What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate 6%
UV AbsorberZinc Oxide
Cosmetic ColorantWater
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantIsohexadecane
EmollientAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
EmollientTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantSteareth-21
CleansingCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientPolyacrylamide
Stearyl Alcohol
EmollientC13-14 Isoparaffin
EmollientBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientDMDM Hydantoin
PreservativeCetyl Alcohol
EmollientPEG/PPG-20/20 Dimethicone
EmulsifyingLaureth-7
EmulsifyingSteareth-2
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Triethoxycaprylylsilane
Oleth-3 Phosphate
BHT
AntioxidantIodopropynyl Butylcarbamate
PreservativeEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate 6%, Zinc Oxide, Water, Glycerin, Isohexadecane, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Steareth-21, Cyclopentasiloxane, Polyacrylamide, Stearyl Alcohol, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Behenyl Alcohol, DMDM Hydantoin, Cetyl Alcohol, PEG/PPG-20/20 Dimethicone, Laureth-7, Steareth-2, Disodium EDTA, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Oleth-3 Phosphate, BHT, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate
Water
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingGlycerin
HumectantHexyldecanol
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientParaffin
PerfumingStearyl Alcohol
EmollientPolyacrylamide
Panthenol
Skin ConditioningCetyl Alcohol
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantPalmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantLaureth-7
EmulsifyingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientCetearyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientArachidyl Alcohol
EmollientDisodium EDTA
PEG-100 Stearate
SurfactantPolysilicone-11
C13-14 Alkane
SolventPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingWater, Niacinamide, Glycerin, Hexyldecanol, Dimethicone, Paraffin, Stearyl Alcohol, Polyacrylamide, Panthenol, Cetyl Alcohol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Tocopheryl Acetate, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Hydroxyacetophenone, Laureth-7, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Glucoside, Behenyl Alcohol, Arachidyl Alcohol, Disodium EDTA, PEG-100 Stearate, Polysilicone-11, C13-14 Alkane, Phenoxyethanol, Benzyl Alcohol
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Behenyl Alcohol is a type of fatty alcohol (these are different from the drying, solvent alcohols).
Fatty Alcohols have hydrating properties and are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product. They are usually derived from natural fats and oils; behenyl alcohol is derived from the fats of vegetable oils.
Emollients help keep your skin soft and hydrated by creating a film that traps moisture in.
In 2000, Behenyl Alcohol was approved by the US as medicine to reduce the duration of cold sores.
Learn more about Behenyl AlcoholCetyl 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 AlcoholDisodium 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 GlycerinLaureth-7 is created by the ethoxylation of lauryl alcohol using ethylene oxide. Lauryl alcohol is a fatty alcohol with hydrating properties.
This ingredient is an emulsifier and cleansing ingredient. As an emulsifier, it is used to prevent ingredients from separating. It also helps cleanse the skin by gathering dirt, oil, and pollutants to be rinsed away.
Polyacrylamide is a synthetic polymer. It is used to stabilize products and bind ingredients. When hydrated, Polyacrylamide forms a soft gel.
Polyacrylamide is low-toxicity. If source properly, it is deemed safe to use in cosmetics.
It should be noted the precursor to Polyacrylamide is acrylamide. Acrylamide is a carcinogen. Most reputable sources of Polyacrylamide will screen for residual acrylamide to make sure the count is in a safe range. Acrylamide is not able to be absorbed through the skin.
We recommend speaking with a professional if you have concerns.
Learn more about PolyacrylamideStearyl Alcohol is a type of fatty alcohol from stearic acid. It is a white, waxy compound used to emulsify ingredients used as an emollient or to thicken a product.
Emollients help soothe and hydrate the skin by trapping moisture.
Fatty alcohols are usually derived from natural fats and oils and therefore do not have the same drying or irritating effect as solvent (ethanol) alcohols.
The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
Learn more about Stearyl AlcoholTocopheryl 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