What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Lactobionic Acid
Buffering
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialEthylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingMica
Cosmetic ColorantPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Disodium EDTA
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Myristoyl Pentapeptide-11
Skin Conditioning
Myristoyl Pentapeptide-8
Skin Conditioning
Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Gluconolactone, Lactobionic Acid, Glyceryl Stearate, Glycerin, Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Cetyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Phenoxyethanol, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Hydroxide, Mica, Panthenol, Caprylyl Glycol, Titanium Dioxide, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hexylene Glycol, Allantoin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Disodium EDTA, Bisabolol, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Myristoyl Pentapeptide-11, Myristoyl Pentapeptide-8
Water
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV Absorber
Zinc Oxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Isononyl Isononanoate
EmollientPEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Ascorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Silica
Abrasive
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
Disodium Phosphate
BufferingEthylhexyl Dimethoxybenzylidene Dioxoimidazolidine Propionate
UV AbsorberLauroyl Lysine
Skin Conditioning
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Acrylates/Dimethicone Copolymer
Skin Conditioning
Methyl/Phenyl Polysilsesquioxane
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingMethylparaben
Preservative
Disodium EDTA
Propylparaben
Preservative
Stearyl Glycyrrhetinate
Skin ConditioningPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingArginine
Masking
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Hydrolyzed Collagen
Emollient
Water, Cyclopentasiloxane, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Zinc Oxide, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Isononyl Isononanoate, PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Silica, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Disodium Phosphate, Ethylhexyl Dimethoxybenzylidene Dioxoimidazolidine Propionate, Lauroyl Lysine, Titanium Dioxide, Acrylates/Dimethicone Copolymer, Methyl/Phenyl Polysilsesquioxane, Sodium Hydroxide, Methylparaben, Disodium EDTA, Propylparaben, Stearyl Glycyrrhetinate, Potassium Hydroxide, Arginine, Hyaluronic Acid, Tocopheryl Acetate, Hydrolyzed Collagen
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Disodium 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 GlycerinSodium 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 HydroxideTitanium dioxide is a mineral UV filter widely used in sunscreens and cosmetics.
It is one of only two UV filters officially classified as “mineral” by regulatory agencies, the other being zinc oxide.
Titanium dioxide provides broad-spectrum protection mostly in the UVB and UVAII range, with some protection in the UVAI range.
While its UVA protection isn’t as strong as zinc oxide’s, the difference is minor.
A common myth is that mineral UV filters reflect UV light. However, modern research shows titanium dioxide absorbs UV radiation like chemical filters (~95% absorption & 5% reflection).
Thanks to its non-irritating nature, titanium dioxide is suitable for sensitive, acne-prone, or redness-prone skin. It is unlikely to cause "eye sting" like other sunscreen ingredients.
A major drawback of this ingredient is its white cast and thick texture. This is why mineral sunscreens often leave a white cast and are less cosmetically elegant than chemical/hybrid sunscreens.
To improve white cast and spreadability, micronized or nano-sized titanium dioxide is often used.
There are ongoing concerns surrounding nano-titanium oxide's impact on marine ecosystems.
There is no conclusive evidence that any form of titanium oxide (or any other sunscreen ingredients) will cause harm to marine ecosystems or coral reefs. The science is still developing but many consumers are keeping a close eye on this issue.
Please note, many destinations have reef-safety sunscreen rules. For instance, the U.S. Virgin Islands advises all visitors to use non-nano mineral sunscreens.
Nano mineral sunscreens once raised safety concerns about absorption into skin.
Extensive research has shown that they do not penetrate healthy or damaged skin; they remain safely on the surface and the top layer of dead skin (stratum corneum).
You'll likely find titanium dioxide bundled with alumina, silica, or dimethicone. These ingredients help make titanium dioxide highly photostable; this prevents it from interacting with other formula components under UV light.
Learn more about Titanium DioxideTocopheryl 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 AcetateWater. 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
