What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%
UV AbsorberHomosalate 4%
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Salicylate 4.5%
UV AbsorberOctocrylene 2.6%
UV AbsorberWater
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingDimethicone
EmollientIsopropyl Isostearate
EmollientPanthenol
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantSodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
AntioxidantRetinyl Propionate
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialBHT
AntioxidantTapioca Starch
Dimethiconol
EmollientCetearyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientStearic Acid
CleansingPalmitic Acid
EmollientStearyl Alcohol
EmollientCetyl Alcohol
EmollientBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientDisodium EDTA
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingPEG-100 Stearate
SurfactantTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic ColorantPolymethylsilsesquioxane
Benzyl Alcohol
PerfumingMethylparaben
PreservativeEthylparaben
PreservativePropylparaben
PreservativeIodopropynyl Butylcarbamate
PreservativeButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%, Homosalate 4%, Ethylhexyl Salicylate 4.5%, Octocrylene 2.6%, Water, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Dimethicone, Isopropyl Isostearate, Panthenol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Retinyl Propionate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, BHT, Tapioca Starch, Dimethiconol, Cetearyl Glucoside, Cetearyl Alcohol, Stearic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Stearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Behenyl Alcohol, Disodium EDTA, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Carbomer, Sodium Hydroxide, PEG-100 Stearate, Titanium Dioxide, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Benzyl Alcohol, Methylparaben, Ethylparaben, Propylparaben, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate
Allantoin
Skin ConditioningAscorbic Acid
AntioxidantCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientCetyl Alcohol
EmollientChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialCyclomethicone
EmollientCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientC13-14 Isoparaffin
EmollientDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingIsohexadecane
EmollientLaureth-7
EmulsifyingPEG-100 Stearate
SurfactantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePolyacrylamide
Retinyl Palmitate
Skin ConditioningStearyl Alcohol
EmollientTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantTriethoxycaprylylsilane
Water
Skin ConditioningAllantoin, Ascorbic Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Cetyl Alcohol, Chlorphenesin, Cyclomethicone, Cyclopentasiloxane, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate, Hexylene Glycol, Isohexadecane, Laureth-7, PEG-100 Stearate, Phenoxyethanol, Polyacrylamide, Retinyl Palmitate, Stearyl Alcohol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Water
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Cetyl 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.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe. It is a primary fatty alcohol with a chain length above 12 carbons. A study from 2019 show Malassezia can feed on fatty alcohols in this range, so it may trigger fungal acne in those prone to it.
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 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.
Stearyl 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.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe. It is a primary fatty alcohol with a chain length above 12 carbons. A study from 2019 show Malassezia can feed on fatty alcohols in this range, so it may trigger fungal acne in those prone to it.
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