What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%
UV AbsorberHomosalate 8%
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate 7.5%
UV AbsorberEthylhexyl Salicylate 4.5%
UV AbsorberOctocrylene 5%
UV AbsorberWater
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Polyethylene
AbrasiveCitrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
MaskingCitrus Limon Peel Oil
MaskingCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Oil
MaskingCinnamomum Camphora Bark Oil
MaskingMentha Viridis Leaf Oil
AstringentMagnolia Acuminata Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningIris Pallida Root Extract
MaskingRosa Damascena Extract
MaskingCitral
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingCetyl Alcohol
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPEG-100 Stearate
PEG-6
HumectantVaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract
Skin ProtectingVaccinium Macrocarpon Fruit Extract
AstringentSolanum Tuberosum Pulp Extract
SmoothingLycium Chinense Fruit Extract
AntioxidantEriobotrya Japonica Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningPassiflora Incarnata Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningLeontopodium Alpinum Extract
Skin ConditioningBetula Alba Bark Extract
MaskingCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialBoswellia Serrata Extract
Skin ConditioningSigesbeckia Orientalis Extract
Skin ConditioningThermus Thermophillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningHordeum Vulgare Extract
EmollientTriticum Vulgare Germ Extract
Skin ConditioningSaccharomyces Lysate Extract
HumectantLythrum Salicaria Extract
AstringentYeast Extract
Skin ConditioningAlgae Extract
EmollientOryzanol
Skin ConditioningSqualane
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTrehalose
HumectantSteareth-21
CleansingErgothioneine
AntioxidantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantVp/Eicosene Copolymer
Nylon-12
Caprylyl Glycol
EmollientSodium PCA
HumectantSodium Dehydroacetate
PreservativeTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantUrea
BufferingAscorbyl Tocopheryl Maleate
AntioxidantCitric Acid
BufferingPolyquaternium-51
Skin ConditioningHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingLecithin
EmollientSodium Phytate
BHT
AntioxidantMica
Cosmetic ColorantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%, Homosalate 8%, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate 7.5%, Ethylhexyl Salicylate 4.5%, Octocrylene 5%, Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Polyethylene, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Citrus Limon Peel Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Oil, Cinnamomum Camphora Bark Oil, Mentha Viridis Leaf Oil, Magnolia Acuminata Flower Extract, Iris Pallida Root Extract, Rosa Damascena Extract, Citral, Linalool, Limonene, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, PEG-6, Vaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract, Vaccinium Macrocarpon Fruit Extract, Solanum Tuberosum Pulp Extract, Lycium Chinense Fruit Extract, Eriobotrya Japonica Leaf Extract, Passiflora Incarnata Flower Extract, Leontopodium Alpinum Extract, Betula Alba Bark Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Boswellia Serrata Extract, Sigesbeckia Orientalis Extract, Thermus Thermophillus Ferment, Hordeum Vulgare Extract, Triticum Vulgare Germ Extract, Saccharomyces Lysate Extract, Lythrum Salicaria Extract, Yeast Extract, Algae Extract, Oryzanol, Squalane, Ethylhexylglycerin, Trehalose, Steareth-21, Ergothioneine, Sodium Hyaluronate, Vp/Eicosene Copolymer, Nylon-12, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium PCA, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Urea, Ascorbyl Tocopheryl Maleate, Citric Acid, Polyquaternium-51, Hexylene Glycol, Lecithin, Sodium Phytate, BHT, Mica, Phenoxyethanol
Water
Skin ConditioningParaffinum Liquidum
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientParfum
MaskingGlycerin
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientCetyl Acetate
EmollientCeteareth-20
CleansingTheobroma Cacao Seed Butter
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialAcetylated Lanolin Alcohol
EmollientAchillea Millefolium Extract
CleansingAesculus Hippocastanum Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningAlthaea Officinalis Root Extract
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
MaskingChondrus Crispus Extract
Skin ConditioningEquisetum Arvense Extract
AstringentFoeniculum Vulgare Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningHamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningHedera Helix Extract
AntimicrobialHumulus Lupulus Extract
AntimicrobialLavandula Angustifolia Flower Extract
CleansingPropylene Glycol
HumectantRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialSalvia Officinalis Leaf Extract
CleansingSambucus Nigra Flower Extract
RefreshingTaraxacum Officinale Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningTetrasodium EDTA
Thymus Vulgaris Leaf Extract
Skin ProtectingTriceteareth-4 Phosphate
EmulsifyingTromethamine
BufferingTussilago Farfara Leaf Extract
AstringentCitral
PerfumingCitronellol
PerfumingCoumarin
PerfumingFarnesol
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingHydroxycitronellal
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingWater, Paraffinum Liquidum, Cetearyl Alcohol, Parfum, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetyl Acetate, Ceteareth-20, Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter, Dimethicone, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Acetylated Lanolin Alcohol, Achillea Millefolium Extract, Aesculus Hippocastanum Seed Extract, Althaea Officinalis Root Extract, Butylene Glycol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, Carbomer, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Equisetum Arvense Extract, Foeniculum Vulgare Seed Extract, Hamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract, Hedera Helix Extract, Humulus Lupulus Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia Flower Extract, Propylene Glycol, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Salvia Officinalis Leaf Extract, Sambucus Nigra Flower Extract, Taraxacum Officinale Leaf Extract, Tetrasodium EDTA, Thymus Vulgaris Leaf Extract, Triceteareth-4 Phosphate, Tromethamine, Tussilago Farfara Leaf Extract, Citral, Citronellol, Coumarin, Farnesol, Geraniol, Hexyl Cinnamal, Hydroxycitronellal, Limonene, Linalool, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Butylene 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 GlycolCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract (tea extract) is one of the most well-researched plant extracts in skincare with an impressive resume.
Black tea, green tea, and oolong tea are all harvested from the Camellia Sinensis plant.
Studies show green tea extract and its catechins (like epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG)) help your skin cells product energy more efficiently and reducing the number of free-radicals that can damage your skin from the inside.
In lab-grown skin models, this translated to younger, healthier, and stronger skin.
There's also good sun protection data; researchers saw less DNA damage and redness on human skin when green tea was applied before UVB exposure. And the more they applied, the better the protection.
Needless to say, this ingredient shouldn't replace your sunscreen. But it is a great supportive ingredient that you can already find in many sunscreens and antioxidant serums.
A 2009 study found a 2% green tea lotion was effective for mild-to-moderate acne thanks to its anti-inflammatory and mild antimicrobial activity.
The quality of the extract matters a lot here:
Good extracts contain 50-90% catechins while lower quality ones are mostly there for marketing. We recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the quality or source of their ingredients.
Human Repeated Insult Patch Testing showed no irritation or sensitization at use concentrations (0.86% in leave-on products and up to 30% as leaf water).
Learn more about Camellia Sinensis Leaf ExtractCaprylyl 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 or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolCitral is the molecule responsible for the fresh lemon scent in lemon, lime, and lemongrass. It is a fragrance ingredient that can be created from plant essential oils or synthetically.
Though Citral has documented antimicrobial activity against acne bacteria (which is where the marketing claims about it being good for acne-prone skin originate), real formulas use it at fragrance-level concentrations under 1% so there's likely no skin benefit.
You should know this ingredient is a known EU fragrance allergen.
Animal studies classifies this ingredient as a weak-to-moderate skin sensitizer and clinical patch testing on eczema patients confirmed it to be both a contact allergen and irritant.
The term 'citral' is a collective term for two geometric isomers: geranial/Citral A and neral/Citral B.
The term '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.
Learn more about CitralGlycerin (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 StearateLimonene is a fragrance that adds scent and taste to a formulation.
It's found in the peel oil of citrus fruits and other plants such as lavender and eucalyptus. The scent of limonene is generally described as "sweet citrus".
Limonene acts as an antioxidant, meaning it helps neutralize free radicals.
When exposed to air, oxidized limonene may sensitize the skin. Because of this, limonene is often avoided by people with sensitive skin.
The term '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.
Learn more about LimoneneLinalool is a fragrance and helps add scent to products. It's derived from common plants such as cinnamon, mint, citrus, and lavender.
Like Limonene, this ingredient oxidizes when exposed to air. Oxidized linalool can cause allergies and skin sensitivity.
This ingredient has a scent that is floral, spicy tropical, and citrus-like.
Learn more about LinaloolPhenoxyethanol 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.
Water. 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