What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV AbsorberButylene Glycol
HumectantCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientEthylhexyl Salicylate
UV AbsorberLauryl Polyglyceryl-3 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin)
EmollientNiacinamide
SmoothingZinc Oxide
Cosmetic ColorantCyclohexasiloxane
EmollientCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantSodium Chloride
MaskingDisteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingSorbitan Sesquioleate
EmulsifyingMica
Cosmetic ColorantTriethoxycaprylylsilane
Zinc Stearate
Cosmetic ColorantDextrin Palmitate
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientPanthenol
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningAluminum Hydroxide
EmollientCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Glycerin
HumectantAdenosine
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantMadecassoside
AntioxidantAsiaticoside
AntioxidantAsiatic Acid
Skin ConditioningMadecassic Acid
Skin ConditioningWater, CI 77492, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Butylene Glycol, Cyclopentasiloxane, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Lauryl Polyglyceryl-3 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin), Niacinamide, Zinc Oxide, Cyclohexasiloxane, CI 77891, CI 77491, CI 77499, Sodium Chloride, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Mica, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Zinc Stearate, Dextrin Palmitate, Caprylyl Glycol, Panthenol, Allantoin, Centella Asiatica Extract, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Aluminum Hydroxide, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Glycerin, Adenosine, 1,2-Hexanediol, Tocopherol, Madecassoside, Asiaticoside, Asiatic Acid, Madecassic Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV AbsorberPropanediol
SolventEthylhexyl Salicylate
UV AbsorberGlycerin
HumectantTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic ColorantPolyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
EmulsifyingButylene Glycol
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingCaprylyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingDiisobutyl Adipate
EmollientPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPolymethylsilsesquioxane
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingCetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone
EmulsifyingPhytic Acid
Methylpropanediol
SolventDimethicone
EmollientMethyl Hydrogenated Rosinate
PerfumingAluminum Hydroxide
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPolyether-1
CI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingAdenosine
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingParfum
MaskingCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantDisodium EDTA
Sodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentT-Butyl Alcohol
PerfumingTocopherol
AntioxidantPrunus Persica Fruit Extract
AbrasiveSaccharomyces Ferment Filtrate
HumectantWater, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Propanediol, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Glycerin, Titanium Dioxide, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Butylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Caprylyl Trimethicone, 1,2-Hexanediol, Polysorbate 60, Diisobutyl Adipate, Pentylene Glycol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Phytic Acid, Methylpropanediol, Dimethicone, Methyl Hydrogenated Rosinate, Aluminum Hydroxide, Ethylhexylglycerin, Polyether-1, CI 77492, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Adenosine, Xanthan Gum, Parfum, CI 77491, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Polyacrylate, T-Butyl Alcohol, Tocopherol, Prunus Persica Fruit Extract, Saccharomyces Ferment Filtrate
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives
Adenosine is in every living organism. It is one of four components in nucleic acids that helps store our DNA.
Adenosine has many benefits when used. These benefits include hydrating the skin, smoothing skin, and reducing wrinkles. Once applied, adenosine increases collagen production. It also helps with improving firmness and tissue repair.
Studies have found adenosine may also help with wound healing.
In skincare products, Adenosine is usually derived from yeast.
Learn more about AdenosineAluminum Hydroxide is a form of aluminum. It can be naturally found in nature as the mineral gibbsite. In cosmetics, Aluminum Hydroxide is used as a colorant, pH adjuster, and absorbent.
As a colorant, Aluminum Hydroxide may add opacity, or reduce the transparency. Aluminum hydroxide is contains both basic and acidic properties.
According to manufacturers, this ingredient is an emollient and humectant. This means it helps hydrate the skin.
In medicine, this ingredient is used to help relieve heartburn and help heal ulcers.
There is currently no credible scientific evidence linking aluminum hydroxide in cosmetics to increased cancer risk.
Major health organizations allow the use of aluminum hydroxide in personal care products and have not flagged it as a carcinogenic risk at typical usage levels.
Learn more about Aluminum HydroxideButylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolCi 77491 is also hydrated iron III oxide. It's sole purpose is to give a red/pink hue to products.
Iron III oxides are classified as inorganic chemicals for coloring.
Synthetically created Ci 77491 is considered safer than those naturally found. This is because the synthetically created version may contain less impurities. Iron oxides are generally non-toxic and non-allergenic.
Learn more about CI 77491CI 77492 is also hydrated iron III oxide. It's sole purpose is to give a yellow hue to products.
Iron III oxides are classified as inorganic chemicals for coloring.
Synthetically created CI 77492 is considered safer than those naturally found. This is because the synthetically created version may contain less impurities. Iron oxides are generally non-toxic and non-allergenic.
Learn more about CI 77492Ethylhexyl 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 MethoxycinnamateEthylhexyl 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 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 NiacinamideTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
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.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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