Nimue Sun-C SPF 40 Versus Nimue Exfoliating Enzyme
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientPhenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid
UV Absorber
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialBis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin Conditioning
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Triacontanyl Pvp
HumectantCyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Octocrylene
UV Absorber
Arachidyl Alcohol
Emollient
Polysilicone-15
UV Filter
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Polyester-8
Skin Conditioning
Cyclohexasiloxane
Emollient
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingBehenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Arachidyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingC30-45 Alkyl Cetearyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Emollient
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Yeast Polysaccharides
Skin ConditioningInulin Lauryl Carbamate
Emulsion StabilisingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingDimethylmethoxy Chromanol
Antioxidant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Polyhydroxystearic Acid
Emulsifying
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingAluminum Stearate
Cosmetic ColorantAlumina
Abrasive
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
Masking
Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil
Masking
Linalool
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Water, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Triacontanyl Pvp, Cyclopentasiloxane, Glycerin, Octocrylene, Arachidyl Alcohol, Polysilicone-15, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Persea Gratissima Oil, Polyester-8, Cyclohexasiloxane, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Behenyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Arachidyl Glucoside, C30-45 Alkyl Cetearyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Allantoin, Titanium Dioxide, Yeast Polysaccharides, Inulin Lauryl Carbamate, Butylene Glycol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Dimethylmethoxy Chromanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Aluminum Stearate, Alumina, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Linalool, Citronellol, Geraniol
Water
Skin ConditioningPEG-6
HumectantGlycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Polyquaternium-10
Ananas Sativus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCarica Papaya Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Polysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Masking
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Citric Acid
Buffering
Limonene
Perfuming
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 GlycolEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.
Learn more about PhenoxyethanolTetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate is a chelating agent. Chelating agents help prevent metal ions from binding to other ingredients. This helps prevent unwanted effects and reactions from a product. These metal ions may come from water and are found in miniscule amounts.
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate can also help other preservatives be more effective.
Water. 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
