What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
Smoothing
Glycerin
Humectant
Isopropyl Myristate
Emollient
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV Absorber
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Octocrylene
UV Absorber
Betaine
Humectant
PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate
Emulsifying
Ethyl Macadamiate
Skin Conditioning
Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract
Masking
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Tranexamic Acid
Astringent
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantRosa Damascena Flower Water
Masking
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Malic Acid
Buffering
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide As
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide Ns
Skin Conditioning
Cholesterol
Emollient
Acetyl Cysteine
Antioxidant
Vaccinium Vitis-Idaea Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Citrus Unshiu Peel Extract
Masking
Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans
HumectantHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Litchi Chinensis Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Mangifera Indica Pulp Extract
Skin ConditioningCeramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
C13-16 Isoalkane
SolventStyrene/Acrylates Copolymer
Heptyl Undecylenate
EmollientPEG-9 Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
DMDM Hydantoin
Preservative
Hydrated Silica
Abrasive
Lecithin
Emollient
Hydrogen Dimethicone
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
2,3-Butanediol
HumectantPropanediol
Solvent
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Sodium Sulfite
Preservative
Water, Niacinamide, Glycerin, Isopropyl Myristate, Cyclopentasiloxane, Propylene Glycol, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Butylene Glycol, Octocrylene, Betaine, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Ethyl Macadamiate, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Tranexamic Acid, Ceramide NP, Hyaluronic Acid, CI 77891, Rosa Damascena Flower Water, Allantoin, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Tocopherol, Malic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ceramide AP, Ceramide As, Ceramide Ns, Cholesterol, Acetyl Cysteine, Vaccinium Vitis-Idaea Fruit Extract, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Citrus Unshiu Peel Extract, Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Extract, Litchi Chinensis Seed Extract, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Mangifera Indica Pulp Extract, Ceramide EOP, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, C13-16 Isoalkane, Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer, Heptyl Undecylenate, PEG-9 Dimethicone, DMDM Hydantoin, Hydrated Silica, Lecithin, Hydrogen Dimethicone, 1,2-Hexanediol, Phenoxyethanol, 2,3-Butanediol, Propanediol, Glyceryl Stearate, Sodium Sulfite
Water
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV Absorber
Glycerin
Humectant
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Isononyl Isononanoate
EmollientIsohexadecane
EmollientOctocrylene
UV Absorber
C14-22 Alcohols
Emulsion Stabilising
Benzophenone-3
UV Absorber
Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV Filter
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Ethylhexyl Triazone
UV Absorber
C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTriethanolamine
BufferingMagnesium Aluminometasilicate
AbsorbentMethylparaben
Preservative
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Silica
Abrasive
Parfum
Masking
Disodium EDTA
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Dimethicone
Emollient
BHT
Antioxidant
CI 17200
Cosmetic ColorantCI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Glycerin, Propylene Glycol, Titanium Dioxide, Isononyl Isononanoate, Isohexadecane, Octocrylene, C14-22 Alcohols, Benzophenone-3, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Polysorbate 60, Ethylhexyl Triazone, C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside, Phenoxyethanol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Triethanolamine, Magnesium Aluminometasilicate, Methylparaben, Bisabolol, Silica, Parfum, Disodium EDTA, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Dimethicone, BHT, CI 17200, CI 42090
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ethylhexyl 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 OctocrylenePhenoxyethanol 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.
Propylene Glycol is a synthetic, colorless, odorless liquid that has been a staple in cosmetics for decades. It is a skin conditioning agent, humectant, and solvent.
As a humectant, it draw water to the skin to reduce flaking and restore suppleness. It's also a solvent that helps dissolve other actives and keeps formulas stable across temperature changes.
The CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be nontoxic and clinical studies show no sensitization at cosmetic use concentrations.
True allergic reactions are quite rare: a 15-year retrospective study of 6,751 patients found only 0.31% had a positive reaction (and less than half were considered clinically relevant).
It seemed that when sensitization does occur, it's most commonly linked to topical medication (like corticosteroids) and not cosmetics. Allergic contact dermatitis also appears largely limited to individuals with underlying skin conditions.
Overall, propylene glycol is a well-studied ingredient that most people can tolerate without issue.
Learn more about Propylene GlycolSodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateWater. 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
