What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantCetearyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientHydrogenated Vegetable Oil
EmollientTalc
AbrasiveStearic Acid
CleansingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingAllantoin
Skin ConditioningIron Oxides
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingDisodium EDTA
Pantolactone
HumectantT-Butyl Alcohol
PerfumingGlycerin
HumectantCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialHydrogenated Phosphatidylcholine
EmulsifyingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingSucrose Stearate
EmollientAsiaticoside
AntioxidantAsiatic Acid
Skin ConditioningMadecassic Acid
Skin ConditioningCholesterol
EmollientCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Water
MaskingMadecassoside
AntioxidantWater, Butylene Glycol, Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate, Titanium Dioxide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Panthenol, Behenyl Alcohol, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Talc, Stearic Acid, Cetearyl Alcohol, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Carbomer, Tromethamine, Allantoin, Iron Oxides, Xanthan Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Disodium EDTA, Pantolactone, T-Butyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Hydrogenated Phosphatidylcholine, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Sucrose Stearate, Asiaticoside, Asiatic Acid, Madecassic Acid, Cholesterol, Centella Asiatica Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Water, Madecassoside
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantTriisostearyl Citrate
EmollientTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic ColorantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningPolyglycerin-4
HumectantCetearyl Olivate
Candelilla/Jojoba/Rice Bran Polyglyceryl-3 Esters
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeSorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingPotassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientSodium Stearoyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingOleyl Alcohol
EmollientCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
MaskingTromethamine
BufferingIron Oxides
Acacia Senegal Gum
MaskingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningGalactoarabinan
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingBetaine
HumectantCitric Acid
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Potassium Sorbate
PreservativeTremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract
AntioxidantWater, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Triisostearyl Citrate, Titanium Dioxide, Pentylene Glycol, Polyglycerin-4, Cetearyl Olivate, Candelilla/Jojoba/Rice Bran Polyglyceryl-3 Esters, Glyceryl Stearate, Phenoxyethanol, Sorbitan Olivate, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate, Oleyl Alcohol, Carbomer, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Tromethamine, Iron Oxides, Acacia Senegal Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Galactoarabinan, Xanthan Gum, Betaine, Citric Acid, Disodium EDTA, Potassium Sorbate, Tremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract
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 GlycolCarbomer is a polymer of acrylic acid. Its main role is to create a gel consistency.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Cetearyl alcohol is a mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is mainly used as an emulsifier. Emulsifiers help prevent the separation of oils and products. Due to its composition, it can also be used to thicken a product or help create foam.
Cetearyl alcohol is an emollient. Emollients help soothe and hydrate the skin by trapping moisture.
Studies show Cetearyl alcohol is non-toxic and non-irritating. The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
This ingredient is usually derived from plant oils such as palm, vegetable, or coconut oils. There is debate on whether this ingredient will cause acne.
Due to the fatty acid base, this ingredient may not be Malassezia folliculitis safe.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholDisodium 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 EDTAEthylhexylglycerin (we can't pronounce this either) is commonly used as a preservative and skin softener. It is derived from glyceryl.
You might see Ethylhexylglycerin often paired with other preservatives such as phenoxyethanol. Ethylhexylglycerin has been found to increase the effectiveness of these other preservatives.
Glycerin 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 GlycerinTitanium dioxide is a mineral UV filter widely used in sunscreens and cosmetics.
It is one of only two UV filters officially classified as “mineral” by regulatory agencies, the other being zinc oxide.
Titanium dioxide provides broad-spectrum protection mostly in the UVB and UVAII range, with some protection in the UVAI range.
While its UVA protection isn’t as strong as zinc oxide’s, the difference is minor.
A common myth is that mineral UV filters reflect UV light. However, modern research shows titanium dioxide absorbs UV radiation like chemical filters (~95% absorption & 5% reflection).
Thanks to its non-irritating nature, titanium dioxide is suitable for sensitive, acne-prone, or redness-prone skin. It is unlikely to cause "eye sting" like other sunscreen ingredients.
A major drawback of this ingredient is its white cast and thick texture. This is why mineral sunscreens often leave a white cast and are less cosmetically elegant than chemical/hybrid sunscreens.
To improve white cast and spreadability, micronized or nano-sized titanium dioxide is often used.
There are ongoing concerns surrounding nano-titanium oxide's impact on marine ecosystems.
There is no conclusive evidence that any form of titanium oxide (or any other sunscreen ingredients) will cause harm to marine ecosystems or coral reefs. The science is still developing but many consumers are keeping a close eye on this issue.
Please note, many destinations have reef-safety sunscreen rules. For instance, the U.S. Virgin Islands advises all visitors to use non-nano mineral sunscreens.
Nano mineral sunscreens once raised safety concerns about absorption into skin.
Extensive research has shown that they do not penetrate healthy or damaged skin; they remain safely on the surface and the top layer of dead skin (stratum corneum).
You'll likely find titanium dioxide bundled with alumina, silica, or dimethicone. These ingredients help make titanium dioxide highly photostable; this prevents it from interacting with other formula components under UV light.
Learn more about Titanium DioxideTromethamine helps balance the pH and improve the texture of a product. It is synthetically created.
As an emulsifier, Tromethamine prevents oil and water ingredients from separating. This helps stabilize the product and elongate a product's shelf life. Tromethamine also makes a product thicker.
Tromethamine helps balance the pH level of a product. Normal pH level of skin is slightly acidic (~4.75-5.5). The acidity of our skin is maintained by our glands and skin biome. Being slightly acidic allows our skin to create an "acid mantle". This acid mantle is a thin barrier that protects our skin from bacteria and contaminants.
Oral Tromethanmine is an anti-inflammatory drug but plays the role of masking, adding fragrance, and/or balancing pH in skincare.
1,3-Propanediol, 2-amino-2-(hydroxymethyl)-
Learn more about TromethamineWater. 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 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 GumThis ingredient is a combination of red, black, and yellow iron oxide pigments. This combination of colors is usually found in foundation, because it results in a "skin" color.