What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningOctocrylene
UV Absorber
Sodium Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonate
UV Absorber
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Glycerin
Humectant
Cyclomethicone
Emollient
Distarch Phosphate
AbsorbentPolyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
Emulsifying
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Ubiquinone
Antioxidant
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Myrciaria Dubia Fruit Juice
Antioxidant
Malpighia Glabra Fruit Juice
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Glucoside
Humectant
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Trideceth-9
EmulsifyingSodium Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Trisodium EDTA
Citric Acid
Buffering
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Methylparaben
Preservative
Ethylparaben
Preservative
Propylparaben
Preservative
Benzoic Acid
Masking
Linalool
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Parfum
Masking
Water, Octocrylene, Sodium Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonate, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Glycerin, Cyclomethicone, Distarch Phosphate, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Alcohol Denat., Cetyl Alcohol, Ubiquinone, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Myrciaria Dubia Fruit Juice, Malpighia Glabra Fruit Juice, Glyceryl Glucoside, Propylene Glycol, Trideceth-9, Sodium Carbomer, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Sodium Polyacrylate, Trisodium EDTA, Citric Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben, Ethylparaben, Propylparaben, Benzoic Acid, Linalool, Geraniol, Limonene, Benzyl Alcohol, Citronellol, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningOctocrylene
UV Absorber
Ethylhexyl Salicylate
UV Absorber
Glycerin
Humectant
Glyceryl Montanate
EmulsifyingCetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Emulsifying Wax Nf
Acrylates Crosspolymer
AbsorbentMethylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol
UV Filter
Squalane
Emollient
Ozonized Sesame Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
Masking
Isopropyl Palmitate
Emollient
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Citric Acid
Buffering
Water, Octocrylene, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Glycerin, Glyceryl Montanate, Cetyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Emulsifying Wax Nf, Acrylates Crosspolymer, Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol, Squalane, Ozonized Sesame Seed Oil, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Isopropyl Palmitate, Niacinamide, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Xanthan Gum, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Citric Acid
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Cetyl Alcohol is a fatty alcohol. Fatty Alcohols are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product.
Its main roles are:
Though it has "alcohol" in the name, it is not related to denatured alcohol or ethyl alcohol.
The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe. It is a primary fatty alcohol with a chain length above 12 carbons. A study from 2019 show Malassezia can feed on fatty alcohols in this range, so it may trigger fungal acne in those prone to it.
Learn more about Cetyl AlcoholCitric 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 AcidGlycerin (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 GlycerinHydroxyethylcellulose is used to improve the texture of products. It is created from a chemical reaction involving ethylene oxide and alkali-cellulose. Cellulose is a sugar found in plant cell walls and help give plants structure.
This ingredient helps stabilize products by preventing ingredients from separating. It can also help thicken the texture of a product.
This ingredient can also be found in pill medicines to help our bodies digest other ingredients.
Learn more about HydroxyethylcelluloseOctocrylene is an oil-soluble organic UV filter that mainly absorbs UVB and short wave UVA II light.
Its real superpower is teamwork: octocrylene is remarkably photostable and is most famous for stabilizing avobenzone (the workhorse UVA filter).
This ingredient is commonly used to enhance both UVB and UVA protection due to its unique property in stabilizing avobenzone. It also pulls double duty by boosting water resistance and giving formulas a smooth, spreadable feel.
The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) has deemed octocrylene to be safe as a UV-filter at concentrations up to 10% (capped at 9% in propellant sprays). The US also permits it up to 10%.
Two things worth knowing:
You'll usually see this ingredient used in concentrations between 2-10% (higher amounts when used as a stabilizer for avobenzone).
Learn more about OctocrylenePhenoxyethanol 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.
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
