What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV Absorber
Zinc Oxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid
UV Absorber
Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion Stabilising
Potassium Chloride
PEG-10 Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingMagnesium Sulfate
Cyclomethicone
Emollient
Parfum
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingTriethoxycaprylylsilane
Methylparaben
Preservative
Sucrose Distearate
Emollient
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Cystine
MaskingGlycine
Buffering
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Propylparaben
Preservative
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium PCA
Humectant
Disodium EDTA
Sodium Carbonate
BufferingBHT
Antioxidant
Aluminum Hydroxide
EmollientDimethicone
Emollient
Sodium Chloride
MaskingCI 14700
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Cyclopentasiloxane, Glycerin, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Zinc Oxide, Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Potassium Chloride, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Niacinamide, Sodium Hydroxide, Magnesium Sulfate, Cyclomethicone, Parfum, Phenoxyethanol, Titanium Dioxide, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Methylparaben, Sucrose Distearate, Allantoin, Cystine, Glycine, Tocopheryl Acetate, Propylparaben, Potassium Hydroxide, Sodium PCA, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Carbonate, BHT, Aluminum Hydroxide, Dimethicone, Sodium Chloride, CI 14700
Water
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV Absorber
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol
UV Filter
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Isoamyl P-Methoxycinnamate
UV Absorber
Silica
Abrasive
Octocrylene
UV Absorber
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTriethanolamine
BufferingMethyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Dimethicone
Emollient
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Water, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Propylene Glycol, Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol, Butylene Glycol, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Isoamyl P-Methoxycinnamate, Silica, Octocrylene, Phenoxyethanol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Triethanolamine, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Decyl Glucoside, Dimethicone, Chlorphenesin, Polysorbate 20, Cyclopentasiloxane, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Xanthan Gum, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Sodium Hyaluronate
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Cyclopentasiloxane (D5) is a lightweight silicone that mostly acts as an emollient and solvent in cosmetics. Its the reason your products feel silky, fast-spreading, and non-greasy.
Since D5 is volatile, it does its thing and then evaporates off the skin quickly.
The safety profile of this ingredient is reassuring; the US CIR Expert Panel concluded D5 is safe as used in cosmetics and Health Canada concluded that D5 is not harmful to human health or the environment as currently used in cosmetics
There's a study that people mention about D5 in a rat study showing tumors. This study is related to long-term inhalation of high D5 levels.
Regulatory bodies have judged this study to be not applicable in topical skincare since skin absorption of D5 is very low and we're not really inhaling huge amounts of D5.
The only restriction for this ingredient is environmental. The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) restricted D5 in wash-off cosmetics at or above 0.1% due to their persistence in water.
Learn more about CyclopentasiloxaneDimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeThis ingredient is also known as Octinoxate and is one of the oldest and most widely used chemical UV filters in skincare.
It has a simple job: soap up UVB radiation (290-320 nm), the wavelengths responsible for sunburn and a big chunk of long-term sun damage.
In formulas, it's always paired with a separate UVA filter because octinoxate solely protects skin from UVB.
Because it's an oil-soluble liquid, it's easy to blend into the oil phase of lotions/creams and gives a cosmetically elegant feel.
The one quirk about formulating this ingredient is photostability; the molecule slowly changes shape into a less effective version when sunlight hits it. So the longer you're in the sun, the weaker its protection gets. The drop can be more than 30% in some formulas.
It also doesn't play nice with Avobenzone (the common UVA filter) since avobenzone destabilizes octinoxate and the two degrade each other. But don't worry: brands have solved this issue by adding photostabilizers like Tinosorb S to prevent degradation and keep SPF stable under heavy UV exposure.
The maximum allowed level is 10% in the EU and Australia, 7.5% in the US and Canada, and 20% in Japan.
The Cosmetic Ingredient Review Panel has concluded this ingredient to be safe in cosmetics up to 10%.
One last thing worth knowing for context:
Octinoxate has been the subject of ongoing review in Europe where the Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety's (SCCS) 2025 final opinion is that this ingredient is an endocrine-active substance.
Lab and animal studies suggest it can act a bit like a hormone in the body (mildly mimicking estrogen and slightly blocking male hormones). It's important to know this hasn't really been shown to happen in everyday human use.
This ingredient is also banned in Hawaii over coral reef concerns.
Learn more about Ethylhexyl MethoxycinnamatePhenoxyethanol is one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.
Learn more about PhenoxyethanolTocopheryl Acetate is a stable, shelf-friendly form of vitamin E.
Formulators love it because plain vitamin E oxidizes quickly once it hits air. This acetate version stays stable and resists going off, helping to extend a product's shelf life.
It's actually inactive on its own and works like a slow-release "storage" form; the enzymes in your skin called esterases gradually convert it into active vitamin E over time.
One in vivo study showed 5% of the acetate in the living layer of the epidermis converted to vitamin E after 5 days of application. This study also found the skin gained protection against UV damage even though the conversion was slow and small.
Once converted, vitamin E acts as a skin's main fat-soluble antioxidant that fights free radicals to protect skin from damage.
Topical vitamin E generally boosts the skin's photoprotection, and it reduced UV-damage in animal models.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
Overall, it has a pretty solid safety profile and has been found to be non-irritating and non-comedogenic. Allergic reactions may happen but stay rare due to how widely the ingredient gets used.
The concentration will vary depending on the formula; industry data shows 0.1% in baby lotions, 3% in lipsticks, and 5% in foot powders. You can also find this ingredient at 100% in a pure vitamin E oil.
Most leave-on skincare keeps it at the lower end, often between 0.5-1%.
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
