What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientSorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingCetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Dimethicone
Emollient
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Caprylyl Methicone
Skin Conditioning
Octocrylene
UV Absorber
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV Absorber
Cera Alba
Emollient
Silica
Abrasive
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantEthylhexyl Salicylate
UV Absorber
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Benzophenone-3
UV Absorber
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion Stabilising
PEG-12 Dimethicone/PPG-20 Crosspolymer
Polyglyceryl-10 Palmate
EmulsifyingPhospholipids
Skin Conditioning
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Triethoxycaprylylsilane
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Alpha-Arbutin
Antioxidant
CI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
CI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantEucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil
Perfuming
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientSodium Acrylates Copolymer
Glycerin
Humectant
Tetrasodium EDTA
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Tropolone
Skin ConditioningWater, Titanium Dioxide, Butylene Glycol, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Sorbitan Olivate, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Dimethicone, Cyclopentasiloxane, Caprylyl Methicone, Octocrylene, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Cera Alba, Silica, Mica, CI 77492, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Benzophenone-3, Caprylyl Glycol, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, PEG-12 Dimethicone/PPG-20 Crosspolymer, Polyglyceryl-10 Palmate, Phospholipids, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Allantoin, Alpha-Arbutin, CI 77491, Tocopheryl Acetate, CI 77499, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Glycerin, Tetrasodium EDTA, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, 1,2-Hexanediol, Tropolone
Water
Skin ConditioningC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialDibutyl Adipate
EmollientButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientDicaprylyl Ether
Emollient
Tapioca Starch
Glycerin
Humectant
Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid
UV Absorber
Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexyl Triazone
UV Absorber
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Diethylhexyl Butamido Triazone
UV Absorber
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Undecane
EmollientSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingCetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Tridecane
Perfuming
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Decylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningEctoin
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingMicrocrystalline Cellulose
AbsorbentCellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingWater, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Dibutyl Adipate, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Dicaprylyl Ether, Tapioca Starch, Glycerin, Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Niacinamide, Diethylhexyl Butamido Triazone, Pentylene Glycol, Undecane, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tridecane, Caprylyl Glycol, Decylene Glycol, Ectoin, Sodium Hydroxide, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Xanthan Gum, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Cellulose Gum
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Also known as Avobenzone, this ingredient is a chemical sunscreen filter that provides protection in the UV-A range.
Avobenzone is globally approved and is the most commonly used UV-A filter in the world.
Studies have found that avobenzone becomes ineffective when exposed to UV light (it is not photostable; meaning that it breaks down in sunlight). Because of this, formulations that include avobenzone will usually contain stabilizers such as octocrylene.
However, some modern formulations (looking at you, EU!) are able to stabilize avobenzone by coating the molecules.
Avobenzone does not protect against the UV-B range, so it's important to check that the sunscreen you're using contains other UV filters that do!
The highest concentration of avobenzone permitted is 3% in the US, and 5% in the EU.
Learn more about Butyl MethoxydibenzoylmethaneCaprylyl 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 GlycolDicaprylyl Carbonate comes from carbonic acid and caprylyl alcohol, a fatty alcohol. It is an emollient and gives skin a velvet feel. The sources of Dicaprylyl Carbonate may be synthetic or from animals.
As an emollient, Dicaprylyl Carbonate creates a film on the skin. This film traps moisture in, keeping your skin soft and hydrated.
Glycerin (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 GlycerinSodium 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 HyaluronateTocopheryl 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
