What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethyl Caprylate
Dibutyl Adipate
EmollientC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialEthylhexyl Salicylate
UV Absorber
Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexyl Triazone
UV Absorber
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingGlycerin
Humectant
Hydrogenated Olive Oil Decyl Esters
Emulsion Stabilising
Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol
UV Filter
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV Filter
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Piroctone Olamine
Preservative
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Laminaria Ochroleuca Extract
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Tetrapeptide-40
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Acrylates/C12-22 Alkyl Methacrylate Copolymer
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPropanediol
Solvent
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Arginine
Masking
Coco-Glucoside
Cleansing
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingAcacia Senegal Gum
MaskingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDisodium Lauryl Sulfosuccinate
CleansingPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Agastache Mexicana Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningWater, Phenoxyethyl Caprylate, Dibutyl Adipate, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Cetearyl Alcohol, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Glycerin, Hydrogenated Olive Oil Decyl Esters, Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Panthenol, Piroctone Olamine, Allantoin, Laminaria Ochroleuca Extract, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-40, Hydroxyacetophenone, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Caprylyl Glycol, Glyceryl Stearate, Acrylates/C12-22 Alkyl Methacrylate Copolymer, Carbomer, Propanediol, Decyl Glucoside, Arginine, Coco-Glucoside, Sodium Hydroxide, Acacia Senegal Gum, Xanthan Gum, Disodium Lauryl Sulfosuccinate, Propylene Glycol, Agastache Mexicana Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningOctocrylene
UV Absorber
Isopropyl Lauroyl Sarcosinate
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Ethylhexyl Salicylate
UV Absorber
Dimethicone
Emollient
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Diisopropyl Sebacate
EmollientSilica
Abrasive
Polymethyl Methacrylate
Sucrose Tristearate
Emollient
Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate
Absorbent
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Polysorbate 61
Emulsifying
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingDimethiconol
Emollient
Disodium EDTA
Glycyrrhetinic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxypalmitoyl Sphinganine
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Triethanolamine
BufferingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingZinc Gluconate
Skin Conditioning
Water, Octocrylene, Isopropyl Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Glycerin, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Dimethicone, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Diisopropyl Sebacate, Silica, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Sucrose Tristearate, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Pentylene Glycol, Polysorbate 61, Allantoin, Caprylyl Glycol, Carbomer, Dimethiconol, Disodium EDTA, Glycyrrhetinic Acid, Hydroxypalmitoyl Sphinganine, Panthenol, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Triethanolamine, Xanthan Gum, Zinc Gluconate
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Allantoin 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 AllantoinCaprylyl 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 GlycolCarbomer is a high-molecular weight polymer of acrylic acid. It is used to form gels and thicken formulas.
Due to its large molecular size, carbomer has minimal skin penetration and is considered an inert ingredient.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Learn more about CarbomerEthylhexyl Salicylate is an organic compound used to block UV rays. It primarily absorbs UVB rays but offers a small amount of UVA protection as well.
Commonly found in sunscreens, Ethylhexyl Salicylate is created from salicylic acid and 2-ethylhexanol. You might know salicylic acid as the effective acne fighter ingredient and BHA.
The ethylhexanol in this ingredient is a fatty alcohol and helps hydrate your skin, similar to oils. It is an emollient, which means it traps moisture into the skin.
According to manufacturers, Ethylhexyl Salicylate absorbs UV wavelength of 295-315 nm, with a peak absorption at 307-310 nm. UVA rays are linked to long term skin damage, such as hyperpigmentation. UVB rays emit more energy and are capable of damaging our DNA. UVB rays cause sunburn.
Learn more about Ethylhexyl SalicylateGlycerin (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 GlycerinPanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolWater. 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
