What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV Absorber
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV Filter
Ethylhexyl Triazone
UV Absorber
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingBis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin Conditioning
Acrylates/C12-22 Alkyl Methacrylate Copolymer
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Ubiquinone
Antioxidant
Sodium Polyacrylate Starch
AbsorbentXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSilica
Abrasive
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Methylpropanediol
SolventDidecyldimonium Chloride
EmulsifyingPolyquaternium-80
CleansingWater, Cyclopentasiloxane, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Propylene Glycol, Glycerin, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Glyceryl Stearate, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Acrylates/C12-22 Alkyl Methacrylate Copolymer, Niacinamide, Ubiquinone, Sodium Polyacrylate Starch, Xanthan Gum, Silica, Butylene Glycol, Citric Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Methylpropanediol, Didecyldimonium Chloride, Polyquaternium-80
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV Filter
Ethylhexyl Salicylate
UV Absorber
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Dibutyl Adipate
EmollientPhenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid
UV Absorber
Diethylhexyl Butamido Triazone
UV Absorber
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Polyglyceryl-6 Palmitate/Succinate
Emulsifying
Disodium Phosphate
BufferingCoco-Caprylate
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seed Cera
Emollient
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Hexyldecanol
Emollient
Hexyldecyl Laurate
EmollientParfum
Masking
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Decylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPotassium Phosphate
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Citric Acid
Buffering
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Carica Papaya Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningGeraniol
Perfuming
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
CI 40800
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Glycerin, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Dibutyl Adipate, Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid, Diethylhexyl Butamido Triazone, Tocopheryl Acetate, Polyglyceryl-6 Palmitate/Succinate, Disodium Phosphate, Coco-Caprylate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Cera, Panthenol, Phenoxyethanol, Hexyldecanol, Hexyldecyl Laurate, Parfum, Sodium Hydroxide, Caprylyl Glycol, Decylene Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Potassium Phosphate, Disodium EDTA, Alcohol, Hexyl Cinnamal, Limonene, Citric Acid, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Carica Papaya Fruit Extract, Geraniol, Benzyl Alcohol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Tocopherol, CI 40800
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolCitric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidDiethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate (DHHB) is a chemical UV-A absorber. It is formulated for high UVA protection (320-400 nm).
DHHB is well-liked for:
DHHB has been approved by the EU, Japan, Taiwan, and South America for use up to 10%. Unfortunately, it has not been approved for use in the US or Canada due to slow regulatory processes.
This ingredient is soluble in oils, fats, and lipids.
Learn more about Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl BenzoateGlycerin (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 GlycerinGlyceryl Stearate is made by reacting glycerin with stearic acid (typically sourced from plant oils like palm or coconut). It's an emulsifier, emollient, and mild occlusive.
Emulsifiers help ingredients like oil and water stay mixed so your formula stays nicely blended and uniform in texture.
This ingredient is typically used in concentrations between 1-10%. Studies have found it to be non-sensitizing, non-phototoxic, and non-photoallergenic.
A close cousin of this ingredient is Glyceryl Stearate SE ("self-emulsifying"). This just has a small amount of sodium or potassium stearate added so it can emulsify without a co-emulsifier.
Since this ingredient is an ester of a C18 fatty acid, it may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast can potentially metabolize within the C11-C24 range.
Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.
Learn more about Glyceryl StearateWater. 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum
