What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV Absorber
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Polymethyl Methacrylate
Propanediol
Solvent
C14-22 Alcohols
Emulsion Stabilising
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Octocrylene
UV Absorber
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Nylon-12
C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin Conditioning
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Glycerin
Humectant
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingLecithin
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Parfum
Masking
Dimethicone
Emollient
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Glycereth-20
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Amodimethicone
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingDisodium EDTA
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingGlucose
Humectant
Prunus Persica Fruit Extract
Abrasive
BHT
Antioxidant
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Water, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Propanediol, C14-22 Alcohols, Butylene Glycol, Octocrylene, Phenoxyethanol, Propylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Nylon-12, C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Allantoin, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Chlorphenesin, Glycerin, Potassium Hydroxide, Lecithin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Parfum, Dimethicone, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Glycereth-20, Pentylene Glycol, Amodimethicone, Carbomer, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hydroxide, Glucose, Prunus Persica Fruit Extract, BHT, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Methylpropanediol
SolventCyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Ethylhexyl Salicylate
UV Absorber
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV Absorber
Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid
UV Absorber
Octocrylene
UV Absorber
Triethanolamine
BufferingEthylhexyl Triazone
UV Absorber
Glycereth-26
Humectant
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Dimethicone
Emollient
Cetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Polyglyceryl-6 Distearate
Emulsifying
Cetearyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Vp/Va Copolymer
PEG/PPG-17/6 Copolymer
SolventDianthus Chinensis Extract
HumectantPaeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract
Skin ProtectingAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Jojoba Esters
Emollient
Glyceryl Glucoside
Humectant
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-3 Beeswax
Emulsifying
Alumina
Abrasive
Triethoxycaprylylsilane
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Bifida Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Streptococcus Thermophilus Ferment
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate Dimethylsilanol
HumectantDimethylsilanol Hyaluronate
HumectantPotassium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Methylpropanediol, Cyclopentasiloxane, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid, Octocrylene, Triethanolamine, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Glycereth-26, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Dimethicone, Cetearyl Glucoside, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Sorbitan Olivate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Polyglyceryl-6 Distearate, Cetearyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Vp/Va Copolymer, PEG/PPG-17/6 Copolymer, Dianthus Chinensis Extract, Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract, Allantoin, Jojoba Esters, Glyceryl Glucoside, Cetyl Alcohol, Polyglyceryl-3 Beeswax, Alumina, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Sodium Hyaluronate, Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Streptococcus Thermophilus Ferment, Butylene Glycol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Ceramide NP, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Dimethylsilanol, Dimethylsilanol Hyaluronate, Potassium Hyaluronate
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer is a synthetic polymer. It is used to thicken, emulsify, and improve the texture of products.
As an emulsifier, it helps stabilize oil-in-water emulsions to give products an elegant feel when applied.
It can also form a thin protective film on skin. One study found that a formula using this polymer helped slow down how quickly other ingredients (like DEET) were absorbed through skin.
A 2024 study of over 1,300 patients confirmed that sensitization to this ingredient is rare. It is also non-mutagenic and has a clean track record.
Learn more about Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate CrosspolymerAllantoin is a soothing ingredient known for its protective and moisturizing properties; it's basically a quiet workhorse ingredient you can find in a huge range of cosmetics.
Though it can be derived from the comfrey plant, allantoin is produced synthetically for cosmetic products to ensure purity.
Research shows it can encourage your skin cells to turn over and renew by stimulating keratinocyte and fibroblast proliferation.
It also has mild keratolytic properties to help loosen and shed dead skin cells without being harsh.
Studies also suggest allantoin can help calm inflammation by dialing down some of the chemical signals your skin sends out when it is irritated.
This ingredient is typically used in the 0.1-0.5% range, and the FDA recognizes it as a skin protectant in OTC products up to 2%.
Overall, allantoin is a wonderful addition to most routines; it is stable across a wide pH range (~4-8), works well with other ingredients, and is considered non-sensitizing/non-irritating.
Fun fact: Allantoin is naturally occurring in comfrey root, beets, chamomile, and wheat sprouts. Our bodies even produce it as a byproduct of uric acid metabolism.
Learn more about AllantoinAlso 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 MethoxydibenzoylmethaneButylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolDimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
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 DimethiconeEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate is an organic compound that provides UVB protection. It often goes by the more common name of octinoxate. It is created from methoxycinnamic acid and 2-ethylhexanol.
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate absorbs UVB rays with wavelengths between 280-320 nm. UV absorbers protect your skin by using chemical reactions to convert UV rays into heat and energy.
UVB (290-320 nm) rays emit more energy than UVA rays. They are capable of damaging DNA, causing sunburns and are thought to be linked to skin cancer.
The state of Hawaii has banned sunscreens containing octinoxate due to its potential impact on coral reefs. More research is needed to bridge gaps in this research. The European Union allows higher levels of octinoxate in sunscreens than the US and Australia.
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate is oil soluble. It is not stable and may lose efficacy when exposed to sunlight.
Learn more about Ethylhexyl MethoxycinnamateGlycerin (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 GlycerinOctocrylene 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 OctocryleneWater. 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
