What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV AbsorberButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV AbsorberNiacinamide
SmoothingAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Silica
AbrasiveGlycerin
HumectantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeButylene Glycol
HumectantOctocrylene
UV AbsorberAllantoin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Tocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantLecithin
EmollientPropylene Glycol
HumectantPunica Granatum Fruit Extract
AntioxidantHoney Extract
HumectantAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
EmollientCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
MaskingTris(Tetramethylhydroxypiperidinol)Citrate
StabilisingSodium Benzoate
MaskingDMDM Hydantoin
PreservativeMethylparaben
PreservativeCitric Acid
BufferingEthylparaben
PreservativeWater, Propanediol, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Niacinamide, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Silica, Glycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Butylene Glycol, Octocrylene, Allantoin, Disodium EDTA, Tocopheryl Acetate, Lecithin, Propylene Glycol, Punica Granatum Fruit Extract, Honey Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Alcohol Denat., Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Tris(Tetramethylhydroxypiperidinol)Citrate, Sodium Benzoate, DMDM Hydantoin, Methylparaben, Citric Acid, Ethylparaben
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantParfum
MaskingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic ColorantGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPEG-100 Stearate
Phenoxyethanol
PreservativeAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Polysorbate 80
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTriethanolamine
BufferingChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialSilica
AbrasiveEthylhexyl Salicylate
UV AbsorberOctocrylene
UV AbsorberCetearyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingZinc Oxide
Cosmetic ColorantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Sodium Hyaluronate
HumectantTocopherol
AntioxidantButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientSqualane
EmollientAlpha-Arbutin
AntioxidantArctostaphylos Uva-Ursi Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningAscorbic Acid
AntioxidantWater, Glycerin, Parfum, Cetearyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Titanium Dioxide, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Phenoxyethanol, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Polysorbate 80, Carbomer, Triethanolamine, Chlorphenesin, Silica, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Octocrylene, Cetearyl Glucoside, Zinc Oxide, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopherol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Squalane, Alpha-Arbutin, Arctostaphylos Uva-Ursi Leaf Extract, Ascorbic Acid
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer is a synthetically created polymer. It's used as a film-forming agent and used to thicken the consistency of products.
Think of it as a supportive ingredient that helps your gel-creams feel silky, "cloud cream-like", and spread evenly without being greasy.
The Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel evaluated it (along with 22 other acryloyldimethyltaurate polymers) and concluded it's:
Due to its large molecular size, it sits on the surface of skin rather than penetrating it.
Learn more about Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp CopolymerDisodium 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 GlycerinOctocrylene 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.
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 SilicaWater. 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