What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialAlcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Octocrylene
UV Absorber
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Cetyl Palmitate
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Tapioca Starch
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingMethylparaben
Preservative
Trisodium EDTA
4-Butylresorcinol
Antioxidant
Ethylparaben
Preservative
Diethylhexyl Syringylidenemalonate
Skin ProtectingMyristic Acid
Cleansing
Arachidic Acid
Cleansing
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Oleic Acid
Emollient
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Hydrolyzed Pearl
Skin ConditioningMaltodextrin
Absorbent
Citrus Limon Juice
Skin Conditioning
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Trideceth-9
EmulsifyingDecylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningAscorbic Acid
Antioxidant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Parfum
Masking
Water, Glycerin, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Alcohol Denat., Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Cetyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Octocrylene, Stearic Acid, Cetyl Palmitate, Glyceryl Stearate, Phenoxyethanol, Tapioca Starch, Sodium Hydroxide, Carbomer, Methylparaben, Trisodium EDTA, 4-Butylresorcinol, Ethylparaben, Diethylhexyl Syringylidenemalonate, Myristic Acid, Arachidic Acid, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Oleic Acid, Lactic Acid, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Hydrolyzed Pearl, Maltodextrin, Citrus Limon Juice, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Trideceth-9, Decylene Glycol, Ascorbic Acid, 1,2-Hexanediol, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningPetrolatum
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Paraffinum Liquidum
Emollient
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Glycerin
Humectant
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV Absorber
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingParfum
Masking
Methylparaben
Preservative
Propylparaben
Preservative
Xanthophylls
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTetrasodium EDTA
Hydrated Silica
Abrasive
Hydroxyethyl Urea
Humectant
Potassium Carbonate
BufferingAlginic Acid
Skin ConditioningCurcuma Longa Root Extract
Masking
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingBHT
Antioxidant
Mel Extract
MoisturisingPaullinia Cupana Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningCarica Papaya Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Retinyl Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Benzyl Salicylate
Perfuming
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Hydroxycitronellal
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Petrolatum, Stearic Acid, Paraffinum Liquidum, Niacinamide, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Cetyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Potassium Hydroxide, Parfum, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Xanthophylls, Xanthan Gum, Tetrasodium EDTA, Hydrated Silica, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Potassium Carbonate, Alginic Acid, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Sodium Hydroxide, BHT, Mel Extract, Paullinia Cupana Seed Extract, Carica Papaya Fruit Extract, Tocopherol, Retinyl Palmitate, Disodium EDTA, Potassium Sorbate, Benzyl Salicylate, Benzyl Alcohol, Citronellol, Geraniol, Hexyl Cinnamal, Hydroxycitronellal, Limonene, Linalool, CI 77891
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 MethoxydibenzoylmethaneCetyl 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.
Learn more about Cetyl AlcoholGlycerin (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 StearateMethylparaben is a preservative and is a paraben. It is used to prevent the growth of fungus, mold, and other harmful bacteria. Parabens are chemicals used as preservatives in both cosmetics and food.
Methylparaben can be synthetically created. It can also be found naturally in some fruits, such as blueberries.
Oftentimes, Methylparaben is combined with other parabens to help increase the shelf life.
The safety of Methylparaben is currently being studied. While ongoing studies are looking into the safety of parabens, the results have been very mixed. Some studies have not found Methylparaben to be harmful.
Learn more about MethylparabenParfum is a catch-all term for an ingredient or more that is used to give a scent to products.
Also called "fragrance", this ingredient can be a blend of hundreds of chemicals or plant oils. This means every product with "fragrance" or "parfum" in the ingredients list is a different mixture.
For instance, Habanolide is a proprietary trade name for a specific aroma chemical. When used as a fragrance ingredient in cosmetics, most aroma chemicals fall under the broad labeling category of “FRAGRANCE” or “PARFUM” according to EU and US regulations.
The term 'parfum' or 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term.
For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance by INCI standards.
One example is Calendula flower extract. Calendula is an essential oil that still imparts a scent or 'fragrance'.
Depending on the blend, the ingredients in the mixture can cause allergies and sensitivities on the skin. Some ingredients that are known EU allergens include linalool and citronellol.
Parfum can also be used to mask or cover an unpleasant scent.
The bottom line is: not all fragrances/parfum/ingredients are created equally. If you are worried about fragrances, we recommend taking a closer look at an ingredient. And of course, we always recommend speaking with a professional.
Learn more about ParfumPhenoxyethanol 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 HydroxideStearic Acid is a fatty acid that is already found in your skin. It's one of the free fatty acids that works alongside ceramides and cholesterols to maintain your barrier.
In cosmetics, it is a multitasker:
Safety-wise, the CIR Expert Panel has concluded it to be safe in cosmetics when formulated to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing.
Free stearic acid is a C18 fatty acid that the Malassezia yeast can substrate, so this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Stearic AcidWater. 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
