What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantEthylhexyl Salicylate
UV AbsorberAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientEthylhexyl Stearate
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate Citrate
EmollientButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV AbsorberC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialMethylpropanediol
SolventOctocrylene
UV AbsorberHydrogenated Coco-Glycerides
EmollientPhenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid
UV AbsorberUbiquinone
AntioxidantSodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
AntioxidantTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantCreatine
Skin Conditioning1-Methylhydantoin-2-Imide
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningChondrus Crispus Extract
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTrisodium EDTA
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeLinalool
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingParfum
MaskingCI 16035
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Glycerin, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Alcohol Denat., Cetearyl Alcohol, Ethylhexyl Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Methylpropanediol, Octocrylene, Hydrogenated Coco-Glycerides, Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid, Ubiquinone, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Creatine, 1-Methylhydantoin-2-Imide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Carbomer, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Trisodium EDTA, Sodium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol, Linalool, Limonene, Geraniol, Parfum, CI 16035
Water
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantCetearyl Isononanoate
EmollientPolyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
EmulsifyingCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
EmollientDiethylhexyl Adipate
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate Citrate
EmollientSorbitol
HumectantC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientOctocrylene
UV AbsorberPanthenol
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientAlcohol
AntimicrobialCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV AbsorberLecithin
EmollientPropanediol
SolventBenzoic Acid
MaskingAscorbyl Tetraisopalmitate
AntioxidantDehydroacetic Acid
PreservativeSambucus Nigra Flower Extract
RefreshingHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingDisodium Adenosine Triphosphate
Skin ConditioningCyclohexasiloxane
EmollientAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantTocopherol
AntioxidantAscorbyl Palmitate
AntioxidantUbiquinone
AntioxidantGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientCitric Acid
BufferingGlyceryl Oleate
EmollientDisodium EDTA
Algin
MaskingCarica Papaya Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningTriethanolamine
BufferingDimethylmethoxy Chromanol
AntioxidantWater, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Glycerin, Cetearyl Isononanoate, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Diethylhexyl Adipate, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Sorbitol, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Octocrylene, Panthenol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Cyclopentasiloxane, Phenoxyethanol, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Alcohol, Carbomer, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Lecithin, Propanediol, Benzoic Acid, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, Dehydroacetic Acid, Sambucus Nigra Flower Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Sodium Hydroxide, Disodium Adenosine Triphosphate, Cyclohexasiloxane, Alcohol Denat., Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopherol, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Ubiquinone, Glyceryl Stearate, Citric Acid, Glyceryl Oleate, Disodium EDTA, Algin, Carica Papaya Fruit Extract, Triethanolamine, Dimethylmethoxy Chromanol
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Alcohol Denat. is an alcohol with a denaturant property. It is created by mixing ethanol with other additives.
This ingredient gets a bad rep because it is irritating and drying - mostly due to its astringent property. Astringents draw out natural oils in tissue, constricting pores and leaving your skin dried out.
However, alcohol denat. is not all that bad.
Due to its low molecular weight, alcohol denat. tends to evaporate quickly. One study on pig skin found half of applied alcohol evaporated in 10 seconds and less than 3% stayed on skin.
This also helps other ingredients become better absorbed upon application.
Studies are conflicted about whether this ingredient causes skin dehydration. One study from 2005 found adding emollients to propanol-based sanitizer decreased skin dryness and irritation. Another study found irritation only occurs if your skin is already damaged.
Small amounts of alcohol are generally tolerated by oily skin or people who live in humid environments.
The rule of thumb is if this alcohol is near the end of an ingredients list, it will probably not affect your skin much.
Also...
This ingredient has antimicrobial and solvent properties.
The antimicrobial property helps preserve products and increase their shelf life. As a solvent, it helps dissolve other ingredients.
Other types of astringent alcohols include:
Learn more about Alcohol Denat.Also known as Avobenzone, this ingredient is a chemical sunscreen filter that provides protection in the UV-A range.
Avobenzone is globally approved and is the most commonly used UV-A filter in the world.
Studies have found that avobenzone becomes ineffective when exposed to UV light (it is not photostable; meaning that it breaks down in sunlight). Because of this, formulations that include avobenzone will usually contain stabilizers such as octocrylene.
However, some modern formulations (looking at you, EU!) are able to stabilize avobenzone by coating the molecules.
Avobenzone does not protect against the UV-B range, so it's important to check that the sunscreen you're using contains other UV filters that do!
The highest concentration of avobenzone permitted is 3% in the US, and 5% in the EU.
Learn more about Butyl MethoxydibenzoylmethaneC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate is made up of Benzoic Acid and long chain alcohols. It has a low molecular weight.
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate is an emollient and texture enhancer. Due to its solubility, it is often used in sunscreens to help evenly distribute active ingredients.
As an emollient, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate helps soften and hydrate your skin. Emollients create a film on your skin that traps moisture within.
This ingredient has been reported to cause eye irritation.
Learn more about C12-15 Alkyl BenzoateCarbomer is a polymer of acrylic acid. Its main role is to create a gel consistency.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Cetearyl alcohol is a mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is mainly used as an emulsifier. Emulsifiers help prevent the separation of oils and products. Due to its composition, it can also be used to thicken a product or help create foam.
Cetearyl alcohol is an emollient. Emollients help soothe and hydrate the skin by trapping moisture.
Studies show Cetearyl alcohol is non-toxic and non-irritating. The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
This ingredient is usually derived from plant oils such as palm, vegetable, or coconut oils. There is debate on whether this ingredient will cause acne.
Due to the fatty acid base, this ingredient may not be Malassezia folliculitis safe.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholGlycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.
A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.
As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.
Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.
Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.
In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.
This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinGlyceryl Stearate Citrate is a citric acid ester of glyceryl stearate.
It is an emulsifier, emollient, and a surfactant.
Emulsifiers help stabilize a product. It does this by preventing certain ingredients from separating. Common ingredients include oils and water, which do not mix naturally. Emulsifiers have properties that help keep ingredients such as these together.
Emollients help soothe and soften the skin. They do this by creating a protective film on your skin. This barrier helps trap moisture and keeps your skin hydrated. Emollients may be effective at treating dry or itchy skin.
Surfactants help gather oils, dirt, and other pollutants from the skin. This helps them to be easily rinsed away.
Learn more about Glyceryl Stearate CitrateOctocrylene protects skin from sun damage. It absorbs UV-B with peak absorption of 304 nm. It is a common sunscreen ingredient and often paired with avobenzone, a UVA filter. This is because octocrylene stabilizes other sunscreen ingredients by protecting them from degradation when exposed to sunlight. Octocrylene is a photostable ingredient and loses about 10% of SPF in 95 minutes.
Octocrylene also acts as an emollient, meaning it helps skin retain moisture and softens skin. It is oil-soluble and hydrophobic, enhancing water-resistant properties in a product.
Those who are using ketoprofen, a topical anti-inflammatory drug, may experience an allergic reaction when using octocrylene. It is best to speak with a healthcare professional about using sunscreens with octocrylene.
The EU allows a maximum of these concentrations:
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.
Sodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideTocopheryl 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 AcetateUbiquinone (Coenzyme Q10) is a molecule already found in our bodies. It is a potent antioxidant and skin-soothing ingredient.
Aging and environmental exposure diminishes our skin's natural ubiquinone levels. This is much like our natural collagen and elastin.
The good news is: studies show applying this ingredient topically replenishes ubiquinone levels in our skin. This also comes with a ton of skin benefits. These benefits include:
Ubiquinone is considered a large molecule and cannot be absorbed into the lower layers of skin. This is why it is believed to be such an effective antioxidant: it protects our skin in the upper layers and prevents damage in the deeper layers.
When used in sunscreen, ubiquinone is shown to increase ingredient stability, increase SPF factor, and add to infrared protection.
Fun fact: ubiquinone is fat-soluble.
Learn more about UbiquinoneWater. 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. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water