What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialEthylhexyl Triazone
UV Absorber
Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV Filter
Caprylyl Methicone
Skin Conditioning
Diisopropyl Adipate
EmollientAluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate
Absorbent
Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol
UV Filter
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Dimethicone
Emollient
Diisopropyl Sebacate
EmollientGlycerin
Humectant
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin Conditioning
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingTriacontanyl Pvp
HumectantDecyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion Stabilising
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingHydrolyzed Jojoba Esters
Skin Conditioning
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Disodium EDTA
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Silica
Abrasive
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Jojoba Esters
Emollient
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingWater, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Caprylyl Methicone, Diisopropyl Adipate, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol, Niacinamide, Dimethicone, Diisopropyl Sebacate, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Triacontanyl Pvp, Decyl Glucoside, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Hydrolyzed Jojoba Esters, Titanium Dioxide, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Disodium EDTA, Tocopheryl Acetate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Pentylene Glycol, Panthenol, Silica, Sodium Hyaluronate, Jojoba Esters, Sodium Hydroxide, Propylene Glycol, Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan Isostearate, Xanthan Gum
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV Absorber
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Zinc Oxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Ethylhexyl Salicylate
UV Absorber
Benzophenone-9
UV AbsorberTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Triethanolamine
BufferingGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Petrolatum
Emollient
Octocrylene
UV Absorber
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Hydrolyzed Collagen
Emollient
Aloe Barbadensis Extract
Skin Conditioning
Paraffinum Liquidum
Emollient
Polysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Rosa Damascena Flower Oil
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Titanium Dioxide, Zinc Oxide, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Benzophenone-9, Tocopheryl Acetate, Allantoin, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Panthenol, Glycerin, Stearic Acid, Triethanolamine, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Petrolatum, Octocrylene, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Aloe Barbadensis Extract, Paraffinum Liquidum, Polysorbate 80, Rosa Damascena Flower Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Water
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Glycerin (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 GlycerinGlyceryl 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 StearatePanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolTitanium 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 DioxideTocopheryl 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
