticoside
Antioxidant
Madecassic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Asiatic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Cholesterol
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Dibutyl Adipate, Octocrylene, Homosalate, Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Isohexadecane, Dimethicone, Silica, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Propylene Glycol, Decyl Glucoside, PEG-100 Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Sodium Polyacrylate, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Behenyl Alcohol, Butylene Glycol, Cera Alba, Acrylates Copolymer, Titanium Dioxide, Glycerin, Dimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Xanthan Gum, Pentylene Glycol, Melanin, Disodium EDTA, Hexacarboxymethyl Dipeptide-12, Dipropylene Glycol, Sodium Citrate, Polysorbate 80, Asiaticoside, Madecassic Acid, Asiatic Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Cholesterol, Tocopherol, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin, Ethylhexylglycerin
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 GlycolGlyceryl Stearate is made by reacting glycerin with stearic acid (typically sourced from plant oils like palm or coconut). It's an emulsifier, emollient, and mild occlusive.
Emulsifiers help ingredients like oil and water stay mixed so your formula stays nicely blended and uniform in texture.
This ingredient is typically used in concentrations between 1-10%. Studies have found it to be non-sensitizing, non-phototoxic, and non-photoallergenic.
A close cousin of this ingredient is Glyceryl Stearate SE ("self-emulsifying"). This just has a small amount of sodium or potassium stearate added so it can emulsify without a co-emulsifier.
Since this ingredient is an ester of a C18 fatty acid, it may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast can potentially metabolize within the C11-C24 range.
Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.
Learn more about Glyceryl StearatePeg-100 Stearate is an emollient and emulsifier. As an emollient, it helps keep skin soft by trapping moisture in. On the other hand, emulsifiers help prevent oil and water from separating in a product.
PEGS are a hydrophilic polyether compound . There are 100 ethylene oxide monomers in Peg-100 Stearate. Peg-100 Stearate is polyethylene glycol ester of stearic acid.
Phenoxyethanol 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.
Titanium dioxide is a mineral UV filter widely used in sunscreens and cosmetics.
It is one of only two UV filters officially classified as “mineral” by regulatory agencies, the other being zinc oxide.
Titanium dioxide provides broad-spectrum protection mostly in the UVB and UVAII range, with some protection in the UVAI range.
While its UVA protection isn’t as strong as zinc oxide’s, the difference is minor.
A common myth is that mineral UV filters reflect UV light. However, modern research shows titanium dioxide absorbs UV radiation like chemical filters (~95% absorption & 5% reflection).
Thanks to its non-irritating nature, titanium dioxide is suitable for sensitive, acne-prone, or redness-prone skin. It is unlikely to cause "eye sting" like other sunscreen ingredients.
A major drawback of this ingredient is its white cast and thick texture. This is why mineral sunscreens often leave a white cast and are less cosmetically elegant than chemical/hybrid sunscreens.
To improve white cast and spreadability, micronized or nano-sized titanium dioxide is often used.
There are ongoing concerns surrounding nano-titanium oxide's impact on marine ecosystems.
There is no conclusive evidence that any form of titanium oxide (or any other sunscreen ingredients) will cause harm to marine ecosystems or coral reefs. The science is still developing but many consumers are keeping a close eye on this issue.
Please note, many destinations have reef-safety sunscreen rules. For instance, the U.S. Virgin Islands advises all visitors to use non-nano mineral sunscreens.
Nano mineral sunscreens once raised safety concerns about absorption into skin.
Extensive research has shown that they do not penetrate healthy or damaged skin; they remain safely on the surface and the top layer of dead skin (stratum corneum).
You'll likely find titanium dioxide bundled with alumina, silica, or dimethicone. These ingredients help make titanium dioxide highly photostable; this prevents it from interacting with other formula components under UV light.
Learn more about Titanium DioxideWater. 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
