What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%
UV Absorber
Homosalate 10%
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%
UV Absorber
Water
Skin ConditioningButyloctyl Salicylate
Skin Conditioning
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Acrylates Copolymer
Euphorbia Cerifera Wax
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingGlycerin
Humectant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingTerminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Disodium EDTA
Citric Acid
Buffering
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%, Homosalate 10%, Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%, Water, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Propylene Glycol, Acrylates Copolymer, Euphorbia Cerifera Wax, Phenoxyethanol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Glycerin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hydroxide, Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract, Disodium EDTA, Citric Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV Absorber
Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV Filter
Ethylhexyl Triazone
UV Absorber
Dibutyl Adipate
EmollientGlycerin
Humectant
Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid
UV Absorber
Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin Conditioning
Arginine
Masking
Undecane
EmollientLauryl Glucoside
CleansingPolyglyceryl-2 Dipolyhydroxystearate
Skin Conditioning
Tridecane
Perfuming
Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate
Absorbent
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Methylparaben
Preservative
Ethylparaben
Preservative
Disodium EDTA
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Cassia Alata Leaf Extract
AstringentCitric Acid
Buffering
Caesalpinia Spinosa Fruit Extract
Skin ProtectingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Sodium Carboxymethyl Beta-Glucan
CleansingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate
Antioxidant
Biosaccharide Gum-4
Skin Conditioning
Helianthus Annuus Sprout Extract
Skin ConditioningPantolactone
Humectant
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Dna
Skin ConditioningWater, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Dibutyl Adipate, Glycerin, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Arginine, Undecane, Lauryl Glucoside, Polyglyceryl-2 Dipolyhydroxystearate, Tridecane, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Dimethicone, Panthenol, Phenoxyethanol, Maltodextrin, Xanthan Gum, Butylene Glycol, Methylparaben, Ethylparaben, Disodium EDTA, Propylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Cassia Alata Leaf Extract, Citric Acid, Caesalpinia Spinosa Fruit Extract, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Sodium Carboxymethyl Beta-Glucan, Tocopherol, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, Biosaccharide Gum-4, Helianthus Annuus Sprout Extract, Pantolactone, Carbomer, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Dna
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Citric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidDisodium 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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol 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.
Propylene Glycol is a synthetic, colorless, odorless liquid that has been a staple in cosmetics for decades. It is a skin conditioning agent, humectant, and solvent.
As a humectant, it draw water to the skin to reduce flaking and restore suppleness. It's also a solvent that helps dissolve other actives and keeps formulas stable across temperature changes.
The CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be nontoxic and clinical studies show no sensitization at cosmetic use concentrations.
True allergic reactions are quite rare: a 15-year retrospective study of 6,751 patients found only 0.31% had a positive reaction (and less than half were considered clinically relevant).
It seemed that when sensitization does occur, it's most commonly linked to topical medication (like corticosteroids) and not cosmetics. Allergic contact dermatitis also appears largely limited to individuals with underlying skin conditions.
Overall, propylene glycol is a well-studied ingredient that most people can tolerate without issue.
Learn more about Propylene GlycolTocopheryl 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
