What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Homosalate 13.5%
Skin Conditioning
Octocrylene 10%
UV Absorber
Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%
UV Absorber
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%
UV Absorber
Acrylates/Dimethicone Copolymer
Skin Conditioning
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate
Absorbent
Butyloctyl Salicylate
Skin Conditioning
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Dimethicone
Emollient
Disodium EDTA
Glycerin
Humectant
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Polyurethane-62
Silica
Abrasive
Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingStyrene/Acrylates Copolymer
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Trideceth-6
EmulsifyingWater
Skin ConditioningHomosalate 13.5%, Octocrylene 10%, Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%, Acrylates/Dimethicone Copolymer, Alcohol Denat., Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Chlorphenesin, Dimethicone, Disodium EDTA, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate, Pentylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Polyurethane-62, Silica, Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Crosspolymer, Sodium Hydroxide, Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer, Tocopheryl Acetate, Trideceth-6, Water
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
Silica
Abrasive
Caprylyl Methicone
Skin Conditioning
Ceteareth-25
CleansingAluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate
Absorbent
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Beeswax
Emulsion Stabilising
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Dimethicone
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Disodium Ethylene Dicocamide PEG-15 Disulfate
Cleansing
Vp/Eicosene Copolymer
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Opuntia Ficus-Indica Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSaccharomyces Cerevisiae Extract
Skin Conditioning
Sucrose Stearate
EmollientAlcohol
Antimicrobial
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantEthyl Macadamiate
Skin Conditioning
Resveratrol
Antioxidant
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Oligopeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Water, Propanediol, Glycerin, Silica, Caprylyl Methicone, Ceteareth-25, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Beeswax, Glyceryl Stearate, Niacinamide, Dimethicone, Phenoxyethanol, Disodium Ethylene Dicocamide PEG-15 Disulfate, Vp/Eicosene Copolymer, Hydroxyacetophenone, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Fruit Extract, Xanthan Gum, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Extract, Sucrose Stearate, Alcohol, Dipropylene Glycol, Ethyl Macadamiate, Resveratrol, Sodium Benzoate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Oligopeptide-1
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate is a synthetic powder used as an absorbent, thickener, and anti-caking agent.
As an absorbent, it is great at mattifying skin by soaking up the oil. This is why you'll find it in a range of products from makeup to moisturizers.
This ingredient is considered a modified starch. Starch can also be found naturally in plants.
One study from 1991 found that 5% of this ingredient enhanced titanium dioxide SPF by as much as 40%. The study found 1% titanium dioxide had a 5.6 SPF and adding 5% of aluminum starch octenylsuccinate boosted it to an SPF of 8.1
Although “aluminum” in an ingredient name can raise red flags for some consumers, the form and usage context matter significantly. For typical topical applications, there is no substantial evidence of health risks - such as cancer, neurotoxicity, or systemic “aluminum overload.”
Learn more about Aluminum Starch OctenylsuccinateDimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeDisodium 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 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 StearatePhenoxyethanol 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.
Silica, also known as silicon dioxide, is a naturally occurring mineral. It is used as a fine, spherical, and porous powder in cosmetics.
Though it has exfoliant properties, the function of silica varies depending on the product.
The unique structure of silica enhances the spreadability and adds smoothness, making it a great texture enhancer.
It is also used as an active carrier, emulsifier, and mattifier due to its ability to absorb excess oil.
In some products, tiny microneedles called spicules are made from silica or hydrolyzed sponge. When you rub them in, they lightly polish away dead skin layers and enhance the penetration of active ingredients.
Learn more about SilicaTocopheryl 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
