What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningHomosalate
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Salicylate
UV AbsorberPhenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid
UV AbsorberOctocrylene
UV AbsorberButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV AbsorberBis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin ConditioningMethyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Niacinamide
SmoothingUndecane
EmollientTriethanolamine
BufferingPropanediol
SolventPotassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingDibutyl Adipate
EmollientNeopentyl Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate
EmollientEthylhexyl Triazone
UV AbsorberDiethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV FilterLauryl Methacrylate
Tridecane
PerfumingGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeAminomethyl Propanol
BufferingParfum
MaskingStyrene/Acrylates/Ammonium Methacrylate Copolymer
Trimethylsiloxysilicate
EmollientPanthenol
Skin ConditioningBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingCarnosine
Skin ConditioningAcacia Senegal Gum
MaskingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCapryloyl Glycine
CleansingBisabolol
AntioxidantHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingSodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantSarcosine
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantCinnamomum Zeylanicum Bark Extract
AntimicrobialSodium PPG-16/PEG-2 Lauryl Ether Sulfate
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientPEG-4-PPG-7 C13/C15 Alcohol
SurfactantMoringa Oleifera Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeTetrasodium EDTA
Disodium Phosphate
BufferingCitric Acid
BufferingTocopherol
AntioxidantBenzyl Salicylate
PerfumingHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingWater, Homosalate, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid, Octocrylene, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Niacinamide, Undecane, Triethanolamine, Propanediol, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Dibutyl Adipate, Neopentyl Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Lauryl Methacrylate, Tridecane, Glyceryl Stearate, Dimethicone, Phenoxyethanol, Aminomethyl Propanol, Parfum, Styrene/Acrylates/Ammonium Methacrylate Copolymer, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Panthenol, Benzyl Alcohol, Carnosine, Acacia Senegal Gum, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Xanthan Gum, Capryloyl Glycine, Bisabolol, Hexylene Glycol, Sodium Gluconate, Glycerin, Sarcosine, Butylene Glycol, Cinnamomum Zeylanicum Bark Extract, Sodium PPG-16/PEG-2 Lauryl Ether Sulfate, Caprylyl Glycol, PEG-4-PPG-7 C13/C15 Alcohol, Moringa Oleifera Seed Extract, Potassium Sorbate, Tetrasodium EDTA, Disodium Phosphate, Citric Acid, Tocopherol, Benzyl Salicylate, Hexyl Cinnamal
Water
Skin ConditioningMethylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol
UV FilterEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV AbsorberCaprylic/Capric/Linoleic Triglyceride
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingDiethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV FilterSilica
AbrasivePropylene Glycol
HumectantCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingImidazolidinyl Urea
PreservativeTriethanolamine
BufferingSodium Benzoate
MaskingCeteareth-12
EmulsifyingCeteareth-20
CleansingBisabolol
AntioxidantTocopherol
AntioxidantHyaluronic Acid
HumectantMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract
PerfumingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingEDTA
Parfum
MaskingWater, Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Caprylic/Capric/Linoleic Triglyceride, Glycerin, Polysorbate 20, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Silica, Propylene Glycol, Cyclopentasiloxane, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Imidazolidinyl Urea, Triethanolamine, Sodium Benzoate, Ceteareth-12, Ceteareth-20, Bisabolol, Tocopherol, Hyaluronic Acid, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract, Panthenol, Carbomer, EDTA, Parfum
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Bisabolol is a gentle skin conditioner, antioxidant, and soothing ingredient.
It's primary claim to fame is soothing and research shows topically applied bisabolol can quiet the chemical messengers that cause your skin to become inflamed, helping to sooth any irritation.
A clinical study found that applying 0.5% bisabolol daily for 8 weeks produced an average 9% decrease in skin pigmentation. Researchers found it can also suppress the process that leads to excess melanin production in skin.
In vitro studies found that bisabolol combined with propylene glycol significantly increased skin permeability by increasing lipid fluidity in the stratum corneum.
You'll likely see use concentrations quite low, usually 0.1-0.2%.
Overall, this is a well-tolerated ingredient that works well in formulas designed for sensitive, reactive, or post-procedure skin.
Learn more about BisabololDiethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate (DHHB) is a chemical UV-A absorber. It is formulated for high UVA protection (320-400 nm).
DHHB is well-liked for:
DHHB has been approved by the EU, Japan, Taiwan, and South America for use up to 10%. Unfortunately, it has not been approved for use in the US or Canada due to slow regulatory processes.
This ingredient is soluble in oils, fats, and lipids.
Learn more about Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl BenzoateGlycerin (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 GlycerinPanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolParfum 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 ParfumTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolTriethanolamine (TEA) is an emulsifier and pH adjuster. It is created using ethylene oxide and ammonia. This gives Triethanolamine a nitrogen core and a similar scent to ammonia.
As an emulsifier, it prevents ingredients from separating and enhances texture by adding volume to a product.
PH adjusters are common in cosmetic products. The pH of a product can affect the effectiveness of other ingredients. A product with a high pH may also irritate the skin.
If you are looking for the tea leaf ingredient, click here.
Learn more about TriethanolamineWater. 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