What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%
UV Absorber
Homosalate 9%
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexyl Salicylate 4.5%
UV Absorber
Octocrylene 6%
UV Absorber
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Zea Mays Starch
Absorbent
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Retinol
Skin Conditioning
Retinyl Propionate
Skin Conditioning
Dimethicone
Emollient
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Dimethiconol
Emollient
Cetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Disodium EDTA
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPEG-100 Stearate
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%, Homosalate 9%, Ethylhexyl Salicylate 4.5%, Octocrylene 6%, Water, Glycerin, Zea Mays Starch, Niacinamide, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Panthenol, Retinol, Retinyl Propionate, Dimethicone, Caprylyl Glycol, Dimethiconol, Cetearyl Glucoside, Cetearyl Alcohol, Stearic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Stearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Behenyl Alcohol, Disodium EDTA, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, PEG-100 Stearate, Ceramide AP, 1,2-Hexanediol, Phenoxyethanol
Water
Skin ConditioningParaffinum Liquidum
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Petrolatum
Emollient
Kojic Acid
Antioxidant
Retinyl Propionate
Skin Conditioning
Retinol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate
Skin Conditioning
2-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Betaine
Humectant
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Polyacrylamide
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Parfum
Masking
C13-14 Isoparaffin
Emollient
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningLaureth-7
EmulsifyingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Polysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Ethyl Lauroyl Arginate Hcl
Skin ConditioningLimonene
Perfuming
Citrus Aurantium Peel Oil
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Tetramethyl Acetyloctahydronaphthalenes
Masking
Linalool
Perfuming
Benzyl Salicylate
Perfuming
Water, Paraffinum Liquidum, Glycerin, Petrolatum, Kojic Acid, Retinyl Propionate, Retinol, Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate, 2-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Tocopheryl Acetate, Betaine, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Carbomer, Phenoxyethanol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Polysorbate 60, Polyacrylamide, Chlorphenesin, Parfum, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Sodium Hydroxide, Xanthan Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Laureth-7, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Polysorbate 80, Polysorbate 20, Ethyl Lauroyl Arginate Hcl, Limonene, Citrus Aurantium Peel Oil, Hexyl Cinnamal, Tetramethyl Acetyloctahydronaphthalenes, Linalool, Benzyl Salicylate
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Cetearyl alcohol is a waxy mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is an emollient and emulsifier.
Despite having "alcohol" in its name, it has nothing to do with drying solvent alcohols; the FDA also allows "alcohol-free" products to contain fatty alcohols like this ingredient.
It plays several roles in a formula:
Typical use levels for this ingredient sit around 1-10% and the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has affirmed safety at concentrations up to 25% in leave-on products.
Multiple assessments have found it to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing to most people.
However, there have been some cases of allergic contact dermatitis in patients with chronically compromised skin barriers.
Cetearyl alcohol has a comedogenic rating of 2 and irritancy rating of 1. Both of these numbers come from the 1989 study that used rabbit ears; a "2" means mildly comedogenic and a "1" means low irritancy.
Here's the catch: rabbit skin is more sensitive than human skin and throws a lot of false positives. A 1996 reappraisal found that ingredients rated 1-2 in the rabbit ear tests are generally safe for humans.
Remember comedogenic ratings are unable to assess the entire formula of a product or how it will react on your skin. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure about certain ingredients.
This ingredient is not fungal acne safe. Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol with chain lengths that fall within the range that Malassezia can metabolize.
Learn more about Cetearyl 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 GlycerinPeg-100 Stearate is an emollient and emulsifier. As an emollient, it helps keep skin soft by trapping moisture in. On the other hand, emulsifiers help prevent oil and water from separating in a product.
PEGS are a hydrophilic polyether compound . There are 100 ethylene oxide monomers in Peg-100 Stearate. Peg-100 Stearate is polyethylene glycol ester of stearic acid.
Phenoxyethanol 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.
Retinol is a gold-standard ingredient for anti-aging. It is a form of Vitamin A and belongs to the class of retinoids that also includes tretinoin.
Why is retinol famous?
It has the most scientific studies backing up its skin benefits out of all the non-prescription ingredients.
Retinol is proven to:
This is why retinol is effective at removing wrinkles, fading dark spots, treating acne, and reducing the appearance of pores.
Studies show retinol is less effective when exposed to UV. Be sure to look for appropriate packaging to keep your retinol potent (similar to Vitamin C).
Using retinol or any retinoids will increase sun-sensitivity in the first few months. Though studies show retinoids increase your skin's natural SPF with continuous use, it is best to always wear sunscreen and sun-protection.
We recommend speaking with a medical professional about using this ingredient during pregnancy.
Retinol may cause irritation in some people, so be sure to patch test. Experts recommend 'ramping up' retinol use: start using this ingredient once a week and work up to using it daily.
Read about Tretinoin
Learn more about RetinolRetinyl Propionate is a retinoid. Retinoids are the gold-standard class of anti-aging ingredients.
Most retinoids have to be converted to become effective. For some, this conversion line is long and possible ineffective. The end goal? Retinoid acid, AKA tretinoin.
Retinyl Propionate is an ester of retinol, like Retinyl Palmitate. Though the conversion line is longer for this ingredient - the results seem promising.
A study from 2021 found Retinyl Propionate to be just as effective as retinol . FYI - Retinol is one of the most well-studied OTC ingredients.
Other studies show promising results as well:
Reducing sun damage helps with: reducing the appearance of wrinkles, evening out skin tone, increasing skin plumpness, and decreasing dullness.
Using retinol or any retinoids will increase sun-sensitivity in the first few months. Though studies show retinoids increase your skin's natural SPF with continuous use, it is best to always wear sunscreen and sun-protection.
Learn more about Retinyl PropionateWater. 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
