What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningOctocrylene
UV AbsorberZea Mays Starch
AbsorbentHomosalate
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingGlycerin
HumectantEthylhexyl Salicylate
UV AbsorberButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV AbsorberDimethicone
Emollient3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientDimethiconol
EmollientCetearyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientStearic Acid
CleansingPalmitic Acid
EmollientStearyl Alcohol
EmollientCetyl Alcohol
EmollientBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientArachidyl Alcohol
EmollientDisodium EDTA
PEG-100 Stearate
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningSodium Polyacrylate Starch
AbsorbentPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeParfum
MaskingLimonene
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingCitronellol
PerfumingWater, Octocrylene, Zea Mays Starch, Homosalate, Niacinamide, Glycerin, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Dimethicone, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Panthenol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Caprylyl Glycol, Dimethiconol, Cetearyl Glucoside, Cetearyl Alcohol, Stearic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Stearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Behenyl Alcohol, Arachidyl Alcohol, Disodium EDTA, PEG-100 Stearate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Polyacrylate Starch, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum, Limonene, Linalool, Citronellol
Water
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantIsononyl Isononanoate
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientSteareth-2
EmulsifyingEthylhexyl Palmitate
EmollientStyrene
PerfumingButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningVinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer 2%
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV AbsorberHomosalate 4%
Skin ConditioningOctocrylene 4%
UV AbsorberBenzophenone-3 2%
UV AbsorberHexylresorcinol
AntimicrobialSteareth-21
CleansingPeucedanum Graveolens Extract
TonicRubus Fruticosus Leaf Extract
MaskingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantAscorbyl Glucoside
AntioxidantSclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingStearyl Alcohol
EmollientPEG-8 Laurate
EmulsifyingAcrylates Copolymer
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Behenyl Alcohol
EmollientArachidyl Alcohol
EmollientMaltodextrin
AbsorbentXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingLinseed Acid
CleansingDimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCetyl Alcohol
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantSodium Dodecylbenzenesulfonate
CleansingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialSodium Carbonate
BufferingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningParfum
MaskingWater, Propylene Glycol, Glycerin, Isononyl Isononanoate, Dimethicone, Steareth-2, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Styrene, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer 2%, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Homosalate 4%, Octocrylene 4%, Benzophenone-3 2%, Hexylresorcinol, Steareth-21, Peucedanum Graveolens Extract, Rubus Fruticosus Leaf Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Sclerotium Gum, Stearyl Alcohol, PEG-8 Laurate, Acrylates Copolymer, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Behenyl Alcohol, Arachidyl Alcohol, Maltodextrin, Xanthan Gum, Linseed Acid, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Cetyl Alcohol, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Dodecylbenzenesulfonate, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin, Sodium Carbonate, Sodium Hydroxide, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, 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.
Arachidyl Alcohol is a fatty alcohol made from peanut oil. It is an emollient, emulsifier, and thickener.
You'll most likely find this ingredient as an emulsifier in water-based cosmetics.
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 AlcoholAlso known as Avobenzone, this ingredient is a chemical sunscreen filter that provides protection in the UV-A range.
Avobenzone is globally approved and is the most commonly used UV-A filter in the world.
Studies have found that avobenzone becomes ineffective when exposed to UV light (it is not photostable; meaning that it breaks down in sunlight). Because of this, formulations that include avobenzone will usually contain stabilizers such as octocrylene.
However, some modern formulations (looking at you, EU!) are able to stabilize avobenzone by coating the molecules.
Avobenzone does not protect against the UV-B range, so it's important to check that the sunscreen you're using contains other UV filters that do!
The highest concentration of avobenzone permitted is 3% in the US, and 5% in the EU.
Learn more about Butyl MethoxydibenzoylmethaneCetyl 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 AlcoholDimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeDisodium EDTA plays a role in making products more stable by aiding other preservatives.
It is a chelating agent, meaning it neutralizes metal ions that may be found in a product.
Disodium EDTA is a salt of edetic acid and is found to be safe in cosmetic ingredients.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAGlycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.
A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.
As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.
Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.
Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.
In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.
This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinHomosalate is a chemical sunscreen filter that provides protection in the UV-B range (280nm - 320 nm), with a peak protection at 306 nm. It is internationally approved for use in sunscreens.
Homosalate is not photo-stable, meaning it's strength as a UV filter degrades over time with exposure to the sun. Because of this, it's often used in combination with other chemical sunscreen filters as avobenzone (which protects from the UV-A range). Homosalate also helps act as a solvent for harder-to-dissolve UV filters.
(Part of the reason that sunscreens need to be frequently re-applied is due to the photo instability of many chemical sunscreen filters)
Currently, homosalate is approved in concentrations up to 10% in the EU and 15% in the US. The FDA is currently doing further research on the effects of homosalate, and it is possible that these approved concentrations will change in the future.
Learn more about HomosalateOctocrylene protects skin from sun damage. It absorbs UV-B with peak absorption of 304 nm. It is a common sunscreen ingredient and often paired with avobenzone, a UVA filter. This is because octocrylene stabilizes other sunscreen ingredients by protecting them from degradation when exposed to sunlight. Octocrylene is a photostable ingredient and loses about 10% of SPF in 95 minutes.
Octocrylene also acts as an emollient, meaning it helps skin retain moisture and softens skin. It is oil-soluble and hydrophobic, enhancing water-resistant properties in a product.
Those who are using ketoprofen, a topical anti-inflammatory drug, may experience an allergic reaction when using octocrylene. It is best to speak with a healthcare professional about using sunscreens with octocrylene.
The EU allows a maximum of these concentrations:
Learn more about OctocryleneParfum 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 āFRAGRANCEā or āPARFUMā 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 ParfumPhenoxyethanol 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.
Stearyl Alcohol is a type of fatty alcohol from stearic acid. It is a white, waxy compound used to emulsify ingredients.
Fatty Alcohols are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product. Emollients help soothe and hydrate the skin by trapping moisture.
They are usually derived from natural fats and oils and therefore do not have the same drying or irritating effect as solvent alcohols. 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. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water