What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%
UV Absorber
Homosalate
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%
UV Absorber
Octocrylene 2.6%
UV Absorber
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Methicone
Skin Conditioning
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientPEG/PPG-17/6 Copolymer
SolventGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingThermus Thermophillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningMethyl Glucose Sesquistearate
Emollient
Oligopeptide-41
Skin Conditioning
Oligopeptide-24
Skin Conditioning
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Carnosine
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Sodium Oleate
CleansingHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Hydrogenated Palm Glycerides
Emollient
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Lecithin
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Chondrus Crispus Extract
Skin Conditioning
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingSilybin
Skin ConditioningSorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingIsohexadecane
EmollientCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Polyacrylate-15
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Parfum
Masking
PEG-10 Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
C11-15 Pareth-7
EmulsifyingC11-15 Pareth-40
CleansingSodium Laureth-12 Sulfate
Cleansing
Disodium Lauryl Sulfosuccinate
CleansingGluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Polyacrylate-17
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Disodium EDTA
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Benzoate
Masking
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Hydroxycitronellal
Perfuming
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%, Homosalate, Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%, Octocrylene 2.6%, Water, Caprylyl Methicone, Dipropylene Glycol, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, PEG/PPG-17/6 Copolymer, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Thermus Thermophillus Ferment, Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate, Oligopeptide-41, Oligopeptide-24, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Allantoin, Carnosine, Tocopheryl Acetate, Tocopherol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glycine Soja Oil, Sodium Oleate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Hydrogenated Palm Glycerides, Panthenol, Lecithin, Glycerin, Adenosine, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Hexylene Glycol, Silybin, Sorbitan Isostearate, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Isohexadecane, Caprylyl Glycol, Polyacrylate-15, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Cetyl Alcohol, Parfum, PEG-10 Dimethicone, C11-15 Pareth-7, C11-15 Pareth-40, Sodium Laureth-12 Sulfate, Disodium Lauryl Sulfosuccinate, Gluconolactone, Polyacrylate-17, Polysorbate 60, Phenoxyethanol, Disodium EDTA, Potassium Sorbate, Potassium Hydroxide, Sodium Benzoate, Hexyl Cinnamal, Hydroxycitronellal
Water
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Dimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer
Squalane
Emollient
Maris Sal
Skin ConditioningGalactomyces Ferment Filtrate
Humectant
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-50
Skin Conditioning
Heptapeptide-15 Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Bacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Oryza Sativa Lees Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingLactic Acid/Glycolic Acid Copolymer
Skin ConditioningPolyvinyl Alcohol
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientPhenylpropanol
Masking
Water, Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Dimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer, Squalane, Maris Sal, Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-50, Heptapeptide-15 Palmitate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Bacillus Ferment, Panthenol, Oryza Sativa Lees Extract, Tocopherol, Xanthan Gum, Lactic Acid/Glycolic Acid Copolymer, Polyvinyl Alcohol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Butylene Glycol, Hydroxyacetophenone, 1,2-Hexanediol, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Glyceryl Caprylate, Phenylpropanol
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caprylyl 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 GlycolGlycerin (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 GlycerinPanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolPhenoxyethanol 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.
Sodium 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 HyaluronateTocopherol 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
