What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningHomosalate
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Dimethyl Paba
UV AbsorberEthylhexyl Salicylate
UV AbsorberButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV AbsorberTerephthalylidene Dicamphor Sulfonic Acid
UV AbsorberPhenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid
UV AbsorberGlycerin
HumectantCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientGlycol Cetearate
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientZinc Oxide
Cosmetic ColorantCeteareth-20
CleansingCeteareth-12
EmulsifyingCetyl Palmitate
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantHydrolyzed Caesalpinia Spinosa Gum
AbsorbentCaesalpinia Spinosa Gum
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeAllantoin
Skin ConditioningAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTriethanolamine
BufferingParfum
MaskingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeWater, Homosalate, Ethylhexyl Dimethyl Paba, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Terephthalylidene Dicamphor Sulfonic Acid, Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycol Cetearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Zinc Oxide, Ceteareth-20, Ceteareth-12, Cetyl Palmitate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Caesalpinia Spinosa Gum, Caesalpinia Spinosa Gum, Phenoxyethanol, Allantoin, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Triethanolamine, Parfum, Potassium Sorbate
Butane
Isobutane
Propane
Water
Skin ConditioningOctocrylene
UV AbsorberButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV AbsorberEthylhexyl Salicylate
UV AbsorberPolyglyceryl-2 Dipolyhydroxystearate
Skin ConditioningDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantCaprylyl Methicone
Skin ConditioningBis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientSilica
AbrasiveStyrene/Acrylates Copolymer
Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV FilterVp/Hexadecene Copolymer
Pentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningParfum
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantButylene Glycol
HumectantCarnosine
Skin ConditioningAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientPEG-8 Laurate
EmulsifyingTetrasodium EDTA
Citric Acid
BufferingFructose
HumectantSodium Hydroxide
BufferingUrea
BufferingTriethanolamine
BufferingAllantoin
Skin ConditioningHydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid
Skin ConditioningMaltose
MaskingSodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Lactate
BufferingSodium PCA
HumectantTrehalose
HumectantGlucose
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantTocopherol
AntioxidantAscorbyl Palmitate
AntioxidantCitrus Aurantium Peel Oil
Limonene
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingLinalyl Acetate
MaskingTetramethyl Acetyloctahydronaphthalenes
MaskingAcetyl Cedrene
Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone
PerfumingCitronellol
PerfumingVanillin
MaskingEucalyptus Globulus Oil
Terpineol
MaskingButane, Isobutane, Propane, Water, Octocrylene, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Polyglyceryl-2 Dipolyhydroxystearate, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Glycerin, Caprylyl Methicone, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Dimethicone, Silica, Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Vp/Hexadecene Copolymer, Pentylene Glycol, Parfum, Phenoxyethanol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Butylene Glycol, Carnosine, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Caprylyl Glycol, PEG-8 Laurate, Tetrasodium EDTA, Citric Acid, Fructose, Sodium Hydroxide, Urea, Triethanolamine, Allantoin, Hydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid, Maltose, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Lactate, Sodium PCA, Trehalose, Glucose, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopherol, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Citrus Aurantium Peel Oil, Limonene, Linalool, Linalyl Acetate, Tetramethyl Acetyloctahydronaphthalenes, Acetyl Cedrene, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Citronellol, Vanillin, Eucalyptus Globulus Oil, Terpineol
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer is a synthetic polymer. It is used to thicken, emulsify, and improve the texture of products.
As an emulsifier, it helps stabilize oil-in-water emulsions to give products an elegant feel when applied.
It can also form a thin protective film on skin. One study found that a formula using this polymer helped slow down how quickly other ingredients (like DEET) were absorbed through skin.
A 2024 study of over 1,300 patients confirmed that sensitization to this ingredient is rare. It is also non-mutagenic and has a clean track record.
Learn more about Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate CrosspolymerAllantoin is a soothing ingredient known for its protective and moisturizing properties; it's basically a quiet workhorse ingredient you can find in a huge range of cosmetics.
Though it can be derived from the comfrey plant, allantoin is produced synthetically for cosmetic products to ensure purity.
Research shows it can encourage your skin cells to turn over and renew by stimulating keratinocyte and fibroblast proliferation.
It also has mild keratolytic properties to help loosen and shed dead skin cells without being harsh.
Studies also suggest allantoin can help calm inflammation by dialing down some of the chemical signals your skin sends out when it is irritated.
This ingredient is typically used in the 0.1-0.5% range, and the FDA recognizes it as a skin protectant in OTC products up to 2%.
Overall, allantoin is a wonderful addition to most routines; it is stable across a wide pH range (~4-8), works well with other ingredients, and is considered non-sensitizing/non-irritating.
Fun fact: Allantoin is naturally occurring in comfrey root, beets, chamomile, and wheat sprouts. Our bodies even produce it as a byproduct of uric acid metabolism.
Learn more about AllantoinAlso known as Avobenzone, this ingredient is a chemical sunscreen filter that provides protection in the UV-A range.
Avobenzone is globally approved and is the most commonly used UV-A filter in the world.
Studies have found that avobenzone becomes ineffective when exposed to UV light (it is not photostable; meaning that it breaks down in sunlight). Because of this, formulations that include avobenzone will usually contain stabilizers such as octocrylene.
However, some modern formulations (looking at you, EU!) are able to stabilize avobenzone by coating the molecules.
Avobenzone does not protect against the UV-B range, so it's important to check that the sunscreen you're using contains other UV filters that do!
The highest concentration of avobenzone permitted is 3% in the US, and 5% in the EU.
Learn more about Butyl MethoxydibenzoylmethaneEthylhexyl 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 GlycerinParfum is a catch-all term for an ingredient or more that is used to give a scent to products.
Also called "fragrance", this ingredient can be a blend of hundreds of chemicals or plant oils. This means every product with "fragrance" or "parfum" in the ingredients list is a different mixture.
For instance, Habanolide is a proprietary trade name for a specific aroma chemical. When used as a fragrance ingredient in cosmetics, most aroma chemicals fall under the broad labeling category of “FRAGRANCE” or “PARFUM” according to EU and US regulations.
The term 'parfum' or 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term.
For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance by INCI standards.
One example is Calendula flower extract. Calendula is an essential oil that still imparts a scent or 'fragrance'.
Depending on the blend, the ingredients in the mixture can cause allergies and sensitivities on the skin. Some ingredients that are known EU allergens include linalool and citronellol.
Parfum can also be used to mask or cover an unpleasant scent.
The bottom line is: not all fragrances/parfum/ingredients are created equally. If you are worried about fragrances, we recommend taking a closer look at an ingredient. And of course, we always recommend speaking with a professional.
Learn more about ParfumPhenoxyethanol 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 HyaluronateTriethanolamine (TEA) is an emulsifier and pH adjuster. It is created using ethylene oxide and ammonia. This gives Triethanolamine a nitrogen core and a similar scent to ammonia.
As an emulsifier, it prevents ingredients from separating and enhances texture by adding volume to a product.
PH adjusters are common in cosmetic products. The pH of a product can affect the effectiveness of other ingredients. A product with a high pH may also irritate the skin.
If you are looking for the tea leaf ingredient, click here.
Learn more about TriethanolamineWater. 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