What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Salicylate
UV Absorber
Cyclohexasiloxane
Emollient
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Glycerin
Humectant
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Octocrylene
UV Absorber
Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid
UV Absorber
Silica
Abrasive
Glycol Stearate
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingAcrylates Crosspolymer
AbsorbentDimethicone
Emollient
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Cystine
MaskingGlycine
Buffering
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Pyridoxine Hcl
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Parfum
Masking
Hydroxystearic Acid
Cleansing
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Methylparaben
Preservative
Cyclomethicone
Emollient
Propylparaben
Preservative
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Dimethiconol
Emollient
Disodium EDTA
BHT
Antioxidant
Stearamide Amp
Aluminum Hydroxide
EmollientSodium Carbonate
BufferingSodium Chloride
MaskingPalmitic Acid
Emollient
Arachidic Acid
Cleansing
Water, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Cyclohexasiloxane, Niacinamide, Glycerin, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Octocrylene, Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid, Silica, Glycol Stearate, Stearic Acid, PEG-100 Stearate, Titanium Dioxide, Carbomer, Potassium Hydroxide, Acrylates Crosspolymer, Dimethicone, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Cystine, Glycine, Sodium PCA, Tocopheryl Acetate, Pyridoxine Hcl, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetyl Alcohol, Parfum, Hydroxystearic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben, Cyclomethicone, Propylparaben, Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethiconol, Disodium EDTA, BHT, Stearamide Amp, Aluminum Hydroxide, Sodium Carbonate, Sodium Chloride, Palmitic Acid, Arachidic Acid
Zinc Oxide 17.5%
Cosmetic Colorant
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Isohexadecane
EmollientGlycerin
Humectant
Steareth-21
CleansingPolyhydroxystearic Acid
Emulsifying
Colloidal Oatmeal
Absorbent
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
C13-14 Isoparaffin
Emollient
Steareth-2
EmulsifyingLaureth-7
EmulsifyingStearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Disodium EDTA
Polyacrylamide
Triethoxycaprylylsilane
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Zinc Oxide 17.5%, Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Isohexadecane, Glycerin, Steareth-21, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Colloidal Oatmeal, Niacinamide, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Hydroxyacetophenone, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Steareth-2, Laureth-7, Stearyl Alcohol, Behenyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Disodium EDTA, Polyacrylamide, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Phenoxyethanol
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Cetyl Alcohol is a fatty alcohol. Fatty Alcohols are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product.
Its main roles are:
Though it has "alcohol" in the name, it is not related to denatured alcohol or ethyl alcohol.
The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe. It is a primary fatty alcohol with a chain length above 12 carbons. A study from 2019 show Malassezia can feed on fatty alcohols in this range, so it may trigger fungal acne in those prone to it.
Learn more about Cetyl AlcoholDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAGlycerin (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 GlycerinNiacinamide is a multitasking form of vitamin B3 that strengthens the skin barrier, reduces pores and dark spots, regulates oil, and improves signs of aging.
And the best part? It's gentle and well-tolerated by most skin types, including sensitive and reactive skin.
You might have heard of "niacin flush", or the reddening of skin that causes itchiness. Niacinamide has not been found to cause this.
In very rare cases, some individuals may not be able to tolerate niacinamide at all or experience an allergic reaction to it.
If you are experiencing flaking, irritation, and dryness with this ingredient, be sure to double check all your products as this ingredient can be found in all categories of skincare.
When incorporating niacinamide into your routine, look out for concentration amounts. Typically, 5% niacinamide provides benefits such as fading dark spots. However, if you have sensitive skin, it is better to begin with a smaller concentration.
When you apply niacinamide to your skin, your body converts it into nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD). NAD is an essential coenzyme that is already found in your cells as "fuel" and powers countless biological processes.
In your skin, NAD helps repair cell damage, produce new healthy cells, support collagen production, strengthen the skin barrier, and fight environmental stressors (like UV and pollution).
Our natural NAD levels start to decline with age, leading to slower skin repair, visible aging, and a weaker skin barrier. By providing your skin niacinamide, you're recharging your skin's NAD levels. This leads to stronger, healthier, and younger looking skin.
Another name for vitamin B3 is nicotinamide. This vitamin is water-soluble and our bodies don't store it. We obtain Vitamin B3 from either food or skincare. Meat, fish, wheat, yeast, and leafy greens contain vitamin B3.
The type of niacinamide used in skincare is synthetically created.
Learn more about NiacinamidePhenoxyethanol 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.
Water. 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
