What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 1.5%
UV Absorber
Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%
UV Absorber
Octocrylene 3%
UV Absorber
Benzophenone-3 4%
UV Absorber
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycolic Acid
Buffering
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialDicaprylyl Maleate
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Parfum
Masking
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingMethylparaben
Preservative
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Propylparaben
Preservative
Tetrasodium EDTA
Ascorbic Acid/Orange/Citrus Limon/Citrus Aurantifolia Polypeptides
Skin Conditioning
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 1.5%, Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%, Octocrylene 3%, Benzophenone-3 4%, Water, Glycolic Acid, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Dicaprylyl Maleate, Cetyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Stearic Acid, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Sodium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol, Sclerotium Gum, Tocopheryl Acetate, Caprylyl Glycol, Parfum, Xanthan Gum, Methylparaben, Panthenol, Bisabolol, Propylparaben, Tetrasodium EDTA, Ascorbic Acid/Orange/Citrus Limon/Citrus Aurantifolia Polypeptides
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientStearic Acid
Cleansing
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Silica
Abrasive
BHT
Antioxidant
Petrolatum
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCholecalciferol
Calcium Chloride
AstringentCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolGlycerin (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 GlycerinParfum is a catch-all term for an ingredient or more that is used to give a scent to products.
Also called "fragrance", this ingredient can be a blend of hundreds of chemicals or plant oils. This means every product with "fragrance" or "parfum" in the ingredients list is a different mixture.
For instance, Habanolide is a proprietary trade name for a specific aroma chemical. When used as a fragrance ingredient in cosmetics, most aroma chemicals fall under the broad labeling category of “FRAGRANCE” or “PARFUM” according to EU and US regulations.
The term 'parfum' or 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term.
For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance by INCI standards.
One example is Calendula flower extract. Calendula is an essential oil that still imparts a scent or 'fragrance'.
Depending on the blend, the ingredients in the mixture can cause allergies and sensitivities on the skin. Some ingredients that are known EU allergens include linalool and citronellol.
Parfum can also be used to mask or cover an unpleasant scent.
The bottom line is: not all fragrances/parfum/ingredients are created equally. If you are worried about fragrances, we recommend taking a closer look at an ingredient. And of course, we always recommend speaking with a professional.
Learn more about ParfumPhenoxyethanol 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.
Stearic Acid is a fatty acid that is already found in your skin. It's one of the free fatty acids that works alongside ceramides and cholesterols to maintain your barrier.
In cosmetics, it is a multitasker:
Safety-wise, the CIR Expert Panel has concluded it to be safe in cosmetics when formulated to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing.
Free stearic acid is a C18 fatty acid that the Malassezia yeast can substrate, so this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Stearic AcidWater. 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
