What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDiethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV FilterPropanediol
SolventEthylhexyl Triazone
UV AbsorberEthylhexyl Salicylate
UV AbsorberTriheptanoin
Skin ConditioningBis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingGlycerin
HumectantPhenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid
UV AbsorberButyloctyl Salicylate
Skin ConditioningSilica
AbrasiveDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientEthyl Macadamiate
Skin ConditioningSaccharomyces Ferment
Skin ConditioningUndecane
EmollientHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientPrunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil
MaskingPrunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin ConditioningJojoba Esters
EmollientC20-22 Alkyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingTridecane
PerfumingC20-22 Alcohols
Emulsion StabilisingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Wax
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxide
BufferingHectorite
AbsorbentHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientGlycogen
HumectantLauroyl Lysine
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPolyglycerin-3
HumectantAcacia Decurrens Flower Wax
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningBiosaccharide Gum-4
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantMalic Acid
BufferingWater, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Propanediol, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Triheptanoin, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Niacinamide, Glycerin, Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Silica, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Ethyl Macadamiate, Saccharomyces Ferment, Undecane, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Jojoba Esters, C20-22 Alkyl Phosphate, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Tridecane, C20-22 Alcohols, Pentylene Glycol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax, Sodium Hydroxide, Hectorite, Hydroxyacetophenone, Caprylyl Glycol, Glycogen, Lauroyl Lysine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Polyglycerin-3, Acacia Decurrens Flower Wax, 1,2-Hexanediol, Biosaccharide Gum-4, Tocopherol, Malic Acid
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%
UV AbsorberHomosalate 7%
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Salicylate 5%
UV AbsorberOctocrylene 9%
UV AbsorberWater
Skin ConditioningButyloctyl Salicylate
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientDiisopropyl Adipate
EmollientSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingCocoglycerides
EmollientPropanediol
SolventMicrocrystalline Cellulose
AbsorbentTocopherol
AntioxidantBisabolol
AntioxidantCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientEthyl Ferulate
AntioxidantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantGlyceryl Stearate Se
EmulsifyingMethylheptylglycerin
HumectantSodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPhospholipids
Skin ConditioningCellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingCitric Acid
BufferingGlycolipids
Skin ConditioningOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
MaskingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningPhosphatidylserine
Emulsion StabilisingAstaxanthin
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCholesterol
EmollientHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingOleic Acid
EmollientPhytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningHaematococcus Pluvialis Extract
AntioxidantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingStearic Acid
CleansingSodium Benzoate
MaskingPotassium Sorbate
Preservative1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningLactic Acid
BufferingButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%, Homosalate 7%, Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%, Octocrylene 9%, Water, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Glycerin, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Diisopropyl Adipate, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Cocoglycerides, Propanediol, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Tocopherol, Bisabolol, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethyl Ferulate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Methylheptylglycerin, Sodium Gluconate, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Xanthan Gum, Phospholipids, Cellulose Gum, Citric Acid, Glycolipids, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Phosphatidylserine, Astaxanthin, Ceramide NP, Cholesterol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Oleic Acid, Phytosphingosine, Haematococcus Pluvialis Extract, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Stearic Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Beta-Glucan, Lactic Acid
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.Â
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 preservativesÂ
Butyloctyl Salicylate is a chemical UV filter structurally similar to octisalate. It is a photostabilizer, SPF booster, emollient and solvent. This ingredient helps evenly spread out ingredients.
According to a manufacturer, it is suitable for pairing with micro Titanium Dioxide, Zinc Oxide, and pigments.
Photostabilizers help stabilize UV-filters and prevents them from degrading quickly.
Learn more about Butyloctyl SalicylateCaprylyl 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.
Ethylhexyl 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 GlycerinPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolSodium Stearoyl Glutamate is an amino-acid based emulsifier. It is made by combining stearic acid with L-glutamic acid and neutralizing it to a sodium salt.
As an emulsifier, it works mainly as an oil-in-water one and helps keep the oil and water in your formulas blended. It also contributes to a smooth, non-greasy skin feel.
This ingredient is biodegradable and commonly available in natural/COSMOS-certified grades.
Learn more about Sodium Stearoyl GlutamateTocopherol (also known as Vitamin E) is a common antioxidant used to help protect the skin from free-radicals and strengthen the skin barrier. It's also fat soluble - this means our skin is great at absorbing it.
Vitamin E also helps keep your natural skin lipids healthy. Your lipid skin barrier naturally consists of lipids, ceramides, and fatty acids. Vitamin E offers extra protection for your skin’s lipid barrier, keeping your skin healthy and nourished.
Another benefit is a bit of UV protection. Vitamin E helps reduce the damage caused by UVB rays. (It should not replace your sunscreen). Combining it with Vitamin C can decrease sunburned cells and hyperpigmentation after UV exposure.
You might have noticed Vitamin E + C often paired together. This is because it is great at stabilizing Vitamin C. Using the two together helps increase the effectiveness of both ingredients.
There are often claims that Vitamin E can reduce/prevent scarring, but these claims haven't been confirmed by scientific research.
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