What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Zinc Oxide
Cosmetic Colorant
PEG-12 Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
PEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Lauroyl Lysine
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Chloride
MaskingTrihydroxystearin
Skin Conditioning
Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion Stabilising
Resveratrol
Antioxidant
Quercetin
Antioxidant
Epigallocatechin Gallate
Antioxidant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Salix Nigra Bark Extract
Skin ProtectingPunica Granatum Extract
AstringentHaematococcus Pluvialis Extract
Antioxidant
Hydrolyzed Corn Starch
HumectantPolysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Hydrated Silica
Abrasive
Triethoxycaprylylsilane
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialIsopropyl Titanium Triisostearate
Emollient
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningIron Oxides
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Cyclopentasiloxane, Zinc Oxide, PEG-12 Dimethicone, PEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone, Lauroyl Lysine, Sodium Chloride, Trihydroxystearin, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Resveratrol, Quercetin, Epigallocatechin Gallate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Adenosine, Bisabolol, Salix Nigra Bark Extract, Punica Granatum Extract, Haematococcus Pluvialis Extract, Hydrolyzed Corn Starch, Polysorbate 80, Hydrated Silica, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Isopropyl Titanium Triisostearate, Caprylyl Glycol, Hexylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Iron Oxides, Phenoxyethanol
Water
Skin ConditioningDibutyl Adipate
EmollientC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialDiethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV Filter
Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexyl Triazone
UV Absorber
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid
UV Absorber
Arginine
Masking
Cellulose
Absorbent
Glycerin
Humectant
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingMacadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Hydrogenated Palm Glycerides
Emollient
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingMagnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Sodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Pantolactone
Humectant
Phosphoric Acid
BufferingAscorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Water, Dibutyl Adipate, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Cetyl Alcohol, Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid, Arginine, Cellulose, Glycerin, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Macadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Panthenol, Phenoxyethanol, Hydrogenated Palm Glycerides, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Xanthan Gum, Sclerotium Gum, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Sodium Gluconate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Tocopherol, Citric Acid, Pantolactone, Phosphoric Acid, Ascorbic Acid
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate is a lightweight emollient made by combinig benzoic acid with fatty alcohols that are 12-15 carbons long.
In cosmetics, it plays several roles:
The Cosmetic Review Expert Panel has concluded the alkyl benzoate group to be safe as used in cosmetics; it wasn't found to be a skin irritant and unlikely to be absorbed due to its low water solubility.
This report recorded almost 1000 reported uses with concentrations up to 59% in leave-on products but your cosmetics will typically use 0.5-15% depending on the product.
It's often called a "SPF booster": this is because it keeps UV filters properly dissolved and evenly distributed to support a sunscreen's performance. It doesn't actually raise SPF on its own.
Overall, this ingredient is well tolerated.
This ingredient is fungal acne safe because it is an ester of benzoic acid.
Think of this ingredient as two parts stuck together: an oily part and an acid part. Malassezia only gets a meal when it can snip off a fatty acid to eat. With C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, the acid part is benzoic acid, which isn't a fatty acid and which the yeast can't use as food.
Benzoic acid is actually used as a preservative to stop yeast from growing.
The oily part is a blend of C12-15 fatty alcohols but fatty alcohols in this size range can support only a little Malassezia growth (mostly for one species of Malassezia as well).
In the ingredient, those alcohols stay locked inside the molecule. The yeast can only reach them by snipping the benzoate bond, and that type of bond is harder for it to cut than a normal fatty bond.
So not much gets released. And whatever does get snipped comes packaged with benzoic acid, which discourages yeast growth.
Learn more about C12-15 Alkyl BenzoateEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinPhenoxyethanol 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.
Tocopheryl 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. Remember to stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water
